Nature Done Wright

  It is with great excitement and a bit of trepidation that I pass along some big news. Mrs. Ace the Screech Owl has laid an egg in the nesting box.

   When my wife and I got home Sunday night and activated the video-cam monitor on the nesting box, Mrs. Ace was sitting in the opening, and we could see what appeared to be an egg under her wings.

   Mrs. Ace flew off into the night a few minutes later. There, in full view of the camera, was one shiny white egg.

  It matches perfectly what Peterson’s "Eastern Bird Nests" describes: "Elliptical to nearly spherical. Shell very finely granulated, moderately glossy. Pure white."

   Peterson’s also says screech owl eggs average 35.5 by 30mm. (1.4 by 1.18 inches.)  This one seems a little more oblong than that.

  But enough details.

  I am excited because being able to watch nesting screech owls via the miniaturized video camera and to share the images via this blog is a rare opportunity — one I could only dream of when a friend and I worked for several days last summer installing the video cam and getting it to work smoothly.

  I am a bit worried because the owls need space, and I am afraid that people will try to get a look at the owl box, with disastrous results …

  So I ask that everyone enjoy the unfolding story on this blog, and please refrain from trying to see or photograph the nesting box or its inhabitants — and ruin it for everyone, especially the owls.

   Coming soon: All about incubation…