This Eastern Screech Owl was just hanging out, looking around. Isn’t he super cute?!
The great story we heard is that, while the park staff was putting this nest box in the tree, this little guy came out of a hole in a nearby tree and waited for the humans to leave. As soon as they did, he made this his new home!
This robin-sized owl spends the day roosting in holes or in dense cover, becoming active at dusk. Despite the name, screech-owls do not screech; the voice of this species features whinnies and soft trills.
That is a cute little owl! I didn't know they were so small. Wonder why they were called "screech" owls when they don't screech? Strange.
ReplyDeleteIs this a he or a she owl? The reason I ask is because I would have imagined a she owl would do most of the nesting, but not knowing a thing about owls, I am not sure that my idea is correct or not.
Funny that it would have waited in its own nest for the staff to finish the man-made one, then moved in. Clearly an owl on the move up the social ladder!
Hi Julee-
ReplyDeleteYou can't tell a male Screech Owl from the female by looks alone. A lot of Screech Owls use boxes and natural cavities for roosting (daytime shelter) rather than nesting, so this may not have been a nesting bird.
While nesting, the female owl incubates the eggs, while the male collects food to feed her. After the eggs hatch, they continue that arrangement for a while, and then both parents hunt as the owlets grow larger and hungrier.
Mark