Baby Owl On Sanctuary Webcam Appears Dead

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA (AP) — Barn owlet No. 6 has apparently died. It was the youngest and smallest survivor in a brood featured on a webcam at the Audubon Society's Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County.

The owl hatched on Jan. 17 and fought with five stronger siblings for food. A chick hatched two days after No. 6 died earlier.

There had been calls for ranch manager Pete DeSimone to save No. 6 by taking it out of the nest. DeSimone said he wouldn't manipulate nature. He hasn't checked the nest but say as far as he can tell the chick died Wednesday.

The owl cam started with an egg watch and has gotten more than 1.7 million page views.

Most commenters on the site supported DeSimone's decision not to intervene.

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