Meet Lucy, the red-headed screech owl
The female screech owl nesting in our owl box is a rufous, or red-feathered, owl. She gives me some funny looks when she hangs out in the doorway, and I’ve named her Lucy. Desi, her mate, hangs out in a stand of bamboo all day, and he feeds her at night while she stays in the box with her eggs.
Unlike Desi, she’s a bit skittish of paparazzi, but she recently let me take a few photos with my telephoto lens from a respectful distance on the deck.
Here’s a sense of how far that is. We have a great view of the box from our kitchen and dining room windows.
She’s tiny, although bigger than her mate. Screech owls are about 6 inches long, and they look like they’re all head when they perch in the round doorway.
Here she is trilling to her mate. He always answers right away from his perch in the bamboo.
Last week’s Garden Spark speaker, Lauren Springer Ogden, joked that the owl box’s spray-painted metal flashing (to deter squirrels) looks like — if you squint — trendy cor-ten steel. Hah — enjoy those “fancy” digs, Lucy!
After a little while on the deck, I ooched down the stairs and got a few shots from ground level before she decided she’d had enough and dropped back into the box. I look forward to seeing her again, and eventually her fuzzy-headed chicks.
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I found an owl in my box yesterday. I’ve had 2 owl boxes for 3 or 4 years and so far I’ve got a bee hive in one and had squirrels the other. Looks like mama owl beat the squirrels to this box this year. I haven’t been able to locate the male yet. She seems very tolerant of me although she is probably getting tired of me always watching her! I can’t wait to see if we get little ones!
Congrats on your first nesting owl, Margo! We’ve had a bee swarm and innumerable squirrels in ours as well, although usually the squirrels get evicted when it’s owl nesting season. Anyway, here’s hoping for little owlets for us both. —Pam
I am so envious of your sweet little owl family. What a joy it must be to have your own owl camp.
I was over the moon when I spotted our pair this year, Lisa. I’d begun to fear we wouldn’t get another nesting pair, after two years of no-shows. Don’t you have lots of trees in your garden? You should put up a screech owl box too. —Pam
Beautiful variation on the usual soft greys and browns that owls favour.
Yes, she’s a standout. —Pam
What amazing birds! I love to see them & listen to their calls. I hope I can convince my hubs to build a home later when we’re a little less overwhelmed with our immediate projects of planting before it gets too hot.
It’s definitely mad planting season right now! —Pam
She’s adorable. I’m so glad you were able to get some shots of her. Thanks for the info on her size. She looks huge in the photos. I’m sure that’s to scare away predators. Happy Spring Pam!
She’s like a bobble-head, isn’t she? Happy spring to you too, Dee! —Pam
What a sweet owl. Very nice of her to let you take pictures.
Yes, it sure was. She hasn’t since. —Pam
I’m so glad you have an owl family in your box again this year!
Me too!!! —Pam
After having a nesting box for 4 years and raising plenty of squirrel families, we got our first pair last year. She to was red and her partner grey. They had two babies. I never tired of seeing them. Dad hung out in other trees in our yard during the day. I felt like National Geographic’s watching them and their interactions. I am fortunate that they found the house desirable as she appeared again last week. I am interested in getting good quality close ups. I have a Nikon camera. What telephoto lens do you use?
I use a Nikon too. The telephoto is 55-300 mm. Congrats on your owl family! —Pam