Nature Done Wright

    The last screech owlet jumped from the nesting box opening last night at 8:40 as I raced downstairs to activate the video-cam.

   By the time I got there and got the TV monitor going, the box was empty.

   I could hear the owlet calling to its parents in the distance.

    From the window, I took some photos into the darkness, and Patty and I went to the backyard to see if we could see the little one on the ground.

    As we approached the brook, an adult screech owl flew above us and landed on a branch about 15 feet over our heads.

    We retreated 10 yards and he flew over us, still calling what must have been his "back off" orders.

    We went back inside and saluted to the Ace family.

    All four owlets made it through their month in the nest.

   Now, unshackled from the constraints of "nestlinghood" and a man-made cubicle, they are exploring the great outdoors.

    Life is always filled with possibilities.

   When all was said and done, I went downstairs and activated the screech-cam monitor.

    After spending dozens of hours in front of the screen, watching umpteen blinks of every owlet’s eye, I could see before me the video image of the nesting box, now empty and silent after so much turbulence and energy.

    As keeper of this Web log and as nervous Nelly, I have been likened to the owlets’ father, grandparent, godparent, and mother hen.

    But I like to think of myself as an eyewitness who was fortunate to have a window on an amazing series of events, and fortunate to share what I saw and heard with you.

    This is far from my last posting on these amazing screech owls. I watched Mr. Ace for more than six months, and even walked close enough to the owl box on a few winter mornings to bid him hello as I passed by.

    For the past couple of months, the area around the nesting box has been roped off by twine, to give the screech owls some breathing room.

    Now they have moved on, and I’ll take down the twine as soon as I have time.

    There’s no rush. After all, it reminds me of an amazing run of luck.

     As I’ve mentioned, the mortality rate for first-year screech owls is 65 percent. All four have made it through the first month, and at this point that’s all I could have hoped for.

     Next August or so, when I hear a screech owl calling late at night outside the window, I’ll know who it is.

   Mr. Ace.

   Mrs. Ace.

    Or one of my favorite group of superstars, the Fab Four. 

    *    *    *

    Stay tuned. There’s more owl-related postings to come — including close-up photos of the contents of bottom of the nesting box.

    Yuk!?!

     We shall see.

     I almost forgot: Yesterday, Mrs. Ace returned to the box for one final time with her remaining owlet. The video is here:

Download MVI_1334b.avi