Reporting by Iris Seaton, Asheville Citizen Times
A live owl cam offering views of several Western North Carolina barn owl chicks has drawn viewers from around the world.
The owl cam marks the first time the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has offered a live wildlife camera viewing opportunity to the public. According to a June 22 news release, viewership has “exceeded expectations.”
“We have folks who have watched from almost every state, as well as Canada, Switzerland, Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Italy, Estonia, Ireland, Argentina, Sweden, Spain and more,” said NCWRC representative Austin Hill in the news release.
Though all four owlets have now fledged, the NCWRC has assured the public that there is “so much more to see” through the owl cam. Here’s what to know about Western N.C.’s famous owl chicks as they begin to test their wings.
How to watch North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission owl cam
Live footage from the NCWRC’s owl cam can be found at the NC Wildlife Resources Commission website. The main camera records the inside of the nest ― by pressing “other views” in the live cam window, viewers can also check the nest’s exterior.
When did the North Carolina owl cam barn owls hatch?
“Viewership hit its high point around April 15, when the owlets began hatching; truly the most exciting moment of the season,” said NCWRC representative Sydney Brown in a news release. “After that, things naturally quieted down as they settled into being adorable, little feathered lumps.”
Brown also noted that there is “so much more to see,” with the owlets “learning to fly, testing their wings and getting into all kinds of antics.”
Have the NC owl cam barn owls fledged?
As of a June 22 update from the NCWRC, all four owlets had fledged. The oldest three owlets, which are all female, fledged on June 15, making their first flights from the box to areas around the barn. The youngest owlet and only male fledged a few days later on June 20.
What is the best time to see the owl cam owlets?
The June 22 update noted that, since the owlets have fledged, viewers are most likely to see activity around the box between 7-9 p.m. nightly as the owlets fly around the barn and receive food deliveries from the adults.
When will the owl cam barn owls leave the nest?
The owlets are expected to leave the nest as early as the beginning of July, according to the most recent news release.
Did one of the North Carolina owl cam owlets die?
Yes. The youngest owlet died on May 27; the NCWRC believes that it likely passed due to a “combination of factors” including malnutrition, failure to thrive, competition from siblings, drought-related prey shortages and food competition from another nest nearby. A news release noted that the death of owlets is “not an uncommon occurrence in the barn owl kingdom.”
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times.
