Barn Owl Chicks Thrive Despite Their Clueless Dad | Willow & Ghost | Robert E Fuller
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 02. 2022
- Barn owl chicks Ginger, Cinnamon & Clove grew up to be beautiful owls, despite having a very inattentive owl dad.
Watch Willow and Ghost interact live on my nest cam: • Live From Fotherdale |... and follow their story in this playlist: • Barn Owls 🦉Willow & Gh...
JOIN MY MISSION
____________________
You can support my wildlife rehabilitation and conservation work by donating here: www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s... or joining one of my supporter communities: www.robertefuller.com/support...
ABOUT THIS FILM
____________________
Willow & Ghost
This is the story of barn owls Willow and Ghost's first clutch. This pair laid four eggs in my Sycamore Stump nest box very late last summer. All four eggs hatched successfully, although sadly the fourth chick did not make it.
Ghost slacks in his duties
Although first time owl dad Ghost started off well, providing his partner with Willow regular meals whilst she incubated their eggs, once the first chick started hatching he disappeared for so long that poor Willow had to leave the eggs to find her own sustenance. These disappearing acts continued as the second and third chicks hatched until it felt like Ghost was living up to his name!
And is clueless with the chicks
As the chicks grew, thanks to the tireless support of their owl mum Willow, Ghost's attentions continued to be intermittent. Watch as one day he arrives with a meal but seems very unclear how to actually feed the chicks. Male barn owls do not feed their chicks and thankfully Willow is on hand to tear up the food so that the chicks can manage it.
Sadly the fourth chick dies
Unfortunately Ghost just doesn't bring in enough food and what little he does bring the older chicks devour so that the youngest just doesn't get enough and eventually perishes. Unlike kestrels barn owls do not share out food evenly to give all their chicks a chance and the elder siblings are normally considerably bigger than the youngest.
Remaining three flourish
However Willow's remaining owlets seem to take care of one another and even share their food. Watch as their pin feathers grow through and they flap their wings ready for their first flights.
Next time
It won't be long before these three barn owl chicks are ready to fledge. Subscribe to my channel for a notification of my next episode, when they get their ID rings and fly for the first time.
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 which you can find on my website: www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the wonderful characters you watch here!
You can also follow me on these platforms:
Website: www.robertefuller.com
Facebook: / robertefullerart
Twitter: / robertefuller
Instagram: / robertefuller
___________________
© Robert E Fuller
Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: mail@robertefuller.com
#robertefuller #barnowls #owls
I hope you've enjoyed the video!
Watch more Willow & Ghost films: bit.ly/3rG6TNm
See them 24/7 on my livestream: bit.ly/44ScRZT
Support my work with wildlife: www.robertefuller.com/support_and_donate/
Shop my barn owl artwork: www.robertefuller.com/product-tag/owl/
Follow me: Facebook - bit.ly/43LiisV | Twitter - bit.ly/43yuiO9 | Instagram - bit.ly/3XV7rLA | TikTok - bit.ly/3XUnEAJ
"Luckily this particular owl isn't aggressively territorial."
Couldn't be Finn the big sweetheart who sits by his mate when he isn't hunting 🤣 so relieved he didn't hurt the eggs. I would have been so torn.
Ikr, he really is just a big sweetheart lol
I love Finn. 💖💖💖
Hah, the kind of lad that would start feeding those chicks too.
I kinda thought he would sit on them himself
While having a rival owl raid the unwatched nest could've been disastrous for the eggs, it's almost comical imagining that Finn just wanted to check in on the neighbors.
Indeed! 😊🤭
Those are the kids his are going to grow up playing with
🤍🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉🌌🌠🌙
@@starcat17 future in-laws 😁
@@starcat17 Potentially might even be the future owls his kids mate with, so it's a good thing he didn't kill the eggs!
@@cortster12 His heart was riddled with fate
I love Finn
He is clearly father of the year!
