With chicks ready to fledge, barn owls Gylfie and Dryer go for another brood. But a double brood means double the work for male barn owl Dryer.

Date filmed: July-Aug 2024

Watch barn owls Gylfie & Dryer interact live on my nest cam:    • Live From Fotherdale | Robert E Fuller   & follow their story in this playlist:

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ABOUT THIS FILM
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Barn owls Gylfie & Dryer
This barn owl pair have already raised two chicks this year: their own, Uno, and a foster chick, Lucky, but this doesn't stop them going for a second.

Second broods
Double brooding, where birds raise two sets of chicks in one year, is a sign that these owls have enough food and energy. On average just 10% of barn owls in England will attempt a second brood and barn owls and short eared owls are the only UK owls to do this.

A new nest
With their first chicks still occupying their favourite nest, Gylfie & Dryer chose to lay this new clutch in Beech stump. But this choice comes at a risk, since this is where tawny owls Bomber and Luna normally raise their young.

Competition
Thankfully the tawnys have finished raising their chicks, but a stock dove pair also have their eye on the property and Dryer must chase them off.

1st egg
On the 23rd July, Gylfie reveals her first egg, and Dryer can't wait to see it!

Male barn owl's double duties
Dryer now has two broods to care for. Although Lucky and Uno are fledglings now, he continues to bring them food whilst also supplying laying barn owl Gylfie with sustenance.

Dryer's fascination
But Dryer seems besotted and whilst Gylfie takes a break after laying a second egg, he sneaks a peek, looking first into the camera as if to check no one’s watching. But Gylfie soon returns to shoo him away. It is her job to brood!

Three eggs
When Gylfie stands to reveal a 3rd egg, I assume she is done. Over her 10 years here at Fotherdale, she normally averages three eggs per clutch

A fourth barn owl egg
But 3 days later, a 4th egg is revealed. Gylfie immediately gulps down a vole she has cached away in the corner of the nest - she needs all the energy she can get to get through the next month of 24/7 incubation

Then a fifth
Then in early August, Gylfie reveals a 5th barn owl egg. This makes her largest clutch since 2021 with Finn. But after laying such a large clutch, Gylfie needs more food than ever and Dryer's provisions slacken. The cameras capture her leaving the clutch to look for food herself.

Hatching begins
Thankfully Dryer resumes his duties and by 23rd August, 31 days after the first egg was laid, Dyer hears a chick is call from inside its egg. He takes a second look, and places the vole gently on top.

Gylfie returns
When Gylfie returns to the nest she puts the vole to one side.. for now. She knows it won't be long.

First brood
Meanwhile I spot Uno now able to fend for herself and Lucky has already dispersed.

Join me next time, as these eggs start hatching
And the chicks develop well under the care of this experienced pair

ABOUT ME
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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.

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CHAPTERS
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00:00 Barn owls 2nd brood
01:32 Securing a nest
02:56 1st egg
03:46 Male barn owl's double duties
03:56 2nd egg
05:08 3rd egg
05:55 4th egg
06:31 5th egg
07:00 Male barn owl Dryer
09:05 Chicks peeping in eggs
10:33 Next time
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© Robert E Fuller

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