Nature Done Wright

  Yesterday began with a mostly frozen lake and a pair of swans in the distance.

  It ended with a mostly thawed lake and — for a few fleeting seconds — a pair of screech owls in the nesting box together.

   I got home around 7:40 p.m. and saw Ace on a higher branch than usual. Tried to take a photo but it was too dark. Went inside to work. Turned on the monitor just in case.

  Ace soon entered the nesting box and started making the same tremolo noises as he did the night before, and scratching the floor of the nesting box as well.

   I activated the audio recorder and went upstairs to get a camera.

  When I returned, another owl was climbing into the box, and there were all sorts of competing owl sounds.

  Click below to hear the two owls calling together (seven seconds, Real Media file)Two owls.WMA

   For a couple of seconds, the owls shared the nesting box.

  I started to take a picture, only to discover my lens cap was on. (Doh!)

  By the time my digital camera was ready to shoot, one owl had gone.

  Moments later, the box was empty.

  In the distance I could hear tremolo sounds.

  I checked my watch. It was just about 8 p.m., when spring was supposed to arrive.

How’s that for timing?