Our nest camera at a Barn Owl site in Co. Kerry filmed for an entire night. The action starts at dusk, around 11pm, and ends around 5am. Five feeds were delivered to the four chicks in the hour up to midnight, but then continuous rain began. There were no further feeds before dawn, and the chicks will now have to wait until the next night for more.
Four Barn Owl chicks await their feeding, 17th June 2015. Once the rain starts, prey deliveries to the nest ceased (J.Lusby, under licence from NPWS).
Barn Owls struggle to hunt in heavy rain, as their feathers are not waterproof. Several nights of persistent heavy rain can spell disaster for a hungry brood, but fortunately the following night was clear and calm and normal service was resumed.
