Cobb Barn Owls: Hatching to Fledging 2009

Beth · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:25 am

PaulaP, LeeLee and owl friends!

We have a BCAW thread for holiday greetings and posts, please visit when you have
time this holiday season

obxbarb · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:20 pm

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday.

The Nature Conservancy could not get out to Cobb as planned. There are still small craft advisories. I'm sorry we could not have an update for the holidays, but it looks like we will have to wait until next week when CCB travels out there. Hopefully the stormy seas we are having here will calm down soon. I am at the beach, south of Cobb, and we have a very BIG ocean here.

CalifPatti · **Joined:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:12 pm **Posts:** 23

Good Morning Everyone - hope all had a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Obxbarb - Is there any word on if anyone will be able to get to Cobb Island this week? I check in twice a day in the hopes of some word on our little and big owlies. Thanks for any info you can provide - it's much appreciated!

obxbarb · **Posted:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:25 pm

Patti...I'm hoping we will hear from Libby in the next day or two. Nothing so far, but its a full day trip for them to go down there.

CalifPatti · **Joined:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:12 pm **Posts:** 23

Thanks Obxbarb! I promise to be patient and hope that Libby and her group arrive there safely!

PaulaP · **Joined:** Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 86

Hi, all. I hope that the stand is still up and intact for the next nesting pair.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64399

Thanks Barb....I'm anxious as well....but patient!!!

PattiO · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2009 12:37 am

Anxious isn't the word for it!! But I'm waiting patiently as well.

JudyB · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:29 pm

My fingers are getting a bit cramped from being crossed for so long - and I know it may be next fall before we can be certain Mom and Dad are OK if they did indeed lose all of the little ones to the terrible storm. But I'm still hoping....

:santashy:

(possibly not quite appropriate, but large plump guy down a chimney - after arriving on a sleigh - pulled by reindeer - even in places that have never seen snow? - sounds like a miracle to me, and against all odds I'm hoping for a little miracle here)

Beth · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:31 pm

I with you JudyB and I still have hope in my heart for this owl family ...

obxbarb · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:35 pm

The Nature Conservancy went out to check on this nest box and cam this weekend. As much as it breaks my heart to report this, I know everyone has been patiently waiting on news, so here goes. The box had two dead owl chicks with white down. Its not clear what happened to the others. There was no sign of adult owls anywhere. Remember, barn owls can reproduce any time of the year. Hopefully this pair found a suitable location on the mainland.

The camera box was filled with water, none of which is recoverable. I will wait on further news from Libby to determine what the next steps are regarding camera replacement.

Thanks to everyone here for your support and positive spirit. Nature gives us many things to be thankful for, and I'm grateful we had an opportunity to watch these beautiful owls, in addition to the joy of a successful falcon nest this year. I'm hoping that we will have the opportunity to do this again next year.

If you are interested in donating to help replace the cam at Cobb, please keep checking back on this thread as we get more information.

Beth · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:46 pm

Thank you Barb for the Cobb owl update. Did Libby by chance take the little ones for a
necropsy?

I really do think Cobb-Mom owl left that morning because of nature's way to protect
the parents as they can/will survive and carry on for the next season.

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:50 pm

Thanks for the report, Barb!

I guess its possible (not probable) that the other owlets fledged by now, so that's what I choose to believe. I was also hoping that the cam equipment wouldn't be ruined as was feared, but that wasn't probable either.

SusanE · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:54 pm

Very sad news, but at least now we know and don't have to keep wondering and worrying. Thanks for the update, Barb.

JudyB · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:57 pm

Thanks for the update, Barb - not unexpected, but such sad news.

I also think the adults are probably all right, and will be waiting to hear if/how we can help get the cameras in place for the next nesting season.

CalifPatti · **Joined:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:12 pm **Posts:** 23

Barb - Thank you so much for the update even though it is sad news. You mentioned that the two dead chicks had down, so about what age does that put them? Since the cam has been down for three - four weeks, wouldn't the rest still have been too young to fledge? Sorry about the questions, but I'm still in the learning mode about Barn Owls. Thank you so much!

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:46 pm

CalifPatti wrote:

Barb - Thank you so much for the update even though it is sad news. You mentioned that the two dead chicks had down, so about what age does that put them? Since the cam has been down for three - four weeks, wouldn't the rest still have been too young to fledge? Sorry about the questions, but I'm still in the learning mode about Barn Owls. Thank you so much!

Patti, since I started the business about fledging, I felt I better get my info straight, and according to the info that SGB got on barn owls, they fledge in 50-55 days, but since the first one hatched 10/25, they wouldn't have been old enough. When I posted that I was going to believe that any survivor(s) had fledged, I was just thinking that December was when they should fledge. But now that I've gone back & checked the info, fledging would have been HIGHLY improbable...I'll let Barb answer the rest of your question cause I know next to nothing about barn owls.

PattiO · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:06 pm

Sad, sad news...but no, not unexpected. And if I had to venture a guess I'd say that the fact that there were only 2 chicks in the box, quite possibly they ate their younger, weaker siblings in an attempt to stay alive themselves. We saw it happen at the WDFW barn owl nest. But even that wouldn't have sustained them very long. With how bad that storm was and the flooding, etc. I'm sure the parents must have headed inland to protect themselves and when/if they returned the chicks were probably all dead by then. I at least hope and pray the adults survived ... so they can nest again!

Thank you for keeping us updated obxbarb! We'd be lost without your connections with this nest!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64399

Thanks Barb for that very sad news...but as others have said, not unexpected.....I know that many of us were still holding on to that little bit of hope...that by some miracle, a little owlet had survived..Sorry you had to deliver the news, but we really do appreciate you helping Libby to keep us informed.

I know you will let us know how we can help with the cam situation. I would love to be a part of helping Cobb "come back"!!! I just love the Cobb Cuties...and who knows, maybe will see the owls again once the falcons are finished!!!

PaulaP · **Joined:** Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:21 pm **Posts:** 86

Thank you for the update. I, too, am not surprised, but I feel some closure. I am very happy that the platform is OK. I'll check in periodically to say hi to the nice people here.

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Cobb Barn Owls: Hatching to Fledging 2009

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