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RINGING BABY BARN OWLS

The barn owlets Hans & Grete were given identification rings this week. I was joined by BTO licenced ringer Jean Thorpe for the day as we weighed and measured each barn owl chick for the records and Jean clipped a metal ID tag onto each of the owlets legs.

A SKILLED JOB

This work is a lot more skilled than it sounds. You have to be very careful to put the ID rings on properly - too loose and it could slip up the owlet's leg and collide with a joint, causing problems later on. Of course, each clip, or band, must also be sealed properly otherwise the barn owl chicks could catch the clips as they move around. I am licenced to handle barn owls and I can't tell you how soft the fluffy downy feathers of a barn owl chick are! It is on days like this, when I get to experience these intimate wildlife moments, that I get the reward for all my hard work protecting these wonderful animals (and this year has been a very difficult year with low vole numbers to sustain the barn owls).

ARE THE BARN OWL CHICKS MALE OR FEMALE?

Whilst we ringed the owlets, we took the opportunity to determine whether they are male or female. These barn owl chicks are just six weeks old and so it is a little early to tell, but my guess is that they are both females. A close up with the camera shows tiny, tell-tale sparkles on the breast of Hans, the older barn owl chick - a sign that, despite the name, she is a girl. Also note the dark fringing beneath her chin, which gives her a 'sweetheart' face. Grete is a few days younger but she has the same features, so I think they are actually both female barn owls.

BACKSTORY TO THESE BARN OWLS

To read more about the barn owl chicks Hans & Grete and their lives here in my garden in North Yorkshire go to my blog: [ Ссылка ]

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I am a British wildlife artist based in Thixendale, North Yorkshire, UK. I build ideal habitats to encourage wildlife into my garden and use nest cams to study their behaviour. These studies inform my paintings. I share the best of my video research on this channel for free. If you would like to support my work please consider a small donation here: [ Ссылка ]

Or of course you may like to purchase my artwork which you will find on my website: [ Ссылка ]. Many of the paintings are portraits of the creatures you watch here!

© Robert E Fuller

Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch with me at: mail@robertefuller.com

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