Screech owl at sunset
The sky went pink last evening as a cold front blew through. In the owl box, a small screech owl watched me from his snug perch, safely out of the wind.
The owl box hangs in a different spot in our back garden this winter. We recently had to remove two dying live oaks, including the tree where the owl box long resided. Although it’s no longer visible from our kitchen and dining table windows, the new spot is a good one: viewable from my office window, sheltered by several trees, and facing away from the hot afternoon sun.
The owl appeared in it about a week ago. I hope it’s a male setting up a nesting spot for his mate. If he disappears soon, I’ll cross my fingers that there’s a female sitting on eggs in the bottom of the box.
Our shaggy pup, Cosmo, wonders what all the fuss is about. It’s owl season, that’s what!
__________________________
Digging Deeper
Want to learn about making a no-lawn and/or waterwise garden? Want to tour a designer’s garden (mine!) and get design tips and plant recommendations? Join my class-tour on May 4th. There are only a few spots left, with the option of a morning or afternoon class.
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!
All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
It is so cool you have owls. I got directions at Bulb Mart to make one. No just to find time to do it!
Sometimes it’s just easier to buy one, when time is scarce. That said, my husband made this one as a gift for me, and it’s brought me a lot of joy for years.
Oh Cosmo knows things are different in his little world. Fun to see your owl again.
Fingers crossed that he stays here with a mate!
All I get is squirrels nesting in my owl box. I am envious.
We’ve had that happen too. We sheathed our owl box in galvanized metal flashing (spray-painted brown) in order to make it less appealing to the gnawing and nesting pests. So far it’s worked.
Sorry to learn you had to remove some live oaks, but glad there’s still fine owl habitat.
I’m assuming the tree loss will mean significantly more sun/heat in the garden? Hope the change won’t be too abrupt…
Yes, at one end of the pool it will be a lot sunnier (and hotter) this year. I’ll miss the shade, but I haven’t had much sun in this garden, so it will be nice to grow some different plants.
I love your owl pics. While I hear them here, all I’ve ever seen is one in silhouette, and that only briefly.
They can be elusive, especially the big great horned owls.
Two oaks died…Oh no! Glad the owls are still happy in your garden. xo
Me too, Gail. I’ll have a post soon about the trees. I’ve been waiting until it didn’t feel so raw.
Happy about your owl – but sorry to hear about the loss of your oak trees; that’s tragic. Our little screech owl has been hanging out in our owl box nearly every day since Thanksgiving. He has solidly claimed his territory. Fingers crossed for baby owlets this year.
My fingers are crossed for both of us!
[…] to view the box from my office window. We hung it up and were thrilled a week later to see a little screech owl perching in the doorway. I hope this means we’ll soon have another owl family in […]