“Barn Owlet Watch 2026” is underway for a nest box with six barn owl eggs located in the North Carolina Mountains. And the public has 24-hour access to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) live cam WITH audio to watch all the action in real time! The expected “hatch” date is between April 9 and 15.
"The Barn Owl Live Cam is our newest conservation adventure,” said NCWRC Education Development and Evaluation Supervisor Sydney Brown. “What began as a dream quickly grew, thanks to our incredible internal partners, into a 24/7 window into the secret life of barn owls for North Carolinians who may never see these birds in their own backyards.”
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.
“Usually once the first egg hatches, the others start hatching at about an every-other-day timeframe,” said Tomcho. “Barn owls typically lay around four to five eggs. Six eggs is an indication these are an experienced pair. It’s a really exciting experience to watch them hatch, but then to also watch them hop around in the nest as they prepare for life outside the nest.”
This nesting box was installed in western North Carolina by NCWRC in 2011 and has been used by barn owls six times in the past 16 years, possibly by the same nesting pair. The barn owl population in North Carolina has declined in some regions due to habitat loss and some agricultural practices. Human-made nesting boxes help biologists study nesting behavior, chick development and the species’ seasonal patterns. NCWRC has identified the need to learn more about the cause of the species’ decline as outlined in its most recent Wildlife Action Plan.
The live cameras were installed in August 2025 and, so far, have operated steadily since December with minimal interruptions.
“They’re solar-powered so there’s always a chance Mother Nature or some other unforeseen situation that could cause a pause in the action, but so far so good,” said Brown.
Brown said the live stream is an amazing opportunity to educate the public about the importance of barn owls by allowing viewers to witness the nesting activity. While this is the first live camera experience offered by NCWRC, the agency hopes there will be more in the future.
“We’re excited to keep expanding this project with fun educational content, conservation updates and plenty of owl magic,” said Brown. “And we assure the public that owls are completely wild. We do not intervene or interfere with their natural behaviors or nesting process.”
Visit the Barn Owl live cam.
To contact the team about barn owls and nest boxes email NCWRC’s Wild Observer program.
More information about barn owls may be found on the agency’s website.
For wildlife questions contact NCWRC’s Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401.