Barn owl Dryer is now a dad. Watch him learn the ropes, under the watchful eye of his experienced owl partner Gylfie, and see how the pair overcome a tragic loss together.

Date filmed: JuneAug 2023

Watch barn owls Gyflie & Dryer interact live on my nest cam:    • Live From Fotherdale | Robert E Fuller   and follow their story in this playlist:    • Barn Owls  Gylfie & Dryer | Wild Liv...  

JOIN MY MISSION
____________________

You can support my wildlife rehabilitation and conservation work by donating here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s... or joining one of my supporter communities: https://www.robertefuller.com/support...

ABOUT THIS FILM
___________________

Barn owls Gylfie and Dryer,
This is this pair's first breeding season together, and the younger owl Dryer's first courtship.

Dryer is impatient
But they’ve overcome these challenges and on the 31st May Gylfie laid her first egg and 4 days later
Dryer seems to think there should be another. Watch him look under her expectantly.

Barn owl eggs
But he doesn't have too long to wait because 7 hours later, Gylfie reveals a second egg
and 3 days later a 3rd, then 4 days later on June 11th there is a 4th egg.

New owl dad
Dryer seems fascinated, but when he tries to inspect the clutch a protective Gylfie sees him off

Incubation
For the next 32 days, Gylfie takes on the role of sole incubator, whilst Dryer provides food for her and he is very efficient, delivering rats, mice, and voles regularly. Sometimes there is more than Gylfie can consume!

Barn owl diet
An incubating barn owl needs about 4 prey items each night, 10% of their body weight.

New dad Dryer panics
When Dryer arrives and finds the eggs unattended he panics. Standing over them and calling for Gylfie, but she has only popped out to stretch her wings.

1st chick hatches
31 days after the first egg was laid the first chick emerges. It is amazing to see how gentle Gylfie is as she helps it out of its shell.

Barn owl chicks
The chicks hatch bald and blind. They don't open their eyes until they are 1 and 2 weeks old

Squirrel threat
When a squirrel comes to close to the nest, the owls panic and in the rush to get out they knock the chick across the nest. I climb up to put it back as it won't be safe where it is.

Dryer meets chicks
Later the new owl dad sees his chick for the very first time and seems transfixed

2 more barn owl chicks
Two days a 2nd chick emerges and then a 3rd. Dryer does a tremendous job providing and is keen to show off his hoard!

4th chick
It is another 5 days before the 4th chick hatches and it looks weak. Intervention isn’t possible now, it could mean Gylfie and Dryer abandon the brood and puts all 4 chicks at risk and so sadly this chick dies. But then Gylfie feeds it to the remaining three
This isn’t rare in birds of prey… they will eat their dead chicks before they start decomposing to avoid attracting scavengers to the nest.

New dad fail
Dryer has a lot to learn. He tries to deliver prey whole, but the chicks can’t are too young to tear it up and Gylfie steps in to help.

Chicks grow
But soon the chicks are swallowing their prey whole and can thermoregulate, which means they don’t need Gylfie to keep them warm

But Gylfie stays close, keeping guard and helping Dryer hunt and soon these chicks will be learning to fly. Subscribe to my channel for the next installment from this nest.


ABOUT ME
____________

I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers.

You may like to purchase my artwork: https://www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the characters you watch here!

You can also follow me on these platforms:
Website: https://www.robertefuller.com
Facebook:   / robertefullerart  
Twitter:   / robertefuller  
Instagram:   / robertefuller  
Or sign up to my newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/robertefuller/news...

#robertefuller #barnowl #wildlives

CHAPTERS
_____________

00:00Introduction
01:25 – Dryer visits Gylfie
01:44 – Barn owl eggs
04:47 – Dryer panics
06:17 – First chick hatches
07:04 – Squirrel visits
11:02 – Fourth chick not doing well
13:15 – Storm eats prey whole
14:20 – Thermoregulating
14:43 – Recap
15:19 – Next Time


___________________

© Robert E Fuller

Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to reupload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: [email protected]