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It's the end of this breeding season. It's strange to write 'breeding' season when no successful breeding occurred, but it is nonetheless, time to close the doors on the balcony nest for the time being.
Right now, I am in the process of gathering as much material as I can from owl experts and such like, to see what may have gone wrong, and what we can expect going forward.
Right now, we find ourselves in a Catch-22 situation.
Do we leave the eggs with PPO until she decides to abandon them (we are now day 47 of what should be an approx 30-32 day cycle of incubation)?
Or do we take the eggs away from her - they are clearly not viable - and allow her to get on with her life, and perhaps another breeding season?
If we leave the eggs, who do we benefit - science or PPO? There is evidence to suggest that the longer she sits on the eggs, the more energy she is using. Pappa is also expending a lot of extra energy by hunting for her.
If we take the eggs away, do we really benefit PPO, or do we just disrupt the natural cycle and possibly a recorded scientific observation? There is no doubt that where possible, one should never interfere with the natural order of things. Time and time again, Man has interfered with the view to 'saving or helping' something, and it has backfired - badly.
Something to think about. We will keep asking the experts questions and see what they come up with.
Will let you know.
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You'll do the right thing. thanks again for letting us all onto your balcony!
ReplyDeleteI know you will do what you think is best where PPO is concerned. For me, I would love the opportunity to continue to observe her in her "natural" state while she is still there and her response to either you removing the eggs or her eventual resolve if you do not. Either way, I continue to send love and affectionate support to PPO and you! Hugs!
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ReplyDeleteI know you will do the right thing for PPO & Pappa. Your love for them guarantees it. (sorry about the prior post, but it would not let me edit for spelling errors)
ReplyDeleteHehe Chris - I have many typos / spelling errors!
DeleteTrust you and Allan to do what is best for PPO! Miss you all, good luck with whatever you decide! Hugs to PPO owls and PPO humans!
ReplyDeleteHi Tracey and Allan! I've been watching PPO for several seasons now. Besides that, I've been involved for about five years in a webcam survey of the breeding seasons of little owls in The Netherlands. That research is being conducted by two specialists with over 20 years of experience. Their policy is to remove the eggs when it is certain that they are not viable (and after that they examine the eggs to find out possible causes). That is not harming the owls - in fact, it's giving them the chance to pick up their normal lives (sometimes they lay new eggs, depending on the time of year). Since we follow their behaviour through the cams, we know that there is no real grieving (and if there is, it doesn't last more than half a day).
ReplyDeleteLast season we've seen the only chick die, about 20 days after hatching. Even then the parents did'nt grieve - although we've seen them say their 'farewells' to the chick. The day after the untimely death, mom and dad even started 'dating' again.
Do what you think is best, that's what the owls will do as well. And thank you for allowing us to watch these lovely animals!
Thanks for your valuable information. I appreciate all the advice I can get from researchers and specialists. My gut feel certainly leans towards taking the eggs that are clearly not viable now (49 days) away from PPO.
DeleteTracy, I trust you and Allan will make the best decision that you can. I am glad you are consulting with the experts and I am sure they will give you guidance.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would remove the eggs, but its not about me or the other humans that love these owls. I do think that by removing the eggs, you are giving PPO and Pappa permission to move on with their lives. (Pappa is hunting for two!!) You will also have the chance to see if the eggs were even fertile. .Having said that, if you choose not to remove them, then you will be duplicating what would occur naturally if this nest were in the wild.
It is a catch-22 situation, but I believe that something can be learned with either decision.
Sending hugs and love to the entire PPO family!!
At this point I think whether you remove the eggs or not will not make a huge difference. From a purely selfish point of view, I am curious to see how long PPO would stay on the eggs before she decides to let them go but that is just me. I support your decision whichever way you go. You have shown us many times that you always put the welfare of the owls first. Thankyou for all you do and allowing us a glimpse into their world.
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