Wild Birds Unlimited Encourages Everyone to Experience a Day in the Life of a Barred Owl Family

Mama Owl began checking out the box in mid-February. Papa Owl continues to bring her a variety of tasty treats, from crayfish to, oh my, blue jays! The first egg was laid on February 26, the second on the February 29 and the third egg was laid on March 3.

Now that the owlets have hatched, (the first and second eggs on March 31 and the third egg on April 2) there is a lot of activity keeping this growing family fed.

The owlets are covered with a fine down and began to beg for food moments after hatching. The young owls will leave the nest at approximately four to five weeks of age and remain in the branches of the nest tree until they are able to fly at around 10 weeks of age. There is also an exterior camera mounted to catch all the action when the owlets get ready to fledge the nest box. The siblings will stay together throughout the summer and will be fed by their parents. Then, the young will strike out on their own in early fall when the parents slowly wean them from feedings.

Wild Birds Unlimited and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird Cams team invite everyone to help name the owlets, by voting for their favorite set of names. Cast your vote by April 24.