More interesting facts on spotted owls-kaitlyn

Food and Feeding: Depending on the region and prey availability, the chief prey items include flying squirrels, wood rats, hares, and/or rabbits. Mice and moles also contribute to a diet that is 90% small mammals. There also seems to be a correlation between prey size and breeding success. The mean weight of prey items @ 4.1 oz. were found for successfully breeding owls. A mean weight of 2.8 oz. for prey items were found for owls that were unsuccessful breeding. Other prey include birds and smaller owls, invertebrates, and some reptiles. Breeding: Most nest sites are in natural tree cavities. Additional nest sites include platform nests (mostly constructed by other raptors, wood rats, or squirrels), clusters of mistletoe, and cavities or potholes in cliff or cliff ledges. Most nest sites are used for more than 1 year and are typically 60 - 100 feet high. Usually 2 eggs are laid but as many as 4 are possible. Eggs are laid from March through mid-May and incubation lasts 28 - 32 days. The female will brood the young for an additional 8 - 10 days. The young will leave the nest at 32 - 36 days old onto nearby branches. Since flight feathers, at this point, are not fully developed, the young often fall to the ground but will soon climb up nearby trees to perch. At 40 - 45 days old most owlets can fly short distances. Survival rate for the young Spotted Owls is low. http://owling.com/Spotted_nh.htm Not necessarily on Mexican spotted owls: -They hunt 3 times a day, with the first hunt at around sunset, the second hunt at around midnight, and the third hunt at around sunrise.  -Another mating ritual performed by owls involves the male repeatedly flying from a female’s nest to his own to get her attention. If the female is impressed, she will respond with a unique mating call similar to that of chicks begging for food. The male responds to this call by bringing a freshly caught animal as an offering to the female. The acceptance of this offering often leads to copulation.  - Barn Owls raise multiple broods in a single year if there is an abundance of prey -When prey is scarce, however, it can lead to the older chicks cannibalizing the younger ones.  -Many species provide insects to their young in the early stages and whole rodents once the chicks become large enough. -Spotted Owls rip off the heads of their prey so that digestion and owl pellet production are easier for the chicks. -During the incubation process, female owls rarely leave the nest except to defecate and get water. http://www.carolina.com/category/teacher+resources/owl+resources/reproduction.do