Just like him because he didn't hurt the babies
“Hmm… they’re out, it seems. Oh, the chicks are coming along nicely. Ah, she’s back. Howdy, neighbour, the kids are fine, so I’ll take my leave now. Toodles!”
czcams.com/video/e1f6JwBJg4Y/video.html
I know right? He’s super sweet. Some owls crush the eggs but he just looks at them
“They seem to be developing well under the watchful eye of Willow” 6:31 Willow staring straight into the camera: (⚫️V⚫️)
😂😂😂😂
I love that part! 😂
I am at a loss why Robert didn’t step in earlier on this one… He is usually really good about stepping in when it is necessary, from what I have seen so far at least…
I just found it strange that he only threw in some food towards the end when things seem to already be mostly under control.
I really wish that he would have thrown in some food when that smallest baby chick was failing before it died from starvation (or rescued it and made it get strong with sustenance, to put it back in the nest afterwards). 😢😢😢
@@anti-ethniccleansing465 Robert usually won't interrupt nature, but you're right, he will usually step in if an animal is clearly at death's door. For Willow's tiniest one, I think he didn't take the baby out because 1. It still wasn't that much smaller than the 2nd smallest at that point, and it was very hard to tell if it was getting fed because of how crowded it was and there's only one camera, and 2. Willow hadn't abandoned it (if it was clear that she had and was purposely not feeding or warming it, he have gotten it out) but she was still trying to feed it. The problem really with this group was space. Almost impossible to get the baby aside to feed it without a sibling eating the food. If Robert had brought extra food earlier then he risks bringing food and it still going to the others, PLUS the big risk is that this was Willow and Ghost's first time, and he doesn't want them to think if they don't get food themselves that it will magically appear forever. He needed Willow to keep calling out to Ghost for food and she herself to sense that she needs to go get some. Bringing food at that stage could have endangered her future babies if she became like Ghost and didn't realize the need to hunt.
@@feeltheyumyums
Thanks for taking the time to reply, however, it doesn’t seem like you addressed the last part of my remark where I questioned why he wouldn’t take the option of removing the starving baby and feeding it until it was more stable and putting it back in with the family at that point for another go.
It seems he already knew that food was sparse for their hunting at that time.
If he didn’t see the chick was starving at all, then ok, but it’s weird the camera didn’t pick it up.
Awe. Fin. He's too good of a dad himself. Got a soft spot, and didn't really want to hurt any of the eggs. He was just curious about where the other owls had their nest, I guess.
Such a relief he did the right thing!
@@voidswirl2049 it’s an owl
@@Loaves_of_Cat yes and what?
@@Loaves_of_Cat wow I had no idea 😳
Ghost is a BUM. At the pub until 3 am then rolls in with no food. The bar is so low! 🤣 Getchu a man like Finn!
😆😆😆
😂😂😂
Honestly while the chance is very low right now, if Ghost doesn't step up to his game and Gylfie pass away someday(she's pretty old for a wild owl), I hope Willow will "divorce " Ghost and mates with Finn 😂
(I'm not saying this seriously 😂 but if it happen it'll definitely be fun drama 👀)
🤣🤣🤣
@@Just_Moon2004 Wow ... I think you've got the makings of reality TV show here! 😆
I love that Robert just chucks a handful of mice into the nest 🤣.
Me too. That’s something I would do. My neighbour thinks I’m weird when I feed the orb spider who set up web in the worst position for catching insects.😃
@@bari2883 I do that too! there’s something comical abt a spider choosing such a bad spot to make a web. since we can’t offer real estate advice, we just give them their occasional food delivery 😂
Helpful uncle Robert.
@@bari2883 sometimes, those extra special little nuggets just needs a helping hand.
@@atlf3357 the lads at my place keep putting up webs in the footpaths. One even took offense to that and crawled up me.
Dude, I can’t see your web without good sunlight, stop putting it in bad places.
Finn be like "uhhhh, hi, bye, I'll just be going now that you're here!"
Also Finn makes all the other dads look almost negligent in comparison, whether it's Ghost or Bomber or anyone else. He provides so much food his family almost can't keep up. He's so attentive he's checking up on the neighbor's kids!
for real, finn and apollo were superdads meanwhile bomber and ghost have been very negligent! smh boys. i made fun of finn and apollo for being a little clueless but they're leagues above and beyond the competition.
