Thinking Inside the Box

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Sometimes, she’s thinking outside the box, too. This photo was taking in early January, before the oak lost its leaves. She wasn’t pleased with my cooing and taking her photo for all to admire.

An Eastern Screech Owl couple have been around the garden in recent weeks. I’ve spied them mating (once) and on a couple of videos, the pond wildlife camera featured one of of the owls, male or female this viewer has no clue, hunting rats. The female stays in the box some days, but not consistently, so I’m uncertain whether the box will be the nesting site or if it’s an occasional place to hang out for the day.

She’s in the box today, this freezing day. Blue Jays perch on the nearest branch and voice their disapproval with her presence. She sleeps, but sometimes stirs nervously when the jays are yelling at her.

I think this is a different couple than the pair that nested in here the previous three years. Their trills are different, the female is skittish, winging to her daytime sleeping spot before sunrise, rather than ‘Uptown Girl’ who enjoyed her time out of the box in the early mornings before sequestering in daylight hours.

I hope these two choose our box for their chicks and that the chicks fledge successfully.

I also hope the family eats some rats.

16 thoughts on “Thinking Inside the Box”

  5. Given the weather, having a nice, cozy box to hang out in must be pure pleasure. I noticed just a few days ago that a large squirrel nest has appeared in my parking lot oak tree. I suspect that’s where my favorite fox squirrel is hanging out; the gray squirrels seem to prefer the palm trees. This time of year, “Gimme Shelter” probably is at the top of the critters’ playlist.

    Two mornings in a row the bird’s water bowls were frozen solid, but this morning there was only a skim of ice, so we’re headed in the right direction. I’ve been pretty free with the various bird seeds, though, and they sure are going through it at a rapid rate! I don’t mind. Once it starts warming up, I’ll begin reducing the amount I put out — especially after the buds and insects appear. But right now food’s scarce — anything that gets left out at the end of the day, especially peanuts, is gone the next morning. The possums take care of the leftovers. And, I saw a very young possum trucking through yesterday morning — they’re so much fun.

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  6. I hope the critters are all finding relatively warm spaces to sleep and rest, though they live in the moment and do what they need to do. It had been about 2 weeks since I’d seen a fox on the pond camera when he/she (I think it’s a he, but not sure) ambled by the pond when it was about 19 degrees. It was beautiful, fluffy, gorgeous coat and well-fed.

    Like you, I’m making sure the birds have plenty, though my garden has been inundated with Red Winged Black birds, which I like, but not 40-50! It’s mostly the females and they’re all about the peanuts (of course, the most expensive of the bird feed!). Anyhoo, I placed the two peanut feeders on the ground, next to the catio and the Orange-crown and Pine Warblers have found them and nosh on what they need. So far, neither the Red-Winged or squirrels have discovered where those two feeders currently sit.

    I love it when I out-smart the wildlife!

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    • The Screeches are around, but I don’t think they’ve chosen our box, which makes me sad. I see them if I’m out at sundown and it should be just about time for mom to be sequestering in a nesting situation, but it’s not our situation. At least, so far. Still, I hope they raise a successful little family.

      I do have a pair of Red-shouldered hawks building a nest atop a large sycamore on the opposite side of my property. So fun to watch these gorgeous birds!!

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