Public gets rare chance to watch barn owls hatch
“Barn Owlet Watch 2026” is underway for a nest box with six barn owl eggs, and the public has 24-hour access to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s live cam with audio to watch all the action in real time. The expected “hatch” date is between April 9 and 15.
NCWRC believes this is the same nesting pair that has used this nest in the past. Last December, the pair returned to the nest, and the female laid the first of her six eggs March 11. NCWRC Conservation Biologist Joe Tomcho said his best estimate for the first egg to hatch is April 12, based on a normal 32-day incubation period.
The live cameras were installed in August 2025 and, so far, have operated steadily since December with minimal interruptions.
While this is the first live camera experience offered by NCWRC, the agency hopes there will be more in the future.
More information about barn owls may be found on the agency’s website. Visit the Barn live cam at ncwildlife.gov/outdoors/barn-owl-live-cam.