Finn's gene's must be passed on😤
Finn did the same thing again last night on the livestream! Except he popped into Luna's nest this time 🤭 once again didn't hurt the egg, just inspected it gently. He's such a total sweetheart 🤩
I think Finn is related to Barney the barn owl, who passed away a while ago. He was also a super dad so that’s where he got it from.
@@ameliorateepoch9917 I hope not directly because Finn's "wife" is Barney's "widow." And since Finn is only two maybe three years old now, and was born after Barney's first "wife" died Finn and Glyfie would be quite the Oedipus story.
I knew that 4th chick was in trouble when he didn’t give it a name 😢
Nah it's a gansta owl now he flies with two saw off shot guns
Just wondering don't they need to drink water.
The 4th chick has a name. Ghost Jr.
(I’m sorry)
@@bigpoison408 most owls solely get their water intake from the prey they consume, and just like the example he gave, Willow cooled off by going outside and flapping her wings and by moving her throat, no water involved even if a bathing pond was around.
Nugget since it was tasty
And power mom Willow already has a clutch of 3! I loved how stunned Willow seemed to be when she realized it had been Finn in there, pausing for so long as if trying to process. So fun seeing these moments again. Fingers crossed for some Clove and her stick action in part 2. I knew Willow had been the one providing a lot of food at points but I didn't know she was up to 84% poor thing was working her tail off.
Lets hope he does better this year.
I wasn't expecting to see a deadbeat owl dad today. I thought animal instincts were a little stronger than that. Cool video!
Why is this such a great comment lol
Humans are animals too.
Some animals are just shite parents. I have a chicken who did an awful job protecting and raising her babies and gave up after a month
Seems every species has a "deadbeat" mate now and then.
Poor Finn was just like 'Oh, sorry, wrong tree'. XD
Finn: "these cookie cutter nests look all the same, I tell ya" 😅
Why do the parent owls always seem to give their chicks a nice stomping when they are first born 😂
hahaha I noticed that too
It's a massage? 😬
Probably trying to stimulate the babies. Make sure they're up and alive.
I was wondering too.
😂
@@joanneblack7697 no, its a message lol jk
I love how Finn is just like: *”Oh! Neighbors with eggs! Maybe my kids will be friends with theirs”*
Willow is such a great mom, she's like a girl version of finn. I love how devoted she is and it's amazing how 3 chicks survived considering she's like a single mom at this point. What a powershouse momma willow is🤗🥰🦉🐣🐣
Nobody has a good word to say about Ghost (sadly aplty named).
😭
A powerhouse indeed: she brings home 84% of the bacon!!!
@@moustik31 Ghost redeemed himself this season! from absent dad to super dad.
imagine her and finn riding, god so hot
@@joane20280519
That’s fantastic news!!
Wasn’t expecting the larger sibling to share some food considering it stole food prior. Perhaps that’s simply survival instinct in the earlier stages and since it’s grown a bit more it’s bond with its siblings changes that.
lol groan
I know I was like what the hell ginger! Y she did her littles sister like that but feed the third sister????
@@reallyinfrontofmysalad6976
Probably too young to make the choice at the time
Do you think birds feel guilt or regret?
It is survival instinct. The chicks have to rapidly gain mass so that overheating and overcooling won't be an issue, as the video said. Until they do, the mother has to constantly check up on them, leaving less time to hunt. Once they are large enough to maintain body temperature, they need less food and can use their own mass to help others keep warm. Chicks must also get large quick to deter predators. They may group up together and collectively make loud, hissing sounds or bite. A chick that isn't gaining weight and strength fast enough is dead weight, so mothers and siblings may instinctively neglect them.
So cute that Finn did a check up.
Coming here after watching tawny owl Luna's story and it's funny to see Finn has an MO of just casually visiting unattended eggs
I know he is a bit nosy 🧐
Had no idea that owls panted to keep cool, that's so fascinating 😊
Willow is such a beautiful mother. The narration brings all the memories back! Thank you Robert!
