コノハズク五つ目の営巣確認 アオバズクはまもなく巣立ち
昨年も分からなかったリュウキュウコノハズクの営巣木がやっと分かりました。今季、五つ目の繁殖確認です。
このペアの雌雄は繁殖期序盤にすでに判明していました。しばらくするとオスしか見ることがなくなっていましたが、そのころ、メスが抱卵に入ったのでしょう。ここ数日はメスも頻繁に観察できるようになったので、ヒナは順調に育っていることと思われます。
リュウキュウアオバズクは6カ所で繁殖を確認しており、そのうちの一つは6月30日に巣立ち、もう一つも今夜あたり巣立ちそうな予感です。
A female Oriental Scops Owl. The ruffled belly feathers may be a brood patch.
Same individual as above. For at least the past two days the female has also been coming out at night to hunt. The eggs have likely hatched and there are chicks in the nest.
The male Oriental Scops Owl paired with the individual above.
Same individual as above. A lucky-break Oriental Scops Owl that caught a Yaeyama Large Cicada which had flown straight at my flashlight. Whether the prey was too big or the chicks were already full, it ended up eating the whole thing itself.
A female Oriental Scops Owl — a different pair from the one above. Still carrying food to the chicks even past midnight.
The male paired with the individual above, keeping watch from his regular position.
The pair above during the daytime. The female.
A male. The ear-tufts and other feathers are showing some wear.
A Brown Hawk-Owl close to fledging. Only one chick visible so far.