Barred Owls are Calling at Ohana Family Camp

The “who-cooks-for-you” hooting of the barred owls began some weeks ago on Robinson Hill, signaling that mating season has begun for these medium size woodland owls. We hear them all summer at Ohana Camp, but we know that March is the time when nests are being readied for clutches of 3-5 white eggs. Barred Owls normally pair for life. Nest sites are most commonly in hollows of old trees, but they may also use abandoned squirrel or crow's nests. Incubation, done exclusively by the female, lasts about a month. The male owl will bring food to his mate(rabbits, voles, mice) while she keeps the eggs, and then the young warm. At about 4-5 weeks old the young will begin to leave the nest to nearby branches, but they do not fledge until they are about 6 weeks old, and they may receive food from their parents for up to 4 months. So when we hear those wonderful calls on summer nights, it could be parent owls calling to their young or even young barred owls practicing their calls. They are such a special part of our woods around Ohana Family Camp. For more information on Barred Owls visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barred_Owl.html