Fascinating how Finn didn't do what a competing owl would normally do and break the eggs. I know owls aren't the most intelligent birds of prey, but they definitely all seem to have different temperaments.
Yes, they all have their own personalities!
I love willow and Finn when the first egg hatched willow just went “ oh new chick , let’s stand on it”
😆 I know poor little thing
Willows still cute tho 🥰
7:13 She is so proud of her baby 🥺
"Uncle" Finn was just checking in on the progress of Ghost and Willow's eggs! Thankfully, the good chap was a benevolent fellow and left the eggs alone! 😊
Robert, even though birds do indeed eat their young on occasion, we observers of your videos still feel sad (and commiserate with you) when we come to know each of the youngsters as individuals and having rooted for successful futures for them all.
Thank you for sharing their stories with us. 💕
Nature can be very cruel at times - but also fanatatic to watch all the success stories. Heres to a good breeding season this year.
@@RobertEFuller Yes, may they enjoy much success! Thank you! 👍😊
1:44 Awww, Finn! Ii just love him!
He's such a character, even appearing in other owls' films!
Thank goodness Finn is a kind gentleman, despite being a parent of his own and taking care of his family. I love the name of Willow and Ghost’s chicks you gave them, congrats to these first time parents
I would be surprised If Fin, the clumsy, young and amaizing dad was aggresive and territorial. Also, always lovely to see how Gylfe’s new chicks are doing ☺️
8:00 the comparison of barn owls and kestrels is very interesting. What is your impression, do kestrel broods tend to have fewer chicks losses?
If so, I wonder what the reason is:
- Asynchronous hatching?
- Feeding during day is easier, the mother sees better which chick needs food?
- Kestrel mothers stand while feeding and barn owl still brood and sit while feeding?
Certainly kestrels take greater care of their young, feeding them carefully in turn whereas for barn owls it seems to be survival of the fittest! in a brood of barn owls the oldest one can be 12 days older than the youngest and already eating whole prey items by the time the youngest hatches and the adults don't seem to notice that their food isn't being distributed evenly. Kestrel chicks all roughly hatch at the same time, with only a few days between the first egg and the last and great care is taken by the parents to ensure each chick gets a share of food. But according to the data, for both species juveniles have a similar chance of survival to 1 year of 0.32 for kestrels and 0.37 for barn owls. Once barn owls reach 1 year they have a better chance of survival 0.72 vs kestrels 0.69. Also to note that barn owls have been on the green list for conservation status whereas kestrels are on amber and also kestrels will only have 1 brood a year whereas barn owls will have 2 broods per year when the conditions are favourable. in spite of the best efforts of kestrels I have certainly experienced more loss of young with kestrels than barn owls. Hope this is helpful
@@RobertEFuller
I also enjoyed show the bigger sibling ended up sharing the food later on as well where as it stole food prior, seems the bond is real
@@RobertEFuller thank you for the data information 🙂
i never knew they could preen themselves at just 10 days old, thats so cute ;;
Finn and Willow... now there's a power couple! Lol Just kiddin' :D The scene with Finn stumbling in to check out the place was priceless lol! No wonder the run in when you have put multiple free perfectly designed owl mansions in the same neighborhood! :D
Willow is such an amazing mum. I know they appreciate the mysterious helping hand once in a while
I've heard that barn owlets will make different noises on how hungry they are and the chicks will share their food with the hungriest. But the only videos I've seen are them trying to get the food first. I've also heard the chicks will only share once their full which makes more sense considering what I've seen.
I love how the barn owl chicks have that hint of silver in their facial disks!!
Barn owls are beautiful 🤩
I didn’t process ‘Ghost seems to be living up this name,’ so I fisted the air and then thought ‘wait’ just as he said ‘as I’m not seeing much of him’
imagine being a first time dad trying your best and you find out an alien made a video and roasts you for being incompetent 🤣🤣🤣
He has a chance to redeem himself - this years chicks are due to hatch from next week - watch them him on my live cameras to see how he gets on.
