Nature Done Wright

  My Record article on bird-cams is on-line at the following lnk:

http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTEwODk4

  This sidebar appeared as well:

   I installed a miniaturized infrared video camera in my screech-owl box last August out of curiosity and concern.

    Ever since a screech owl moved into the nesting box in late November, I’ve been learning all about screech owl behavior up-close. For example, I never knew that screech owls returned to the nesting box during the night to devour some of their prey — including birds, mice, chipmunks and other critters.

    And thanks to the tiny microphone inside the box, I’ve been able to record (and share on the blog) all sorts of owl sounds that would be otherwise extremely difficult to hear.

    On April Fools’ Day, a female screech owl began laying eggs in the box. In a month, if all goes well, I’ll be able to monitor the owlets and make sure they haven’t fallen out of the nesting box’s opening during a storm. That’s what happened, with tragic results, to the two owlets born in the box two years ago.

— Jim Wright