The first recorded brood of five chicks in Kerry for at least eight years was seen yesterday at a traditional site near Tralee. Many other nests in Kerry and elsewhere have four chicks, so the average brood size this summer is very high so far.
Five or more chicks in a nest has only been recorded a handful of times before in Ireland (though it is regular in Britain), and is reflecting what seems to be an abundance of small mammal prey at the moment. Most sites visited have a surplus of voles and mice littering the nest. Perhaps the very good summer of 2014 followed by a relatively mild winter has allowed small mammal densities to remain high. The Barn Owls certainly seem to be benefitting.
Five or more chicks in a nest has only been recorded a handful of times before in Ireland (though it is regular in Britain), and is reflecting what seems to be an abundance of small mammal prey at the moment. Most sites visited have a surplus of voles and mice littering the nest. Perhaps the very good summer of 2014 followed by a relatively mild winter has allowed small mammal densities to remain high. The Barn Owls certainly seem to be benefitting.
Five Barn Owl chicks at a nest box near Tralee - the first of this size recorded in Kerry in many years, 26th June 2015 (M.O'Clery Under licence from NPWS).
Father of the five Barn Owl chicks. The male was roosting on a nearby beam, though as the chicks get older and more noisy and demanding, he will move out and roost elsewhere. Interesting to note, he is ringed... wonder where he came from? 26th June 2015 (M.O'Clery Under licence from NPWS).
A young Barn Owl chick at a nest box near Castlemaine, 26th June 2015 (M.O'Clery Under licence from NPWS).
Four Barn Owl chicks at a nest near Castleisland, caught on infra-red camera, awaiting their next feed, 18th June 2015 (M.O'Clery Under licence from NPWS).
Four chicks has become a familiar sight this summer at many of the nests which have been visited so far. The average for most years is usually around 2 –2.5 per nest. Let's hope the summer stays reasonably good, and most of these chicks will be in with a good chance of surviving until fledging.
