Nesting confirmed! The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls found at Aquiares recently by Milena and John Beer and by Larry Waddell are now confirmed to have 2 almost fully fledged young. These are fed by the female, who in turn is delivered food by the male. On this basis the following male was individually identified after feeding his mate:

The female feeds and cares for the chicks and is distinguished from the larger of the 2 fledglings by the much clearer streaking on the crown and the generally lighter brown colour of the head, as below:

The adult female’s crown streaks are seen to greater advantage in this next shot:

Both fledglings are seen here below, one clearly much bigger than the other:

The next shot shows the larger fledgling, who is now expecting a food delivery:

John’s next two shots show the female bringing a lizard to the nest:

All this considerable activity takes place without the birds seeming disturbed in any way by either the silent filming or by the occasional passers-by on the nearby footpath. Such nonchalant behaviour mirrors what we had earlier observed at a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl nest at Peralta next to a heavily trafficked road – see my earlier post for further excellent photographs taken by John of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls.