2021 Timeline - Preparations and Eggs
2021 - Gertrude and Gerald Preparing For Nesting
Jan. 3 - Newbie is still around
- Lots of mating going on
Jan. 8 - Gerald and Gertrude have been staying close to the nest box.
- Gertrude is in the box tonight and makes some very interesting sounds
- We haven't heard them before, but it sounds like she's responding to someone outside the box
Jan. 9-14 – Gertrude and Gerald have been taking turns staying in the box
- Gertrude has been doing lots of hunting and going to the water bowl
Jan. 15am – In the early morning hours, Gerald bring rat for Gert
- She eats 1/2 and stores it in the corner for later
- She stays in the box for the 1st time this morning!
Jan. 16 - Gertrude not in box in the morning
- Intruder gets chased off again
Jan. 17 - Gertrude not in box in the morning
Jan. 18 - Gertrude stays in the box in the morning again
Jan. 18-24 - Gertrude has been staying in the box throughout the day
Jan. 21 - Intruder is back again hanging around the box - he's very persistent
Jan. 23 - Gertrude has been looking much like she's having contractions off and on
- She can look like she's a bit uncomfortable at times
Jan. 24 - This morning Gertrude looked like she would be laying an egg but didn't
- Here's a video of what she's looks like before laying
- Tonight, Gert has gone in & out several times...it's been raining on & off
- She leaves for a couple hours. Hopefully, she got something to eat!
Jan. 25 - Intruder is back again. Here's a video
- Gertrude leaves for the day!
Jan. 26 - Gert's stays in box again during the day
Jan. 27 - Gerald brings Gertrude a gopher
- Intruder again
Jan. 29 - Intruder comes again - conflict - video
Feb. 1-7 - Food drops & 5-7 matings a night
Feb. 8 - No food drops
Feb. 9 - More contractions
- No food drops again
- Intruder is back
Eggs
Feb. 10 - 1st Egg Laid but hits hard & breaks - Gert is acting different
- When Gerald comes in the box, he checks it out & seems to recognize something is wrong
- Gert leaves for about 3 1/2 hrs.
- She doesn't lay on egg for about 5 hrs.
Feb. 11 - We realize there's a hole in egg & Gert ends up eating the yoke & moving it over to the side
- Gertrude goes out several times during the night & has quite a bit of food
Feb. 12 - She still has food in the pantry
Feb. 13-14 - No food drops
Feb. 15 - Gert is very quiet & sitting under the cam almost all day! No cleaning or anything but also seems like she's having contractions
- Gerald spends more time in the box (13 matings)
- Gert has been out quite a bit
Feb. 16 - 12 matings & 2 drops
Feb. 17 - 13 matings & 4 drops
Feb. 18 - 7 matings & 2 drops
Feb. 19 - Finishes rat from last night
- 10 matings & no drops
- Unusual sounds
Feb. 20 - 6 matings & 1 1/2 drops
Feb. 21-23 - 10-12 matings per night with a couple food drops too
Feb, 24 - Gertrude lays another egg - We are counting it as her 2nd laid egg in memory of the one that wasn't viable so #2 Egg
Feb. 25 - Mating slowing down to 6 matings, no food drops
Feb. 26 - #3 Egg Laid (again incl. 1st non-viable egg)
Feb. 27 - 2 large rats
Feb. 28 - 1 rat, 1 bunny
Mar. 1 - #4 Egg Laid (incl. 1st non-viable egg)
Mar. 3 - #5 Egg Laid (incl. 1st non-viable egg)
Mar. 6 - #6 Egg Laid (incl. 1st non-viable egg)
Mar. 8 - #7 Egg Laid (incl. 1st non-viable egg)
Mar. 8 - Intruder Back At Nest But Eggs Are In The Box - Video
Mar. 11 - A Couple Intruder's - Video
Mar. 18 - Intruder Goes After Gerald Twice - Video
Mar. 27 - We've got a pip in 1st egg! Yay!
Mar. 28 - Owlet #1 hatched - Genesis! Video
Mar. 30 - Owlet #2 hatched - Grace!: Video
Apr. 1 - Owlet #3 hatched - Griffin!! Video
Apr. 6 –Owlet #4 hatched - Gizzy: Video
- Little Genesis Stuck on Mom's Foot: Video
Apr. 9 – Owlet #5 hatched – Galen: Video
- 22 - The oldest baby, Genesis is learning to help out with the younger ones. Tonight, she gave hatchling #4, Gizzy, a rat that was delivered: Video
Apr. 12 - Crows Mess With Gertrude & Gerald: Video
May 1 - Older Babies Get A Bit Aggressive With Mom: Video
May 2 - Gerald Drops Off Different Critter: Video
May 3 - Genesis Protects the Nest: Video
- Gerald Drops Off Lizard For Babies: Video
May 13 - Little Ones Practicing Their Hunting Skills: Video
May 23 - G & G Owlets Identification: Video
May 24 - Owlet #1 - Genesis Fledges: Video
May 25 – Both Grace & Griffin sit in the hole tonight
May 26 - Owlet #2 Grace Fledges: Video
May 28 - Owlet #3 Griffin Fledges: Video
May 29 - Female Intruder Comes in Box & Causes Conflict: Video
May 30 - Intruder Attacks Babies Again: Video
June 1 - Owlet #4 Gizzy Fledges & Hangs With Siblings: Video
June 6 - Owlet #5 Galen Fledges: Video
June 6- July 6 – Babies hang out around the nest box after fledging