Story Of An Only Owlet | Gylfie & Dryer | Full Story | Robert E Fuller

In their third breeding season, barn owls Gylfie & Dryer had just one chick - an adorable owlet named Ace. Follow the story as this only owlet hatches and grows into a healthy young barn owl and discover how in his final days survival meant having to compete with his own mother for food. Join this channel to support my work and get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU0LJ9et5Tb3m7COFzShgLg/join Watch barn owls and Gylfie & Dryer interact live on my nest cam: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFM-u8Q8V11cI1Ghk_-byaPM and follow their story in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx09JDaWUEFPGeo0NropB21-UI0PIagx3  *ABOUT THIS FILM* ____________________ Barn owls Gylfie & Dryer Gylfie has lived at Fotherdale for eight years, with Dryer as her partner for the last two. Together they have raised six chicks and Dryer has proved to be a devoted owl dad. Their favourite nest box is Elm and this year they laid two eggs here. Housekeeping But this barn owl pair don't keep the nest particularly clean. In comparison to tawny owls, who will leave the box to defecate, barn owls don't mind poo-ing and pelleting right next to the clutch. One advantage to this is the eggs are never left alone - which is a good thing since there are tawny owls and kestrels about. Dryer's fascination As Gylfie broods her new clutch, Dryer remains at her side - attentive to all her needs. He is also curiously fascinated by the eggs and Gylfie must rearrange the clutch after he rolls them away from each other. Only owlet Sadly only one chick hatches, but Ace is a quick developer and by nine days old is already trying to feed himself. By 12 days he can swallow prey whole. And when he is almost one month old Gylfie & Dryer begin trying for another brood, leaving Ace to spend his days alone, save for occasional food deliveries from Dryer. It is fascinating to watch Ace entertain himself - even playing with the unhatched egg as though it were a football. Competition As Gylfie focusses trying for a new brood, she begins to see Dryer's food deliveries to Ace as opportunities for an easy meals and even snatches food intended for Ace from him. It's a confusing time since when courting male barn owls will offer food to females. But it is especially confusing for Ace because when he challenges Gylfie, she then offers the food to him. Ace stands up to Gylfie But Ace is a fiesty individual and he charges at his mother, demonstrating strong survival skills. First flight At 43 days old Ace clambers up to the nest entrance and takes in the view for the first time, but thankfully Dryer arrives with food and tempts him back in. It's too soon to fledge. A week later, the same day Ace gets his BTO identification ring, he fledges the nest. Dryer continues to feed him as he learns the ropes and it's incredible to watch him develop his independence. In the end, Gylfie and Dryer didn't have a second brood, but Gylfie's competitive approach to her owlet only seems to have helped the youngster become strong. *ABOUT ME* ____________ I am a British wildlife artist and filmmaker on a mission to share my love for wildlife with the world. As well as creating detailed animal film and art portraits, I promote wildlife tours around the world and do all I can to help conserve and protect wildlife here at my home in Yorkshire. I hope that by putting nature in the frame I can foster a deep love for wildlife amongst my followers. You can support my work by donating here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=A52ZHAMJZC3J4 or joining one of my supporter communities: https://www.robertefuller.com/support_and_donate/ You may like to purchase my artwork which you can find on my website: https://www.robertefuller.com. Many of my paintings are portraits of the wonderful characters you watch here! Follow me on social media: https://www.robertefuller.com/pages/social #barnowl #wildlives #robertefuller #robertefullerwildlifecams *CHAPTERS* ________________ 00:00 Gylfie & Dryer 00:27 3rd breeding year 01:01 Courtship 01:53 Eggs laid 04:43 Male owl Dryer fascinated by eggs 06:35 Nest hygiene 07:57 Chick hatches 08:57 Dryer sees chick 11:31 Owlet swallows prey whole 12:53 Owlet spends days alone 13:08 Gylfie prepares for 2nd brood 13:50 Gylfie snatches Ace's food 15:25 Egg football 15:43 First view out 17:15 First flight 18:25 Life outside the nest ___________________ © Robert E Fuller Copyright Disclaimer: Please feel free to share my videos but do not download any content without permission with the intent to re-upload. If you would like to license any content, please get in touch: [email protected]