Greetings! We are glad to hear that you were able to visit our Owls this season and decided to build your own Owl House. I don't know how far along you are with your construction, but I highly recommend that you spend some time at the website of The Barn Owl Trust in the UK. They are an excellent source of information and have very specific recommendations regarding features of the house concerning the health and safety of the Owls. They even have step by step plans available on their site to help you with your build. ( www.barnowltrust.org.uk/ ) To answer your question, I went back to my plans and found that the oval entrance door on our house measures 4 1/2 X 6 inches. Good luck with your project, and enjoy the process!

Thanks for the opening size, Eric!! That's the last thing I had doubts about. I have a degree in Zoology, and have been following nests & bird rehabbers for a few years... I have a decent idea of what could be beneficial/harmful; we're good there :) I already have the box framed (40" x 24" x ~28"tall; I went with a frame, because I can mount the frame and then assemble the box in place by myself); have the plywood ready, picked a good shaded spot. I don't much care for most British designs, too complicated, plus their Barnies are Tyto alba, smaller species than American Tyto furcata. I asked for size and mostly copied (with some improvements for water insulation and cleaning options) Dr. Charter's Florida boxes because they are the best for camera set up of all streams that I saw on the web, you can see everything in those boxes. What's the make and model of the camera that you have set up for inside? Does it require a special software?

@@I.L.-cx4fy I appreciate the fact that you very experienced and knowledgeable regarding nature and birds, but would still encourage you to visit and spend even ten minutes reading the recommendations regarding Owl House design at the Barn Owl Trust site. I think the dimensions of your box will provide a very nice house and can allow you to incorporate features that will increase the safety of the Owls, without making it complicated. One suggestion I will make is for you to place the door at least 16 inches above the floor if you design allows. This will prevent the Owlets from prematurely leaving the box and possibly falling to the ground. Again, good luck with your project. I used a Foscam R4S camera. The camera is wireless over Wi-Fi.

Hi! Thanks for your reply. I didn't in any way refuse to read more on owls, sorry if I sounded snobbish ir know-it-all. There's new knowledge appearing every day! So I've read all there was to read on the site you mentioned (+lots of other sites) a long time ago, and re-read some parts now, too. My entrance will be almost 20" off the floor, almost under the roof. Dr. Charter said 50cm (20") is best, so I went with that. I saw owlets falling out too young (and getting hurt, and on one occasion stolen), because of low entrance location. I will look up your camera, too.... Thank you very much... On one stream with a very good pucture quality) they mentioned in stream description that they use Axis p3265 live, so I bought that. I opened, started reading the manual and I realized that I don't understand anything about how to set it up, will take some time and I'll need help from someone more techy. So I'll probably use Alfred webcam app to monitor if anybirdy visits the nest untill I can find help with installing the Axis... Can you, maybe help?... I'm fairly smart (I wired a couple 220 circuits, for an oven and flow-through electric water heater from scratch, once someone told me what breakers to buy, gage of wire and what's code-compliant), but I don't have any understanding of electronics and reading schematics. Are there more details on your camera model? There's Foscam 4s for $55 snd for $109 on Amazon...

Thanks Tammy! It was a fun season watching the family grow up. Always a pleasure to have you drop by and chat with us. Your enthusiasm is contagious!! See you next season.

Thank you Tammy - I appreciate your kind words.

Thanks John! Having you as our Moderator has added so much interest to the channel. Your insights and education add so much to the experience. Thanks again!

​@@Erics-OwlsIt has been my pleasure - thank you for offering me the opportunity to Moderate

Amazing, isn't it?!!

Hello Rosa! Mom and Dad will probably spend the next few months in our area, but not at the Owl House. In December or January, it is very likely they will return to the house again and start another family. Barn Owls usually mate for life. Be sure to check back. There will be improvements to our channel that I believe you will enjoy. As a Subscriber, you should receive notification when we return Live at that time.

I love that look!

They really are very cute. I am glad you visited.

Yes, I am sure it would not be a pleasant way to go. Nature can be cruel at times.

I appreciate you visiting and your input. This time of the year, the sun is far enough north that it shines directly in the door, which faces north, and can cause glare. If you visit some of our videos from earlier in the year, or even go back to earlier today when the sun was low, the image is quite clear. In our area, the north facing door is preferable for several reasons, so we just have to deal with the glare at times.

She really is amazing. Glad you enjoyed the video.

Hi Jean. Athena is a great mother. So dedicated and attentive.

