OC Sanctuary's 'Live Barn Owl Cam' a Worldwide Hoot--Err, Hit

Garnering around 6,000 hits a day, a webcam set up by the National Audubon Society's Starr Ranch Sanctuary in unincorporated Orange County, lets people around the world keep an eye on the owlets born last month while living in their natural habitat, according to the OC Register.

Set up by Pete and Sandy DeSimone, "who work and live at Starr Ranch, a 4,000-acre expanse of undeveloped land once owned by wealthy Los Angeles oil baron Eugene Grant Starr," the "Live Barn Owl Cam" has its fair share of visitors who check in on the birds daily.

Viewers may see the owlets "competing for their next meal (usually a native wood rat and occasionally a small rabbit), sleeping, loafing or casting a pellet (regurgitating indigestible fur and bones)." One concern for DeSimone, however, is the cost to run a 24/7 webcam, and he hopes that people who enjoy watching the barn owls, as well as the Hummingbird cam, will be able to donate money to help pay for bandwith. (And just a heads-up--you may experience some audio feedback right now while viewing the cam; DeSimone hopes to be able to get this fixed soon.)