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Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
May 10, 2007
The big huddle
The photos above show the box from two night views at virtually the same time, with Mrs. Ace perched in the opening.
In the screech-cam shot (top), that lump of grayish white at the bottom center of the frame is the Fab Four. Mrs. Ace’s feathers dominate the rest of the frame.
The shot taken from outside the box (from inside my house) has been lightened up so you can see Mrs. Ace.
In both shots, Mrs. Ace is waiting for the first meal of the night to be dropped off.
The Fab Four so far are mostly one big lump of fluff, huddled under Mom’s wings.
When she flies at night, they occasionally move a bit, but they mostly bunch together to stay warm.
Eating and sleeping are the only things they appear to be good at, but those are their only jobs.
One of the four clearly appears larger than the rest.
And Mr. Ace, who has been in the background since he moved out of the box nearly two months ago to make way for Mrs. Ace, has turned out to be quite the provider for his family.
It seems like every time I activate the screech-cam monitor, Mr. Ace has dropped off another delicacy — chow that only a screech owl could love.
The food gets piled in the front of the box, and Mrs. Ace tears it up and dispenses it to the fluff family.
By morning, the huge buffet of prey was gone.
I am posting two videos here. At the very least, one is only 5 seconds, so it shouldn’t take too long to download.
The first video is of one owlet awakening and moving around a bit, among his sleeping siblings.
The second video is of Mrs. Ace, propped up on her wings, feeding the Fab Four (who are, for the most part, out of sight quite literally).
That lump in the front of the box on the left is one of the carcasses du jour.
5 comments
-
I would add, my actual owl house, I put up in the back of my woods, facing south and behind it is an open space but the area around the front of the house is dense woods.
Well, the owls chose the redbellied woodpecker house (she just barely fits) over in my mothers yard. That house is sitting on a giant pine, eight feet up. Looks out to a huge open area, with woods off to the side and one oak along side. It seems they prefer an open area right at the box, so I they can keep watch. With a hunting area nearby. At least that is my case. I now have suirrels living in my 45 dollars owl house. Also, put up a squirrel guard below and above if necessary and then you will not have to repair all the damage as we did. One squirrel actually got through the woodpecker opening before the owls took up in the house. He was trapped and could not get out. He tried to eat his way out of the bottom. The entrance hole being steel guarded. We saved him just in time. He was exhausted. So, squirrel guards people. -
A lot of screech-owl fans are talking about putting up their own boxes. It’s too late for this season, buit a graet investment in the future.
Not sure if you’d hear many screechers this time of year. I think early fall is a better time.
It took two years for an owl to move in to my owl box.
I’ll try to write a post this summer with some advice on nesting boxes — have it facing south (more or less), at least eight feet off the ground, that sort of thing.
From now on, I am putting a videocam in any large nesting box I put up… I can’t stand not knowing what’s going on inside.. -
Thank you so much for your comments upon the daily activities of this owl family. I read your updates everyday. My Screech Owl house arrived in the mail last week, now I have to find a prime spot for it. I plan on going out at night and listening for their sounds (thanks to you I never knew how they sounded). Is there another way to tell if they are in the area? I realize that it may be not until next year before I can attract them, or maybe even longer. I live in a rural area with little development (so far that is) and look foward to see if I can get them to nest. I know we have great horned owls out here. My bluebirds are back building a nest this year, along with the tree swallows. When I walk my dogs, the male bluebird follows me until I feed him his mealworms, which I feed to him regularly (and then to his family when they have hatched). Two years ago we had a Baltimore Oriel nest in our yard, that was so cool.
Best regards. -
That’s great. Good luck and keep us posted.
-
These are so interesting. Since I cannot see in my owl house I enjoy these video.
I am hoping next week will be the week they fledge. Every night Mama owl sits in the opening waiting. Usually the male shows up and I guess he brings the food. She will leave for a bath. Once or twice she had to go get food also. I have no idea how many owlets we have. My son saw two when he looked in the box while repairing it. Mine have to be going on three weeks old.
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5 comments
Candace Pfau
I would add, my actual owl house, I put up in the back of my woods, facing south and behind it is an open space but the area around the front of the house is dense woods.
Well, the owls chose the redbellied woodpecker house (she just barely fits) over in my mothers yard. That house is sitting on a giant pine, eight feet up. Looks out to a huge open area, with woods off to the side and one oak along side. It seems they prefer an open area right at the box, so I they can keep watch. With a hunting area nearby. At least that is my case. I now have suirrels living in my 45 dollars owl house. Also, put up a squirrel guard below and above if necessary and then you will not have to repair all the damage as we did. One squirrel actually got through the woodpecker opening before the owls took up in the house. He was trapped and could not get out. He tried to eat his way out of the bottom. The entrance hole being steel guarded. We saved him just in time. He was exhausted. So, squirrel guards people.
Jim Wright
A lot of screech-owl fans are talking about putting up their own boxes. It’s too late for this season, buit a graet investment in the future.
Not sure if you’d hear many screechers this time of year. I think early fall is a better time.
It took two years for an owl to move in to my owl box.
I’ll try to write a post this summer with some advice on nesting boxes — have it facing south (more or less), at least eight feet off the ground, that sort of thing.
From now on, I am putting a videocam in any large nesting box I put up… I can’t stand not knowing what’s going on inside..
Kim Jeffries
Thank you so much for your comments upon the daily activities of this owl family. I read your updates everyday. My Screech Owl house arrived in the mail last week, now I have to find a prime spot for it. I plan on going out at night and listening for their sounds (thanks to you I never knew how they sounded). Is there another way to tell if they are in the area? I realize that it may be not until next year before I can attract them, or maybe even longer. I live in a rural area with little development (so far that is) and look foward to see if I can get them to nest. I know we have great horned owls out here. My bluebirds are back building a nest this year, along with the tree swallows. When I walk my dogs, the male bluebird follows me until I feed him his mealworms, which I feed to him regularly (and then to his family when they have hatched). Two years ago we had a Baltimore Oriel nest in our yard, that was so cool.
Best regards.
Jim Wright
That’s great. Good luck and keep us posted.
Candace Pfau
These are so interesting. Since I cannot see in my owl house I enjoy these video.
I am hoping next week will be the week they fledge. Every night Mama owl sits in the opening waiting. Usually the male shows up and I guess he brings the food. She will leave for a bath. Once or twice she had to go get food also. I have no idea how many owlets we have. My son saw two when he looked in the box while repairing it. Mine have to be going on three weeks old.