Tony

I discover a breeding collared scops owl with 3 eggs in a hollow tree root on the ground last week. But it reduces to 2 eggs today which may be eaten by a snake in the site.
It would probably be the lowest breeding nest of the species in Hong Kong after checking with the Avifauna of Hong Kong.
Please correct me if it is not.

I will submit the location to record committee but forgive me not to disclose the place here in order to prevent the bird from disturbance during breeding.

Tony

Yes. There are no tree holes nearby, but many ground holes....
But I think it is very dangerous to breed the chicks on ground
since there could be more predators.
Do owls make their nest?

Tony

That's really bad....I also worry the eggs of the SCO being eaten, can't hatch into chicks......

Tony

It's sad that the eggs of the owl seemed eaten by predator when I work at the field today. It's all about fitness.......they can't survive with so high predatory pressure on ground. I believe the mother could survive, hope she will aware of nesting place in the future...