Nature Done Wright

    Slow evening until 9 last night — egg count still at two  — when Mrs. Ace returned to the nesting box.

  After that, it was the most amazing screech owl display I have seen yet.

    She started making a noise — repeatedly — that resembled a horse whinnying. Download 2_3.wma — Audio of two calls, 10 seconds apart.

    A while later, I could hear a faint drumming of the male owl, and her calls grew louder.

    The male stuck his head briefly into the box at one point, then later returned and climbed into the box with her.

   They nuzzled a few times, almost like cats, it seemed. But Mrs. Ace was still a bit agitated.

   The two stayed in the box together for maybe 10 minutes before Mr. Ace (the slightly smaller of the two, pictured above here), took  off.

   Mrs. Ace eventually took off, too, and in the nest were three eggs.

   I will post many more images from last night as soon as I can. 

   Stay tuned.