WBU Owl Cam!

We're back! The Owl Cam 2023 is now live!

We have a Mama Owl back in the nest box, but things are a little different than in years past. She laid the first egg on March 11, with a second egg coming on March 16 – a full five days later! She left the first egg un-incubated for most of the first two days at near-freezing temperatures, so we’re not sure if it will still hatch. She finally settled into incubating the eggs full time around March 13-14th, so we’re hopeful that at least one of the eggs will hatch (and possibly both). This laying behavior is quite unusual compared to the consistent pattern we’ve seen in the Owl Box over the last decade, suggesting that this may be a new or inexperienced female or pair.

We could be in for an interesting Owl Cam season. So be sure to check back often to see what happens!

Jim Carpenter, Founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited has had an owl box in his backyard since 1998. Owls have nested in his owl box almost every year for the past 16 years. Learn more about the history of the WBU Owl box here.

See below for highlights from last year's WBU Barred Owl Cam! 

 

2022 WBU Owl Cam Timeline

Mama Owl checked out the box early March.

First Egg Laid: March 11, 2023

Second Egg Laid: March 16, 2023

Incubation typically lasts 28 – 33 days from when the first or second egg is laid.

First Egg Hatched

Second Egg Hatched

 

 First Owlet Fledged: 

Second Owlet Fledged: 

The WBU Barred Owl Cam is a partnership between Wild Birds Unlimited and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Visit the lab’s All About Birds by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to learn more about Barred Owls and to check out additional bird cams.

 

Inside Cam

Watch for Mama Owl inside the box

Outside Cam

Watch for Papa Owl stopping by with food

 

Highlights from the 2022 Season: