I've watched a lot of barn owl behaviour on the cameras over the years, but every now and then something happens that really makes me sit up. This is one of those moments.
It was caught on our live streaming cameras, along with the extra cameras I have watching the nest boxes, and I still find it remarkable every time I watch it back.
Press play when you're ready, and watch right to the end. You can also watch it on YouTube.
The story
Buster had been out hunting and caught a vole. That vole was meant for his hungry owlets back in the main nest box in the barn. But for whatever reason, Buster flew it somewhere else entirely: to the very first nest box I ever built for him, back when he first arrived.
The trouble was, that old box wasn't empty. It had a new tenant, a young stock dove chick. Now, stock dove chicks don't eat voles. And Buster is a barn owl. A hungry barn owl, faced with a small bird that can't fly away, could very easily decide he'd found himself an easy meal.
Then the chick's mother arrived at the box. She could see the danger her chick was in, but against a barn owl she was powerless.
I won't spoil what happens next. All I'll say is that it's a happy ending for everyone, and it's well worth watching to the end.
Why would a barn owl go to the wrong nest box?
Barn owls often use more than one box. As well as the nest itself, they have favourite roosting spots dotted around their territory, and a spare box can be a handy place to rest or tuck away food. Buster knew his old box well, so popping back there isn't as strange as it sounds. Taking his owlets' dinner with him was a bit more unusual!
Do barn owls eat birds?
They can, but not often. A barn owl's diet is mostly small mammals, especially field voles, along with shrews and mice. Birds only make up a small part of what they eat, usually when voles are hard to find. So a stock dove chick in a box would have been an unusual meal, but not an impossible one. That's exactly why this was so tense to watch. You can read more in my guide to what barn owls eat.
About stock doves
Stock doves are a type of wild pigeon. Unlike the town pigeons most of us know, they nest in holes, such as hollow trees, old buildings and, yes, nest boxes. That means they often end up competing with barn owls, jackdaws and tawny owls for the same spots. Stock doves are on the UK's Amber list of birds of conservation concern, so it's always good to see them breeding here.
More from Buster and the cameras
- 🦉 Watch Buster on the live barn owl camera, day and night
- 🗒️ See what our viewers have spotted today on the wildlife sightings page
- ❄️ Another Buster story: Buster hasn't eaten for days, but the snow won't beat him
- 🎬 Learn more with Poppy and Oscar: What do barn owls eat?
- 🧠 Test yourself with the free wildlife and barn owl quiz
Questions people ask
Do barn owls eat other birds?
Sometimes, but not often. Barn owls mainly eat small mammals like field voles, shrews and mice. Birds make up only a small part of their diet, usually when voles are scarce.
What is a stock dove?
A stock dove is a wild pigeon that nests in holes, such as hollow trees and nest boxes. It is on the UK Amber list of birds of conservation concern.
Why do barn owls use more than one nest box?
Barn owls often have several roosting spots around their territory. As well as the main nest, a spare box gives them somewhere safe to rest or store food.
Where was this video filmed?
It was filmed on the Barn Owl Live cameras watching our nest boxes in the Peak District, England.
Subscribe on YouTube Watch Buster live
Thanks for watching,
Paul 🦉