Species Using a Silo, a Shed, and a Suzuki!
Barn Owls nesting in abandoned silo.
Although Carolina Wildlands Foundation is in a location with abundant natural habitat for species to live and nest in, they may not always choose a natural site. Animals have adapted to sharing spaces with humans, and there a few examples of this happening at Southern 8ths. The past month we have monitored three different species that have made alternative real estate choices to raise their young.
Barn Owls take up residence in an old metal silo.
We begin with a breeding pair of Barn Owls in an old metal silo on the property. These owls had been spotted flying in and out of this silo for a while, and one day while checking to see if they were still present, I spotted two white “fluff balls.” Those fluff balls were two Barn Owl hatchlings so young that their eyes weren’t even open yet. Barn Owls are known to like to make their nest on flat surfaces, so the first level of the silo was the perfect place for this pair. Barn owls also do not nest similarly to other birds. They lay their eggs on their own pellets instead of building a nest from scratch. By using a game camera, I have been able to monitor their growth throughout the past few weeks and watch how many times both the female and male parent owl hunt and bring their young food.
Growing owlets.
The second example we have of species using a man-made structure as a home, is a family of Red Foxes. This family has made their den underneath one of the sheds on our property. Red Foxes usually dig their dens up to 20 to 40 feet wide and can be as deep as 4 feet in the ground. They also tend to place their den in a safe space to raise their young that is also an ideal spot for hunting. Red foxes eat small mammals, plants, and birds, and from previous fellowships on the property we know there are a lot of small mammals present in our area. Our game cameras have the young kits playing with their siblings, going out at night to hunt with their parents, and just relaxing and sunbathing. The foxes must know they are in a safe place!
Left: the fox front door. Right: kits playing in the drive.
The last example of species who chose a man-made home is a Carolina Wren family. You might be thinking bird house or next boxing box, but no. When deciding on the best place to build their nest, this pair chose the steering wheel of the TRUCK. With the driver side window cracked, the female bird had just enough space to sneak in and make her nest. She was able to lay her eggs and begin feeding her young completely unnoticed. The hatchlings are now about 15 days old and will be fledging the nest at any day.
Suzuki loving Carolina Wrens
So, although these species have plenty of surrounding area in the wild to raise their young, many still seem to choose to raise them near or inside of these man-made structures. Although they are having to learn to share their space with humans, I am just glad they were able to find safe and protected areas to support their young.
Author: Morgan Warner
