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ALL ABOUT THE BARN OWL BARNEY

Barney was one of my favourite owls here at Fotherdale. He had lived here for over 4 years but sadly, on the 23rd of October, I saw him for what would be the last time.

HOW DID THIS BARN OWL DIE?
Could he have sustained one too many attacks, been hit by a vehicle, or did he simply die of old age? At around 4 years old, Barney was already beyond the average lifespan for a wild barn owl.

This video gives you a look back on this barn owl's extraordinary life story here at Fotherdale.

2017

Barney burst onto the scene back in 2017, pairing up with his first barn owl mate, in the elm stump. I watched them courting and preparing the nest for their first clutch of barn owl chicks together. Barney as well as raising this clutch of 4 raised 4 more barn owl chicks that I fostered onto the brood.

Barney lost his mate at the end of 2017, but Barney partnered again with a new female barn owl that we named Gylfie.

2018

Barney and Gylfie were soon courting and mating in the elm stump, beginning what would be a threeyear partnership.

With the new owl relationship blossoming, Barney would do anything to provide for Gylfie, even fighting off tawny owls on the feeding post, which is no mean feat for the much smaller barn owl.

And soon his hard work paid off, I watched as Gylfie revealed the pair’s first clutch of 3 eggs!
Barney and Gylfie cared for the barn owl chicks well, and they soon grew into strong young owls, fledging in the late summer.

2019

As the next barn owl breeding season came around, Barney and Gylfie began courting again, and soon the pair had another clutch of 4 eggs! 3 of the chicks hatched successfully. They grew quickly and were soon ready for fledging. This is my favourite moment as the owls venture to the nest entrance for the first time. As this first brood was fledging from elm stump, Gylfie was already sitting on eggs over in the sycamore stump nest. This double brood was a first for the barn owls of Fotherdale.

2020

In 2020 the pair headed back to elm stump nest for a new brood. Gylfie laid 3 eggs. But the second chick seemed unable to break out of the egg and the 3rd didn't hatch out either.

Barney seems to mourn the loss of this unborn barn owl chick. I named the surviving chick Solo, and as an only chick, she grew fast.

Meanwhile, Barney and Gylfie prepared for a second brood, it was unusual though as Solo hadn't yet fledged and I was intrigued to see what might happen. Unusually, a nearly adult Solo even took a turn brooding the eggs. As Gylfie continued to incubate, a fully fledged Solo stayed in the nest to keep her mother company.

Barney was a bit put out, as Solo took advantage of food meant for his brooding partner.

As the second brood of three owl chicks hatched, disaster struck after a stormy weekend, when a hungry Solo undertook a nest raid. Stealing food from her mother’s beak, before grabbing the largest chick in the brood! Gylfie was torn between her maternal instincts for her grownup daughter and the tiny owl chick.

Solo killed the owl chick, grabbing it by the neck. Gylfie was close behind her, chasing Solo from the nest. Gylfie returned to her two remaining chicks followed by Barney who seemed confused, looking for the lost chick.

Thankfully, the two remaining owl chicks, Hans and Grete, were unharmed. Barney provided for them well. He even attempted to feed them when Gylfie was away! Soon, Hans and Grete were soon ready to fledge. Barney truly was an incredible barn owl, and fantastic father.

In his time with us here at Fotherdale, Barney fathered a total of 15 chicks, and helped to raise 5 more surrogate chicks too! It truly was an honour to be a part of his life here.

But as one chapter draws to a close another opens and I'm delighted that Gylfie has now found a new mate Finn.

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© Robert E Fuller

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