Screech owl pair await nighttime owlet feeding
Yesterday, to our excitement, we spotted Lucy and Desi, our nesting screech owl pair, perched in live oak trees near the owl box. I’d suspected that their chicks had hatched and were getting bigger because Lucy was spending a lot of time in the doorway of the owl box. Now she’s leaving the box, so it must be pretty crowded in there.
She does a lot of talking during the day, as does the male. They trill to each other, or perhaps to reassure their chicks.
Isn’t she beautiful?
Here are both the male and the female in one shot. Desi is the standard gray color, and Lucy is the redhead.
Desi clinging to a nearby tree trunk…
…close to the owl box so he can keep an eye on things. Check out those talons.
What a fierce little bird.
At dusk, I watched as the pair began hunting and bringing food to the chicks. It was too dark to see what morsels they’d found, but they were working hard to feed their young. I hope to see owlets peering out of the nesting box soon.
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We had a nest of great horned owls a couple of years ago and it was wonderful to watch them.
That must have been something to see! They are very large birds. —Pam
What a gift it must feel like to have this pair nesting in your yard. I hear one occasionally but have not ever seen an owl here. Wish their nest(lings) the best of luck!
It does feel like a great privilege to have them nest here. —Pam
I bet you don’t have many mice or shrews or voles in your area when they are nesting. What fun to have them nesting in your garden.
I hope! I’d even be happy with fewer roaches and other bugs. —Pam
Lucy is gorgeous, love their witty names. Such a treat to have this family living in your yard, thanks for sharing these wonderful owls with us!
It’s my pleasure, Heidi! —Pam
The parents are adorable so I imagine the owlets will be doubly so!
They kind of have to grow into their fierce good looks. But yes, owlets are still pretty adorable. —Pam
Oh wow! So fun to be able to watch them!
It really is. —Pam
They are beautiful. I see our owl, Allie (named by our neighbors 10 yr old), about once a week. Some days she’s peeking out a lot but most days there is no sign of her. I also have not seen a mate and heard no trills. I’m beginning to wonder if we have a female (maybe this is Ollie, not Allie) and if there are actually eggs in the owl house. I keep hoping…
Fingers crossed! Watch at dusk to see if an owl flies into the box for a feeding. —Pam
How amazing they are! What fun to watch them raise a family. You have some really nice shots too. We have a lot of barred owls, and love hearing them. I should find out what sort of box they would like.
It’s a privilege to have an owl in one’s garden. I’d love to see a barred owl. —Pam