Nature Done Wright

    Believe or not, Mrs. Ace is still playing her eggs close to the vest.

    We are at 31 days — a day past what one book on Eastern screech owls said was the average incubation time and also at the upper limits of what many Web sites predicted for incubation.

   Why the seeming delay? Perhaps the cold first couple of weeks in April were a factor.

    I am expecting at least one owlet to arrive today, but that is more hopeful than knowledgeable. 

    I do think that Mr. Ace’s high-profile return to a nearby nesting box is a sign that the incubation is winding down and some high-powered food providing is in the offing.

    I heard Mr. Ace make his "drumming" or bounce call again before 6 a.m., and I activated the monitor in time to catch several stanzas of Mrs. Ace whinnying.

Download MVI_0217.avi 

    I attach them here as a video in case you’d like to give them a look and listen.

    Do you have any questions about screech owls?

    Please post them in the comments section or e-mail me, and I will do my best to answer them.