Look Who’s Moved In!

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For several weeks now, I’ve heard the trilling of an Eastern Screech Owl, Megascops asio, in and around my back garden–either at dusk or in the wee hours before dawn.   Last week, I saw two owls sitting together just after sundown in my Retama, Parkinsonia aculeata, tree. Until then, I’d only spotted one at any particular time.  Early this morning, noticing an upset and noisy Blue Jay cawing into the owl nest box, I spied this sleepy and probably annoyed Screech, settled cozily in his/her box.

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It’s a nice neighborhood  and I hope this couple raises their little family successfully, as has happened for most of the last 8 years.

All the best to my new neighbors!

39 thoughts on “Look Who’s Moved In!”

    • Thank you, Frances, I was tickled to see her and get the photo. The Eastern Screech Owls have a very soft trill and, sometimes, whinnying sound that they make. I’m very attuned to it because I’m so fond of them, but no, they’re not loud or obnoxious. As for the Blue Jays….

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  2. Oh Tina, how absolutely wonderful, I am a little (well actually a lot) envious! We hear Owls here but not in our garden, I am ever hopeful though. Have you ever seen Owl babies?

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    • Ha! I hope she/he/they are successful in their procreation. Last year, the couple abandoned the eggs after a squirrel disturbed them. Sniff. So, fingers crossed that all goes well and they have lots of mice to eat! Yes, the owlets are absolutely darling! I’ve had to rescue a couple of them as they fledged from the box and weren’t yet good fliers. They’re very soft and just beautiful. They do have quite a set of talons though, so I’m very respectful of that!

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  4. What a great photo!. I put in 2 owl boxes two years ago, but have no owls.. My neighbor down the street has an owl in hers, which is probably why I don’t have one. But in one box there are bees and the other has a family of squirrels. Both are entertaining, so i won’t complain about not having the owls too much.

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  5. Squeeee! An owl family is back to put the top tier on your wildlife pyramid. Such a wonderful occurrence to be part of, even remotely, through your posts. (I’ll give you a nickel if you rename this post “The Trill is Back!”…)

    I had jays yelling up a storm out back recently and only hoped it meant the presence of an owl. No such luck – our hecklers were driving out a jay that overstepped territorial or flock bounds some way. Once the designated intruder jay left, the rest of the gang just melted away.

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    • I think I need to hire you as the official title person–snort, “The Trill is Back”–so funny! I’m hoping for the best. I just came home and she’s be hanging out of the hole for most of the day. I hope she gets enough rest. Look at me, already fretting over whether “my” owls are okay. Sheesh.

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  7. I’ve been enchanted with screech owls ever since I read that charming little book “Owl” by John Service, many many moons ago (back then they were Otus asio.) Never had the luck to live anywhere near their habitat though — darn it! Congrats on your new neighbor. 🙂

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    • If you build it, they will come. Well, they will if they’re common in your area, that is. The nest box is easy to make (Google plans-there are lots on the internet) and relatively easy to put up–if you don’t mind heights. The box should be 10-15 feet high; our is at about 12 feet. Our box is in a deciduous oak tree. In my neighborhood, there are at least a couple of Screech Owl pairs and at least one Great Horned Owl pair. Good luck if you decide to put one up and don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a nesting pair this year–there’s always next!

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    • I’m Tina’s husband and the crude carpenter who made this. This is the basic plans I used and it is quite simple. (If I can do it – so can most people): use one 1″x10″x8′ plank. Needs to be about 15″ high and not easily accessible. Our is probably a foot or two too low and it doesn’t seem to bother the owls. We’ve had owls every year and owlets (except for last year’s disaster) since we set it up about 7-8 years ago.

      Click to access MDC%20Plan%20-%20Sparrow%20Hawk%20or%20Screech%20Owl.pdf

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    • Well, yeah, it does help to attract owls by having a nest box in the garden. Or, you could dig a wonky hole in one of your trees–that might do it. 🙂 I’d go with the owl house.

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