This is so cool...

I will post this to the BW forum, so I don't get accused of holding out.
We sooooo wish one of these little guys/gals would come live in our box. This is in San Marcos, CA (north San Diego County).

http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox

That is delightful. Thank you very much.

So cool, that I wish I could show Dad. She's sitting on 5 eggs and the live video is awesome! Dad would love this, and some day I'm going to set up my own wild life camera!
Thanks for sharing KC!
WIB!
SW

We're lucky that our neighbor's owlbox is always being lived in so we don't need one. Don't know what their range is. DS said when he came home the other night one of the owls was sitting on our gate when he went to get out of the truck.

I think I read somewhere their range is 1/4 mile. Anyone know for sure? They had this box up for two years before it was occupied, so perhaps we still have a chance.

The first owlet hatched over the weekend and is so cute! Every once in awhile when Molly stands up you can see him waving his little wings around. He's quite vocal, too. Next egg due to pip and hatch at any time.

Oh, and his name is Max.

Thanks for reminding me to watch Molly. Please keep us informed Kathleen.
They say the next egg to hatch will be Tues. morning.

Yes, I will, Donna. I've been watching her a lot because she is a calming influence. We found out yesterday that someone is trying to push through a big development project adjacent to our property and I'm very upset. Just what I want to do - spend my days fighting commercial property owners! :-(

I leave the web site up with the sound on - the microphone is very sensitive, so I can hear when she is moving around, feeding the chick, etc. We've learned a lot about barn owls in the past week!

I got your back KC. I hate unnecessary development.
We've lost so much of our biodiversity already. Did you know Israel, has more biodiversity than we do here in Southern CA? That is one of the most barren places around. It does have some similarities to our part of the world, but when you add in the human occupation over the centuries in Israel and then tally up the indigenous plants and critters, you got to ask what we are doing wrong.
Did you read about "them" wanting to reintroduce the "endangered" jaguar back into the USA? It seems that the northern most part of it's range is in S.Cal., AZ and NM. Last one was killed in this country way over a hundred years ago. The last grizzly bear in CA was killed in the Santa Ana Mountains in the 1900's. Sorry, I forgot the year.
Nature has a way of restoring the balance, and sometimes I just wish people would learn how to live with nature than seeing a beautiful wildflower meadow and seeing a housing development or a parking lot.
I am stepping off the soapbox.
Love seeing the little owl eggs, and Mom. : - )
WIB!
SW

Well, I tracked down the chairwoman of the committee that oversees these things and I feel better now. She explained all the hurdles the developer would have to jump BEFORE they even put a plan before the committee the first time. Then we're talking state, county and community approval, water, sewage, Cal-Trans, etc. He claimed they would have the first piece of it operational this summer and I think she almost fell off her chair when I told her that. Anyway, she said I was quite right to jump on it right away and she will keep me in the loop if he presents anything to them. Also, I found out their meeting schedule and we will start attending so we don't get surprised like this again.

I was getting my soldiers lined up, though. Now I have a local newspaper wanting the details so they can follow up on the story, too! Not to mention several neighbors, both near and several miles away.

Thanks for message, SW. It always helps to have back-up when you feel threatened!

KC, I'm only a half hour away by car (if it's not rush hour!)
What they don't have to have an Environmental Impact Study?
I'd call tv stations or email them with photos of the cute owls, and if you really want to start something, post it on youtube.
Do go to meetings, be vocal, and rally the locals. Remember most people have the attention span of a gnat. So you got to get in your five "W"s quick. (Who, what, when, where, and why). Try to get local groups to be aware of the issue. Every one from the Scouts, to birding organizations to people like us.
My philosophy is that it never hurts to ask. It also doesn't hurt to do your homework about the subject so that you can refute or answer, allegations or questions. Study your opponents. Offer options they may not have considered.
That's all I got for now.
WIB!
SW

Back a few years ago, they were fighting the Ahmanson Ranch development (and won!!!) here and there was a bit of literature of a study done by some university back east (Cornell?) that said that undeveloped land brings in more in tax money than is spent upon it and developed land uses more tax money than it makes. Makes sense to me. You always hear about money problems in places like Los Angeles and Orange Counties, but I have never heard of troubles in Lake and Alpine Counties.

The only exception to the above, Kelli, is pay parking lots.
We, (DH and I) laugh at developers, and they have approached us. We like open spaces and hills covered with colorful wildflowers. We don't want to sell or even to develop it. We like having trees for neighbors. They are nice and shady, don't have loud parties, although they might loose a branch or leaves from time to time, they are good neighbors.
People are the problem. They just don't appreciate what they got til it's gone. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot. (Yup, I know them are lyrics but can't remember name of the song!)
I'm forever telling my ES to leave well enough alone. He invariably makes it worse because he has to mess with it.
I am amazed at the # of people who are watching the owl nesting. Maybe, not everyone wants to pave over paradise, after all.
WIB!
SW

# 3 was just hatched - name is Austin. Next one should be approx 2 days. She goes into a frenzy of scratching the bottom of the box just before - I did see that, but not the actual hatching. She's eating up the egg shell - apparently it's a security thing to deter predators - leave no clues!

Today the mayor delivered a proclamation declaring March 25 Molly and McGee Day in San Marcos. They're starting a fund to add more nesting boxes and benches around the trails at the nearby park. San Marcos does have some nice parks for walking.

Still watching, just missed Austin's hatching. I've been away from the house since Wed. morning and couldn't wait to come home to see the updates. lol

I was telling my dad about it and it thought it was so cool. He is so facinated about what we find on computers. Sure wish he wanted a computer, especially at his age of 90 yrs. old.

Number 4 is on the way! Pipping confirmed just now...so the next little one is due any time. Judging by past hatching, about early evening on.

Kathleen, I am so hooked on watching Molly. I have been leaving it on with the sound up and coming back to watch at intervals.
Yes, there are 2 large pipping holes in the eggs, there might be 2 born tonight.
Mcgee, the father, has brought her lots of food tonight....a nice rat and looks like 2 gophers...yum, yum.

So surprised to see there were no hatchings overnight. Perhaps I might see one after all. I do the same thing, Donna, but sometimes I have to mute the sound because DH gets annoyed. Last night I was using the headphones! LOL

Wesley just made his appearance! It was great to see!