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Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
January 27, 2010
Screech Owl Nesting Box: The Good News
If you happened to see a guy in a red
jacket by my Screech Owl nesting box earlier this month, you'll be
relieved to know that the guy was not a wacko but rather a trained nesting-box camera installer, better known as (the legendary) Mike From Philly.
Mike installed the first mini microphone and mini infrared video cam for the neighborhood Screechers more than three years ago, and the elements finally got to them.
When the cam and mike crapped out early last fall, I asked the MFP to do a new installation (left). Everything works great.
And yes, we removed the lens cap.
Click "Continue reading…" for more owl cam info.
I got the cam and microphone from an Internet security company, and since we already had wiring from the owl box to my basement, all the job entailed was to replace the equipment and get it running.
The whole job took about four hours over two days.
The first step was to make sure there would be no owl inside the box, so the night before the new camera was installed — well after dark — I plugged up the entrance to the box.
The next morning, we were able to make all the repairs without displacing the screech owl, who took up residence nearby.
Once we made sure that the connecting wires were still providing juice, we took the owl box from the tree, brought it inside, and installed the new cam and microphone. Suddenly, I could "see" into the box again.
A few days later, trouble arrived.
4 comments
-
Hi there from warm (75 degree) Florida. I am in Venice Florida and last week I had a screech owl sit very comfortably on my entry way. I was THRILLED he was there and took a photo of him. The next night he was back! Another photo! The photo looked different than the other but, what are the chances? Howard (I named him) came back a few more nights with a night of no show. Tonight there are TWO of them.
My entry way is not busy, but I do come and go with them only being a few feet from me. They watch me and we communicate. Are we beginning our nesting season here in Florida? Any suggestions to encourage them to stay here? Howard comes around 7pm and leaves after I go to bed. My porch light is on and nothing seems to bother them. Her name is Marion. Your thoughts please. Thank you. Elin -
I have given up predicting screech owl behavior, but I am guessing that the gray is a female, on eggs… Male defends the box over the winter, then the female moves in to lay the eggs…
Best to steer clear and not stress the owls.
Where do you live?
Best,
Jim -
We have been watching a red/brown screech owl who took up residence in our owl nesting box 2 months ago, about 150 feet from our house, across an open meadow. we have watched it sitting at the entrance hole for hours at a time. tonight, we watched it fly out, and then we looked at the hole, and saw a gray screech owl looking out- Do the male and female ever share the box? this is the first time we have seen the gray. any idea what is going on?
-
Oh boy, what a teaser, what a cliff (or tree) hanger! Hope the next post will not open with, “Suddenly, a shot rang out!”
TB
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4 comments
Elin
Hi there from warm (75 degree) Florida. I am in Venice Florida and last week I had a screech owl sit very comfortably on my entry way. I was THRILLED he was there and took a photo of him. The next night he was back! Another photo! The photo looked different than the other but, what are the chances? Howard (I named him) came back a few more nights with a night of no show. Tonight there are TWO of them.
My entry way is not busy, but I do come and go with them only being a few feet from me. They watch me and we communicate. Are we beginning our nesting season here in Florida? Any suggestions to encourage them to stay here? Howard comes around 7pm and leaves after I go to bed. My porch light is on and nothing seems to bother them. Her name is Marion. Your thoughts please. Thank you. Elin
Jim Wright
I have given up predicting screech owl behavior, but I am guessing that the gray is a female, on eggs… Male defends the box over the winter, then the female moves in to lay the eggs…
Best to steer clear and not stress the owls.
Where do you live?
Best,
Jim
Cori
We have been watching a red/brown screech owl who took up residence in our owl nesting box 2 months ago, about 150 feet from our house, across an open meadow. we have watched it sitting at the entrance hole for hours at a time. tonight, we watched it fly out, and then we looked at the hole, and saw a gray screech owl looking out- Do the male and female ever share the box? this is the first time we have seen the gray. any idea what is going on?
Tom Burr
Oh boy, what a teaser, what a cliff (or tree) hanger! Hope the next post will not open with, “Suddenly, a shot rang out!”
TB