Barn Owl Lessons in Love | Gylfie & Dryer | Robert E Fuller

This film covers barn owls Gylfie and Dryer's first year together. Find out how they met and how Gylfie had to teach Dryer the rules of courtship.

Date filmed: Jan-May 2023

Watch Gylfie & Dryer interact live on my nest cam:    • Live From Fotherdale | Robert E Fuller   and follow their story in this playlist:    • Barn Owls 🦉 Gylfie & Dryer | Wild Lives | ...  

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ABOUT THIS FILM
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Barn owl pair
Gylfie is a highly experienced female barn owl, having raised six broods. Her previous partner, Finn sadly passed away in July 2022, but within weeks she finds a new male

Dryer
After examining the ID tag on his leg, we learn that Gylfie's new partner grew up here at Fotherdale. Rescued from a corn dryer, I cared for him alongside Gylfie’s previous partner, Finn

Barn owl courtship
By January the pair are deep into their relationship, preening and exploring nest sites together. But when a pair of tawny owls interrupt the love in, it's Gylfie who fights them off.

Role reversal
And the role reversal doesn't end there. When Dryer seems uninterested in mating, she takes over by mounting dryer.

Male barn owl not hunting
In order to impress during courtship, male barn owls deliver prey to females. But it seems Dryer hasn’t got the memo! And here Gylfie takes charge yet again.

Egg laying
But, at least the mating attempts seem to have gone to plan... Over the next few days, Gylfie looks like she is preparing to lay. I see her nest scraping, become restless, and then sit.

Barn owl eggs
Finally, at the end of May, she stands up and reveals her first precious egg. Watch Dryers reaction when he finally realises!

Incubation
Gylfie quickly sits back down. Barn owls start incubating eggs from the very first one laid and this one needs to stay warm for the next 30 days.

Next time
It’s been fantastic to see Gylfie find a new mate in Dryer and for them to welcome their first egg together. Follow this playlist to see Gylfie add to her precious clutch and Dryer finally step to the new role as provider

ABOUT ME
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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 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!

You can also follow me on these platforms:
Website: https://www.robertefuller.com
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#robertefuller #barnowl #gylfieanddryer

CHAPTERS
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00:00 Introduction
01:41 Owl courtship
02:15 Search for nest
02:54 Territorial tawny owls
04:45 Role reversal
05:48 Mating attempts
07:34 Reluctant Dryer
08:50 Gylfie nest scraping
09:32 First egg laid
10:34 Conclusion
11:25 Next time

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© Robert E Fuller

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