Whooo are you looking at?
Somebody’s watching me when I work in the garden. Our little screech owl rests in the owl box during the day, but periodically it pokes its head out to give me a sleepy-eyed stare. Reassured that all is well, it looks away and checks out the rest of the garden, then retreats into the box again.
We’ve seen the owl in the box numerous times since we returned from our vacation. One evening my husband was outside and heard the owl’s distinct trill (it doesn’t screech, despite the name, nor does it make the “who-who” call of the great horned owl). Looking up, he spotted the owl on a low branch of a nearby tree. He was able to come inside and get me, and we both watched it for a few minutes from about 20 feet away. We looked away for a moment, and when we glanced back up, it was gone, so silently we heard not one flutter of wings.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
We’ve heard that little whinny every once in awhile, and caught glimpses of screech owls in nearby trees, but nothing close-up as in your photo, Pam! Looks as if this one is very much at home in your garden.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I hope so, Annie. We worried that we’d scared it off for a while, but lately we’ve caught a glimpse every few days. I sure hope it’ll nest here. —Pam
What a sweet little garden fellow you have. I hope some year they will nest there for you. Wouldn’t it be great to see little bitty fluffy owlets sitting on your tree branches.
I would LOVE that, Lisa. Fingers crossed! —Pam
I had a hunch by your title, before I even looked, it would be an owl post…what a hoot! (Sorry, couldn’t resist). Your little garden friend is quite adorable. I’ve heard Western Screech Owls here, but with all our trees I rarely manage to spot them. Your little friend looks like he’s supervising the work going on the garden.
Yes, he’s quite the supervisor, looking at me sternly when I slack off. 😉 —Pam
Hey Pam. Thanks for the photo- LOVE IT! Where is a good place to buy an owl box?
I don’t know, Melissa, but plans for building your own are widely available on the internet. My DH built this one for me. —Pam
Oh I do hope he finds a mate and produces a brood for you. That would be wonderful. It’s all quiet at this house. In fact I have not heard the usual owls at night and I am wondering if this is tied to the disappearance of the hispid cotton rats. They weren’t around in the fall which is very unusual. An owl has to have a source of food and the rats play an important role in their diet. I can’t say I’m sorry to see the rats go but i would love an owl in our box.
Surely there are always rats around in Austin, Jenny. 😉 It took nearly a year for an owl to visit our box, but I hope you don’t have to wait that long. —Pam
How fantastic! I’ve only encountered an owl once. So silent! It was almost eerie. My encounter was with a much larger owl—it was easy to remember they’re birds of prey! But I would love a nice, moderately sized, sleepy owl like yours.
The screech owl flies beneath the tree canopy, I’ve read, so they have to be small. But we have great horned owls around here too; they’re huge! So cool that you saw an owl too. They’re amazing creatures. —Pam
I’ve only ever seen small barn owls near here. About 5 miles from here though is the Raptor Trust. http://theraptortrust.org/ It’s in the middle of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge which surrounds my town like a hug. Thanks for the beautiful photo.
Sounds like you have great bird-watching opportunities where you live, Susan. —Pam
It is so cute. I wouldn’t mind having one around here. Last summer I heard the who-who of one as it was flying by. Love to hear them.
If you heard a who-who, Lola, you probably heard a great horned owl. We hear those too. The screech owl makes a trilling, whinnying sound. —Pam
Congratulations! I’m a little envious that you’ve managed to lure a screech owl into your box, but I’m still hopeful one day I’ll be lucky as well. Great photo!
Thanks, TM. It took time for an owl to move into our box, so remain hopeful! —Pam
Can’t tell if he is happy to see you or just waking up from a nap?
That is so great that you have an owl box that has actually had an owl enjoy it! When one of my former dogs was still around, a german shorthaired pointer named Hazel, when she was older I had to take her out in the middle of the night, and a little screech owl would follow us around as we walked. How nice that you have one that has taken up residence!
I have long wanted to install a nesting box for these little owls in my backyard. Having now read your experience, I think I’m going to insist on it next winter. They are wonderful creatures.
OMG I Loooooove him! Lucky you!!
Hi Pam.
What a hoot! (Oh dear).
And yes, he is sleepy isn’t he? I can totally relate to that particular morning expression, I have adorned it on many occasions myself.
I think it is so cool you have a screech owl as a garden on-looker, I would love to weed under his discerning eye…and it has to keep you sharp from a design sensibility!…all that scrutiny.
ESP.
Pam,
How lucky you are to have an owl living in your garden. We don’t have an owl but there is a hawk that lives in the area and I often see it sitting in the trees in my yard and circling overhead. I was outside yesterday and saw the shadow of the hawk flying overhead and then heard its distinctive call. Birds certainly add a new dimension to any garden.
Great capture. Screech owls are so much fun to watch. Your box gives him a safe roost and then he can hunt your yard for caterpillars, crickets and lizards at night.