Community Chat

[possummink]

Marsh Birds of Georgia,

King Rail ~~

Marsh Hen~~

Moor Hen~~

American Bittern ~~~

Sea Gal, I looked up Marsh Birds of Georgia to see what kinds of prey the owls might find in the salt marshes near the nest site. Lots of species, though I think the herons and egretsect.might be too large for the owls to capture.

I am not sure about the size of a Great Horned Owls clutch of eggs, but am guessing from photos of their owlets and owlets of other owl species that two or three is about the norm. I don't know if they'd mentioned that this is a young pair, or if they've raised owlets before. At times I think she's new at this brooding job and at other times she looks like she has done this before.

I was really glad to seePapa flyto the nest on that video this morning. Hope he's nearby for her.

I am guessing that they take small mammals as prey too. Like rats and rabbits, ??? There's bound to be some animals in the marsh area.

I did see the questions from the kids, cute and perceptive. The three owlets at the top of the one post are Great Horned Owlets. So beautiful.

[Bird mama]

I just added the Berry College Eagle Cam to my favorites. I think if I limit my cams (last year I was watching several eagle cams) this year, I may get less freaked out by inclement weather, predators, illness.

[SeaGal]

Possummink, so much to eat there around the marsh, its no wonder the babies are growing so fast. Little white fluffs, they are so cute, I cant wait til they can sit up and we can really see their personalities! I got carried away on youtube again last night watching different owl species videos, what a hoot!

Bird mama, looks like B4 has arrived at Berry today. I just looked in on Mom and she is layed out flat, she looks eggzhausted. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that they raise 2 chicks this year right!

eta~ I just remembered! I was watching her late last night as I knew they were on hatch watch, maybe it was an owl or something that was bothering her, I saw her flinch big 2 times but couldnt see what it was bugging her, she was calling for the Mr for awhile. So she must have been on alert all night and is very sleepy now, all snuggied with her new baby awww!

[SeaGal]

Looks like the other egg hatched, I cant tell with Moms back to the cam if she was rolling the egg or it was a half of the shell, I glanced away and missed part if what was happening. I guess we will find out in the morning if not sooner!

Egg 1 was 38 days to bake and egg 2 is at 35 days today, would be strange if they both hatched in the same day but surely it has happened before. we'll see.

Is anyone going to follow this nest?

[Bird mama]

Seagal - I checked the Berry Eagle blog and so far they are noting that one baby hatched. I don't know about the other one. I check in periodically to see how she's doing. I will probably be more glued to the cams (except while at work - of course ) once the babies start moving around.

[SeaGal]

2 Berry chicklets! Second egg hatched on Sunday, very cute tiny bobble heads! Has looked very cold there for the last few days, Mom has done a good job keeping them tucked in! The 2 Florida nests I follow, the sub juvies are doing the big wing stretches with the crazy bounce hopping up and down, that always make me laugh! Wont be long they will already be fledging. Oh Bird mama, FSV has 2 eggs this week and a nice clean cam! Brr looks so cold there!

The little owlets are growing so fast, still cant wait till they come out from under Mom more often. Strange that their eyes stay closed so long after hatching. What a good Mom she has been, I have really enjoyed her and has led me to learn more about GHO's and other owl species. Beautiful birds, all of them...

[SeaGal]

Looks like Mom and Dad Decorah won the battle for the nest! They welcomed egg #1 a couple hours ago, looks like freezing temps (of course) there too brrr. Amazing they can keep the eggs warm thru hatch day after day for a month+ in such frigid temps.

Not happy about the Berry bonker, it could be awhile, weeks before the nest is watchable.

[Bird mama]

SeaGal, I read the blog this morning and although I didn't see it, it appears B4 is a pistol and is very aggressive. It must be bad if the Berry folks wrote a blog about it. At this time, the sun is coming up and I see a parent sprawled out over the babies in the nest. The posture seemed so odd, I held my breath to make sure he or she (probably she - the females most always get stuck with night duty ) was breathing. I wish they posted the temp like ustream does with Decorah.

[Bird mama]

I just checked the Berry Nest. Clearly somebody has been hunting

[SeaGal]

Holy smokes, really Bird mama, want some squirrel!!

Just kinda making my rounds, I said I wasnt going to follow Berry or Decorah, been following Berry moreso. I jut caught the chicklets being fed, I think B5 is wise beyond h/h days! It was either still asleep while B4 fed or was just back waiting tin 4 got a full crop as s/he then got up front and they fed together very peacefully. Until 4 started choking, thrashing his little bobble head all around, B5 was like ' hey man whats up with you, you didnt even connect one bonk'! Little did he know his sib was choking. Mom or Dad, Dad I think cuz it wasnt a very graceful covering them back up and all back snoozin again! Anyway, I read a couple posts on FB from yesterday and it looks like B5 is holding h/h own very well against 4, bonkin right back! Glad to read this!

Someone infected the owl cam with a bug, nice...