Screech owl in the owl box
February 28, 2015
I can’t tell if it’s the same one I spotted in a tree last week, but yesterday evening my daughter looked out the kitchen window and spotted a screech owl in the owl box. She came running to find me, and I went running for my camera. My hope is that this is a nesting female, and the owl I saw last week is her partner. Time will tell, but whether it’s a male taking refuge from the drizzly cold or a female checking things out, I’m glad we have an owl box to welcome them.
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Whether they stay or not it’s fantastic. I haven’t heard a screech owl over here. Just great horned and not him for a while.
How exciting. I hope you have little eggs in there, or at least a beginning of a nest.
It’s so cute! They’ve found the box again so there’s a good chance they’ll move in.
No sign of my little Owly this year. I hope nothing’s happened to him. I hope you’ll have photos of owlets to share soon!
This is a good time to read Jenny’s postings for February — see Comment #1. I get the feeling she’ll be back in the garden in good shape with the added oomph that spring brings to us all. At the Bonnie Brook (our garden) we have an expanded group of tree lizards this year, and although I miss our garter snakes that have been gone a few years now, and are probably gone for good what with all the construction going on in old Austin, the sight of several little tree lizards roaming around the rocks puts a smile on my face just as big as a bright zinnia or proud daylily flower does!
I agree, Tom. Wildlife brings the garden to life as much as any plant does. —Pam
That is amazing! The owl and house look small. Is that correct? I’ve never seen one before. That’s exciting!
The owl is probably about 7 inches tall, Brenda. Petite! —Pam
I love owls and I had a screech owl visit our wood duck house two winters in a row. I think it was resting not nesting. I would love to have one nest though. I just ordered a screech owl house so I am going to try to lure them in with that.(-: Hopefully I have as good of luck as you do.
I hope you get an owl without having to wait too long, Cindee. They are so fun to watch. —Pam
Don’t you love the view from the kitchen window, Pam? What a doll he is.
It’s like living in a treehouse, Gina. —Pam
How wonderful! I recently put up my first screech owl box, only to have it inhabited by a European starling. We removed the nesting materials and closed the nesting box entrance for now to try to deter the starlings. Any suggestions on how to deter the uninvited and welcome the screech owls?
You’ve probably done the right thing, and hopefully the starling has moved on, Rebecca. I’d open the nesting box now though since the owls are entering breeding season. Good luck! —Pam