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9 July 2013

First Barn Owl chicks of the season

The first Barn Owl chicks of this breeding season have been noted, at a known nest site in a castle in Duhallow. Have a listen to the sound on the clip.

Young Barn Owl chicks 'snoring' for food, Duhallow, 8th July 2013 (M.O'Clery).

This was recorded inside the castle late last night - not a place for the faint-hearted, or those with an over-active imagination.

There are at least two chicks, possibly three, and from the relatively weak volume, are probably about three weeks old. This site has produced the earliest broods of young owls in two of the last three seasons in Duhallow and Kerry, but this year are at least 4 weeks later than in any of the previous seasons. We will hopefully be ringing the chicks at this site in the coming weeks.