* Both male and female owls participate in incubating the eggs, with the female taking longer shifts while the male brings her food.
* The incubation period varies depending on the species, but it usually lasts from 25 to 35 days.
Brooding:
* After hatching, the owlets are altricial, meaning they are helpless and rely on their parents for care.
* The female owl stays with the owlets in the nest, brooding them for warmth and protection, while the male brings food for the family.
* During the brooding period, the female owl may rarely leave the next, relying on the male to provide her with food.
* The owlets are covered in downy feathers, which help them retain heat.
Feeding:
* The male owl is responsible for providing food for the family. He hunts and brings back prey, which he then regurgitates for the owlets to eat.
* As the owlets grow older, the male owl may start teaching them to hunt by bringing live prey to the next and encouraging them to attack and kill it.
* The owlets learn to eat a variety of prey, including small rodents, insects, birds, and even fish.
Nest sanitation:
* Both parents participate in keeping the nest clean and sanitary, removing waste and debris to ensure a healthy environment for the owlets.
* The male owl may also assist in removing the owlets' fecal sacs, particularly during the early stages of development.
Defending the nest:
* Both male and female owls are fiercely protective of their nest and owlets. They may display aggressive behaviors, such as hooting, hissing, and spreading their wings, to deter potential predators.
* They may also engage in physical confrontations with predators if necessary to defend their young.
Teaching owlets to fly:
* As the owlets grow stronger, the parents encourage them to exercise their wings and move around the nest.
* Eventually, the owlets begin to take short flights, venturing outside the next under the watchful eyes of their parents.
* The parents continue to provide guidance and support until the owlets are fully capable of independent flight.