Good family story. I am happy that you are enjoying the journey with us all. Thanks kenn coming along. These beautiful birds are amazing.

Thanks for visiting.

Hello kenn, I noticed the same thing you did. Sometimes the prey is still alive when delivered, but it also be involuntarily movement. I read that the Owl who captures the prey crushes the skull with its beak. They may also break its neck. There is one video on our channel regarding “mouse playing possum” where the mouse tries unsuccessfully to run away. Nature can be cruel, but that is universal.

I see now that you already found that video.

Thank you so much for the nice compliment. We strive to create interesting and informative videos for Owl lovers. Your visiting and kind words make the effort worthwhile.

If you enjoy, please Subscribe. Thanks!

😂😊

Sihe will Servives too i hope ❤

@@Erics-Owls No problems at all. I absolutely adore owls,and following you now will be a highlight for me. Owls are gorgeous creatures no matter where in the world you are.

Thank you for commenting on many of the videos kenn. I know @Erics Owls enjoys reading them and usually responds.

Thanks you kenn for spending time with us and for commenting. It is always nice to get feedback. Part of my incentive in creating this channel was to educate, not just entertain. I believe that is happening. Very gratifying!

@@Erics-Owls I wish more had tuned in to see the Owl family. If the videos are left up, more people will come across them. I am very grateful for being able to see them grow and get confident to get out on that platform. What l love seeing was their way of focusing (I assume it is their way), when their head turns all the way round and upside down, trying to focus in on things. They were looking at the lens on quite a few occasions. Maybe the light from outside caught on the lens ?? They took notice at times. Then when they started to jump and stretch their wings, inside, practicing their ballet moves ( I call it). So cute.

I too enjoy that head motion that almost appears upside down. Looks very inquisitive. We are happy you are enjoying the Owls, and yes, the videos will stay up. Plans are already forming to make next family season even a little better, but don’t think this season is over. There is still more to enjoy over the next weeks.

@@Erics-Owls fabulous. I look forward to seeing more.

Thank you for visiting.

Glad it was helpful!

Hi Rosa! It really is amazing how fast they grow. In a couple weeks they will be gone.

Thank you kenn for your kind words and for following the Owls with us. Like you, we find great pleasure in following these amazing birds.

Thank you! I am happy that you visited and enjoyed the video. I hope you will return.

Wow, they look so grown up now! So you say the oldest already went outside?

Thank you. It seems very comfortable.

It will be both sad and a happy event when they fledge. The nature of all life.

They are aware that the cam is there, but it doesn't seem to bother them. For the most part they are just exploring their environment and being curious.

About the time the eggs hatch, Dad sleeps elsewhere, but continues to bring prey for some time.

I wonder why dad can't stay in also be with his little ones once in a while ?

I know he's providing for them though

It really is a fun journey. These Owls are amazing.

Wow, that is interesting. I thought it would be beneficial to remove old Lives that people are not watching anymore. You seem to have a good understanding of how KZbin works. It's all new to me. I appreciate you informing me. I guess I will leave the old Lives in place for a while. I am going to be away for about 10 days starting Sunday, and will have someone available to keep an eye on the computer to watch for any loss of signal and Stream shutdown. They are able to restart a new Stream like I do each evening or as needed. I don't expect to be able to do Chat during that time. I am letting you know so that you don't have to wonder what has happened. All is good. Just a long planned vacation, likely without much internet time. Would you have any interest in being a Moderator in my absence? You clearly are very helpful already and provide great input , so I don't know that it would change things much. Of course if you would rather not, I understand. You support is much appreciated!

I was a mod for years but I don't do any presently. I used to be on a channel with 36k subs. Yes of course I'll step up and support the channel. I'll leave it to you to add the wrench when you wish.

Please feel free to delete this thread as I just wanted to originally inform about the Lives.

I don't know if they were excited to see Mom, or to receive food. Maybe both!

Hello Emlane! Glad you stopped by. They are cute fluff balls. Soon you will see more and more feathers.

Wow, Thank you John for your kind words and for being such an involved and dedicated follower of The Barn Owl Family! It has been, and continues to be, one of my main goals to help people learn more about these magnificent birds. They truly are amazing. I am very happy that you and others are enjoying the Channel. Thanks again!

Makes me to hear and see how excited these little ones get to see their momma home. 🤗🤗

メンフクロウファミリーをご覧いただきありがとうございます。 Menfukuroufamirī o goran itadaki arigatōgozaimasu.

Just Mom helping feed the little one!

That is a good momma making sure the little ones are always satisfied too. 😊❤