Well, why "trying tour best" for dads always seems to be doing the bare minimum, while mom is doing work 24/7? I am not talking only about owls 😆😆
This is adorable, first-time parents!🦉🦉It really gets me when the littlest one doesn’t make it. It makes me wish for little owl hands for the mamas. Survival of the fittest is hard. It’s all worth watching this. Thank you!! 💕🦉💞
Ghost reminds me of a bachelor in the renaissance putting his mistress up in lodgings and just checking in on her occasionally.
Your photography and empathy are awesome. I'm a pro photographer in Andalucia, not in your league in wildlife photography but and enthusiastic amateur. I do spend time shooting our local flock of Grifon Vultures about 200 of them, they are majestic birds with 2.8m wingspans...
I’ve heard about the awesome griffon vultures in Andalucia you are very lucky!
@@RobertEFuller i know, shame i can't post you a few images on here!
ginger in her mother's wing as she's just engulfing a rat is so adorable. a snack goes great with mommy cuddles
These videos are amazing. I spend a lot of time studying animals, and I grew up on a farm, so I knew that nature is tough, but seeing how the chicks are raised from the view point of the nest, I must say that I didn't fully realize just how tough it is on the animals to keep their family safe and fed. I wish for all humans to see how delicate the dance of life is in nature, and how our environmental practices make things even tougher on our fellow animal friends. I wish we could all be as great stewards of nature as Mr. Fuller is. I'm so thankful he's out there providing nesting sites and assitance to these beautiful birds.
What a wonderful documentary of the 3 chicks!! It's so nice to see them growing in one short video!! Thank you Robert for all you do!!!💖💕❤💘💝🦉🦉🦉
Our pleasure!
@@RobertEFuller 😊😄💕
Oh good, thank you for helping Willow feed the chicks. I can’t believe Ghost is slacking so much
I absolutely adore your videos. Top notch, well narrated and the right sound mix. Thank you for your channel :)
Thank you very much!
It's so fascinating to see all this. All young'ens need a "Dutch Uncle" like Robert Fuller to stop by with a "bag of groceries" to help during lean times. 🥰😇❤
Nothing like a Finn cameo!
Well done Willow you have 3 Beautiful chicks
She is already brooding 3 eggs this year which will hopefuly be hatching in a week or so.
Can't believe Ginger scoffed that whole mouse down.
I honestly love willow ~ she such a beautiful owl ~ and loving mother
Barn owls are my favorite owl, they are just so majestic, wish i could make friends with one xD
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE BARN OWLS & these are GORGEOUS!!!❤😍🦉❤
Thanks 😊 wait for the next video when all the owlets get there feathers
This was so beautiful. So sad the youngest one passed. I do Thank you so much for your live feeds and these amazingly touching videos.
Very much enjoy all your videos. Thank you for providing them.
This video's title is the best! 😂 I'm so glad you make these abridged videos, as I don't often have the time to check in with the live stream.
Glad you like them!
I just loved seeing Roberts hand throw a handful of mice into the nest, made my day
Wonderful to wach this again, to remember watching them on your stream too! Thank you for this lovely video, and for all you do for them, I really enjoyed it as usual with your great videos!
Fingers crossed Ghost ups his game this year.
@@RobertEFuller I say the same! Great you were there to help with mice delivered in the Sycamore 🥰
Another beautiful film of beautiful animals. Thank you for all that you do too enlighten and educate your viewers.
That runt of the brew dealing with the older a d bigger ones reminds me of my youth, hence my choice to sleep so much around the clock to recoup and recover from it all.
I'm still great full my step dad served in the army.
Another amazing video! Thank you so much, Mr. Fuller! You spoil us AND educate us!
Glad you enjoyed it 😃
"ghost seems to be living up to his name as i am not seeing much of him" 😂😂
This is absolutely amazing, always loved barn owls, thank you so much x
So precious! Thanks for always treating us to these valuable videos.
