The Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops asio, that I profiled in March did not choose our nest box as the place to raise her clutch of owlets. Like in spring of 2025, the pair chose a hole in a large elm tree belonging to my back neighbor as the perfect place for a family of owls. I’ve kept tabs on the owls since, spotting them at sundown as both adults, then later, just the male, were out hunting.
Recently, both owls have been hunting which suggested to me that the owlet(s) were near ready to fledge. Last night I spotted an owlet climbing a large limb in its nursery tree. Taking turns, each parent delivered a morsel to the owlet, who then perched at the top of the pruned limb, silhouetted by urban lights. It practiced its motion parallax, which is also called head bobbing, head swaying, or triangulating. This is an important hunting skill that owls use and that owlets must learn, as they become familiar with their new 360 degree world.
Early this morning, I spied the male in my old Mountain Laurel. A bit later, guided by the vociferous scoldings of a pair of Bewick’s Wrens, I located dad owl and his fuzzy fledgling.
They both glared at me, but didn’t move and I was quick about my photography. I wished them a good day’s rest and left them alone. At the end of the day, they’re still there, an all-day slumber in the tree. When sundown commences, they’ll be off, the adult vigilant in his owlet sitting, then meeting up with his mate, who will likely be guiding another owlet–or two– into the wide world.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll enjoy the visit of a whole Screech Owl family in my tree!
My Gardener Says... 