Barred Owls Hatch Three Downy Owlets In Indiana!

Prepare for an eventful month ahead as the Barred Owls begin the nestling period! After more than a month of incubation, the two eldest owlets emerged from their eggs on Easter, March 31, and the youngest sibling followed two days later on April 2. Over the next month, we’ll watch their antics in the nest box as they grow large enough to branch out into their woodland habitat. Watch their progress LIVE on the Wild Birds Unlimited Barred Owl Cam.

Helping Hatchlings Grow: Once hatched, Barred Owls are undeniably adorable and entirely dependent on their parents. Born with closed eyes and covered in fluffy white natal down, they weigh around 1.5 ounces each and promptly beg for food. The female tends to the nest, providing her owlets with warmth and sustenance, while the male hunts for prey. At two weeks old, the owlets begin developing a brownish-gray secondary down, and the female gradually reduces her time in the nest.

What’s For Dinner?: Barred Owls are generalists and opportunistic predators. An impressive array of prey items have been delivered to the nest box over the incubation period, and it’s safe to assume the owls will add to their eclectic menu as the owlets grow. Small mammals, crayfish, and birds have made up most of their diet so far this season, and we’re bound to see some new additions to the pantry in the next few weeks.

Keep tabs on the daily action at the nest on Twitter/X @WBU_Owls, and watch highlights from the cam on the Bird Cams YouTube Channel.