Glad you like them!
Great Vid and watching it again brings back memories from live viewing
Thank you Robert for another wonderful video.
You are very welcome
Another wonderful video. Thank you Robert! 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it
This is really a wonderful video!! Thank you for providing it so we can learn about, and admire these great birds. ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
I swear Finn just wanted to visit. He doesn't seem to have a mean bone in him
Soothing and enjoyable!! Thank you 😊🤗
Beautiful presentation, sir! ❤️️
Willow to Ghost: what are you doing? Go get me something to eat!
Goedeavond Lieve Natuurvriend Robert .. dank voor het delen ..zo wat schitterend deze prachtige uilen met hun schattige jongen al tien dagen oud ..en eten al .n hele muis ..ja de ouders hebben heel wat muizen te vangen zeg ..Like .. En geniet nog super van je prachtige natuurfotografie met lieve groet Stien Ven xxx🌹🦉🦉🦉🙏♥️🌈🦉🙏💋
Me at 2:40 - ☺️
Me at 8:40 - 😭
That being said the good and the ugly of nature I’m glad I came across these videos! It’s a beautiful thing to see even if it can be sad. That ghost though 😒
Thanks for all the work you have in this insane times...with war , fear , all the bad things hapened , this videos bring us same peace of mind
Thanks we put a lot of effort into our videos at the beginning of lockdown as far it’s been a real pleasure to share our stories and content with people all around the world, and we had no idea what our video’s would end up meaning to people 😁 it’s a crazy world at the moment for sure
They are so beautiful 😍 Thank you!
Aww so cute! Your videos always make me smile
Thanks 😊
Thank you for the amazig footage.
That's awesome news.
Gotta go do puppy dog hair care now for a special client of mine.
💇💝
Thank you for this incredible work
☺️ That is so wonderful how 💗Sweet🦉Willow was taking care of her babies!!🐤🐥🐣🐥. It was sad the last one didn't make it, but he's flying in Heaven🌈 with the angels!! Now 💗Willow has another set of babies coming due & I'm very proud of her and Mr.🤍Ghost. 🤗I've been checking on her on the live stream, looking cozy& comfy in her 🌳treehouse. 🦉Thanks so much for the videos!!💗🤍
Fingers crossed the eggs should start to hatch next week.
2:14 lol, he just leaves nest as if nothing happened.
Thank you for making these videos.
My pleasure!
These videos always give me the best feeling
What beatiful animals, great job
I love barn owls. I just wanna kiss their funny flat faces, they always look so sweet and clueless
We love watching these on a lazy Saturday morning! Educational and engaging
I love these two!
My goodness Willow is stunning! You are a storyteller & these videos are amazing & so educational!! Thank you!
Thank you so much! Have you seen Willow this year - she already has 3 fluffy chicks you can watch them on my live stream -
czcams.com/video/NYkUySSjJog/video.html
They are just so freaking adorable 😍
love these owls, can’t wait to see how the children do!
Ooo I've been waiting for this story
Very nice and knowledgable
Thank you Robert, I put a playlist of your videos on for my cat when I go to work, she loves it and I love not finding dead birds on my pillows.
I can’t express how much I enjoyed this video
RIP to the youngest chick 😢
Gosh these are such overwhelmingly beautiful creatures
Willow needs to have a strong chat with the old man. LOL .... Oops! Looks like I spoke a bit too soon.
Thanks for your video It's a new experience for me.
Fantastic as usual 👏 👌
Thank you so much 😀
That was a great video I get a kick out of the looks on mom and dads faces
Robert you the best blogger ever!!!
Robert your videos have such an addictive quality it beggars belief I get anything done😂. Just fascinating Robert so bitter sweet. Love it👍
Thanks David the story’s are compelling because they are 100% real, I have worked on many TV progress both In front and behind the camera and as a guide as my ideas and the real stories were often brushed aside which we often much better than made up ones ! Hence my efforts after years and years of this went into things like this CZcams channel and I’m so pleased that the real stories are going down so well
II was being to doubt my self 🤔