Abney's Owls

2010 update

After more trials and challenges than usual - including a new, more exposed nest site, absurdly-timed pollarding work just as the young were emerging, and some unwelcome attention from unsymathetic members of the public - we're very happy to report that as of April 2010, ths year's family are doing very well.

The three young (once again, a great result) are well-grown, very active and very noisy, and are flying almost as skillfully as their parents. They seem to be past the period of greatest danger, and we'll be keeping our eye on them over the next few weeks and months. Photos are viewable on the latest news page.

Mark Pearson

Background

Many Hackney residents will be aware of one of the borough's most diverse, wild and fascinating sites, Abney Park Cemetery, nestled innoculously behind Stoke Newington Church Street and Stamford Hill in the north of the borough. Not as many, however, are aware that this beautiful woodland is home to our only resident owl species, the Tawny Owl.

Abney's Tawny Owls have been present at the site for at least the last several years, with occasional reports of calling birds. Back in 2006, Hackney Wildlife established the presence of three adults in January of that year by 'tape-luring' after dark; the following year (2007), we found an adult roosting during sunny days in February - so far so good, but no actual proof of breeding.

Last year (2008), we found the favoured roosting sites of both adults in January and February, and monitored several holes nearby which looked good for breeding; we were lucky enough to find two recently fledged young out of the nest on 30th March, with an adult in close attendance - the first confirmed breeding record.

2009 - A photo journal

January

The first month of the year brought tell-tale signs of the owl's activities in the cemetery, with birds calling on many nights, indicating territorial and breeding behaviour. One bird even paid a visit to local naturalist Annie Woodhouse's garden, just north of the cemetery near Allen's Gardens - more than likely one of Abney's birds on a hunting trip.

February

With the cemetery under a thick layer of snow at the start of the month, it wasn't until the 10th when an adult was discovered roosting at a site used in the previous two years. From then on however, presumably the same bird was seen on most days until the end of the month - favouring two or three particular spots within a short distance of the suspected nest hole, all the sightings likely involved the male. The female, we hoped, was busy doing the things that mums do best....

March

The first couple of days of March were much the same, with the (presumed) male favouring a particularly sunny spot for day-roosting. Over in Kensington Gardens meanwhile, central London's other, better known pair of Tawnies already hade three well-grown chicks out of the nest.

Then, on the 4th, we found an adult in a surprisingly obvious spot, not at all well hidden, and apparently distracted.... a few minutes later and, up on a bare branch near the nest site, two fluffball chicks balanced precariously side-by-side in the wind. Great news; but early days....

The following day, and no less than three chicks were on display in the sunshine. On display to say the least - each chick occupied a separate tree, clambering clumsily up and down branches and more mammalian than avian (on account of their still somewhat useless wings....). Both adults were nearby, looking on patiently with no doubt some parental concern....

The next few days offered the peak window of opportunity to enjoy watching the family at its most visible (and entertaining). The chicks, still very much dependent, and not yet equipped with the skills of how not to appear obvious outside the safety of their birthplace, continued to clamber somewhat comically up and down the limbs of various trees nearby, inviting the attention of various other species in the cemetery.

After a few days having gone awol, the family were rediscovered in an area nearby - following the same pattern as last year. Having decamped the short distance, the young were a little better-versed at staying safe - but not always...

All three were sticking together in an impressive show of sibling comradeship, but were now intent on test-flights, much to the consternation of the adults, who were visibly nervous (and therefore particularly easy to see) towards the end of the month.

April

The first few days of the month saw us continuing to monitor their progress as best we could, with all three young apparently doing well, but (pleasingly) harder to find. By the 7th, they'd eluded us, and several further days passed with no sightings.

By the time of Hackney Wildlife's bird-walk in the cemetery on the 12th, we'd lowered our expectations and were prepared to have to give our audience the 'here's-what-you-could-have-won' description of the families progress.... however, just a few minutes before the walk began, we relocated an adult back at the original breeding area, and great views were possible for all.

But how about the young? Further searches were finally successful on the 15th, when two were discovered - almost free of their fluffy exteriors - with an adult close by. For the rest of the month, adult birds were found day-roosting, but the young couldn't be seen....

May

A long wait preceded the refinding of two, very well-grown chicks on the 12th. By now, the young were very much out of woods (...) and their chances of survival had improved drastically, having safely navigated the most crucial and vulnerable part of their young lives. But what of the third youngster?

By now, the family had (thankfully) become much more adept at staying out of the potentially dangerous limelight, and the foliage on Abney's trees offered numerous hiding and roosting places during the day. Hence, sightings were few and far between, and the young had become as professional as their parents at remainng invisible during daylight hours.

However, after dark, it was another story - a moth-trapping session on the 20th gave us the opportunity to investigate, and we were treated to a noisy, aerobatic show from all five family members, alive and well, and with the young now all minus the down of their early lives. The cemetery echoed with the begging calls of the young and the contact calls of the parents, who brought in supper to their impatient offspring on several occasions.

Another successful year for a pair of devoted parents, and another entertaining season for those lucky enough to witness their progress.

Mark