thanks for wishing..even if you picked the wrong star...

...because I got my family photo but someone is missing. Mr. Spock keeps a close watch, and can you pick out Missus with two of the owlets? She's keeping them close and now I know why. It turns out that three Eastern Screech Owlets is what we have this time around. There were four, but since Monday I've only seen three. Then today I found pieces of number four in the yard. I'm trying not to be too upset about it. It's what happens to wild animals. Somebody had to eat. If I think about it long enough I could grieve the little songbirds that have become owl supper. These little guys are so funny. I'm leaning towards names, so if you want to contribute speak now. There is one that is very independent, and two that are inseparable. I'll give you a hint on what names I'm thinking of. They made me laugh for all of the 90's, and still do on occasion when I really need a dose.

Two babies, no wait..three...what? Four?

How many owlets can she fit in there any way?

And how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?



(that one was for free folks)

Last night I had the privilege of witnessing the first owlet leave the nest. Later in the night two more must have jumped because when I got up this morning I counted three. Two of them stuck together like glue while the other was hiding way up high with the Missus. Mister stayed in his usual spot watching guard. Remember when I said in the last post that sometimes their posture is round and stubby when they relax? This is NOT one of those times. This is the round and huffy and gonna scratch your eyeballs out if you get any closer to my babies posture.


So I'm out there tonight just beaming and bragging to my pal Renate when owlet number four pokes a head out of the nest box. I did a quick head count just to be sure and yep...I counted to four and that's when all hell broke loose. It's been one of the windiest days of the season and there were lots of owlet hanging on for dear life moments. One of them got brave around dusk going from one branch to another. He got picked up by the wind and next thing you know he's in the grass. Then his pal panicked and followed. Next thing we know one is climbing the fence and the other is doing the flappy dance in the yard. Missus isn't sure if she should stay with they one about to leave the nest or watch the only one still perched on the branch. Mister is flying from grass boy to fence boy and back again. I wouldn't want to be Missus owl tonight for nothin. I hope they can keep them corralled and safe. I chose that moment to give them privacy and say a little prayer. As usual it was too dark for photos or video.

It's too tired, and I'm too late, or something like that. I had video to share but its just not happening tonight.

Now, if you'll all wish upon a star that all four owlets will gather on one branch tomorrow for a family photo op I'd greatly appreciate it.

hoo's hoo...the science that is Val's method

My friend and fellow Eastern Screech Owl lover Vicki asked a very good question. With both my adult owls being the red phase, how have I determined who is Missus and who is Mister? These little owls occur in two color phases or "morphs", red and gray. Often there will be one of each in a pair making it easy to tell them apart. There is little recognizable difference in the male and female ESO. The female is slightly, I mean a TINY BIT larger and the males voice is a little lower in pitch. When I decided to hang the nest box and dive in to the ESO watching I searched for literature on this particular species. So far I've only found one book dedicated solely to them by Frederick Gehlbach. I did my best to read it cover to cover. It's definitely a technical writing with lots of scientific terms and graphs.

So, Vicki, here's your answer. Our adult owls roost in our big pine tree that houses the nest box. From what I've learned through reading, the female remains in the nest almost all of the time during laying and incubating and I have observed this. Once the owlets hatch she will leave the nest more often and help the male with hunting and feeding. From the beginning of breeding season, the one I refer to as Mr. Spock roosts in the very same branch every day while Missus stays in the nest box often sticking her head out for a little fresh air. Later in the season I observe the Missus leaving the nest and roosting in a branch opposite of Mr. Spock. I've observed her coming and going from the nest to the exact spot on the same branch time after time. The only time I've seen one of them roost in that spot is after the eggs would have hatched. Because of this I'm fairly certain that as long as they are at their roosting spots I know hoo's hoo. Usually, when I take a photo and refer to the subject as Missus or Mister, they are at their roosting spot or I've observed them moving to or from their roosts. Here is an example of how hard it is. I took the pictures in this post at the same time. I snapped her in her spot, then turned and snapped him. Had they been side by side I would not have been able to tell!

The ESO will assume different postures making them appear different depending on the circumstance. When confronted by an intruder they will stretch tall and thin like this in order to appear more like a tree branch.

When resting they appear to be more stubby and round like this.

Both of these photos are of the same owl, Mr. Spock. I think. According to my scientific method! I had to come to some sort of conclusion to keep from losing my mind and now you know.

I am not a real ornithologist but I play on on TV. The TV inside my head that is.

downy goodness

This evening I got the special gift of quality time with the owlets. Lot's of great video, not so many good photos. They come out at dusk when the light is so difficult.



Here's a little treat from tonight's show. More to come as soon as I can get the edit and clean up done. I managed to capture two of them shoving for a spot peeking out of the nest box. So we know once again there are two. Might there be three? Want to help me name them? Last year we had Elvis and Costello. Who are these little guys?

there she is...

Missus Owl has started roosting outside the nest on a branch opposite Mr. Spock. She thinks she's clever, hiding behind that wing. Since we've started hearing lots of owlet noise in the box, I'm betting she's spending time outside the box due to all the crying and pooping going on in there. Just kidding. That would be why I'd be out of the nest. I'm sure Missus Owl is just doing what her DNA tells her to, guarding the nest and giving the owlets room. She has to be tired. Every time I go out there her eyes are wide open and her stare follows me everywhere I go. When does she sleep? When she doesn't have me to stare down, the robins and blue jays are screaming at her and dive bombing her head.









Just like a man, Mr. Spock gets plenty of shut eye on the next branch without a care in the world.

I'm trying to guess how many are in there. I know there are at least 2, and maybe 3. I'm also trying to figure when they will fledge. April 18th was the 1st time I heard them, so by May 18th at the very latest, but likely a week or so before that. I'm gonna camp out evenings with my night vision monocular and wait. Wish I had a night vision camera and video camera. And a nest cam. If you'll excuse me, I need to go and buy a lottery ticket.

spring, sprang, sprung and a ramble

It's here, and never soon enough. Warm enough to sit in my rocker on the back porch for more than a minute and I couldn't be happier. Really. The Eastern Screech Owls are back, despite a squirrels best effort to oust them. It is with glee that I tell you that the missus is in the nest box making noise and laying eggs. Naturally Mr. Spock is busy standing guard and giving me the stink eye.



I mean...serious stink eye.



Not to worry though, my friend Renate has gifted me a special gnome that stands guard under the owl tree. His name is Boudreaux and he's come straight from the bayou to keep watch over the owls and my happy place.



Things are starting to green up and flower.



And we have the special treat of what is shaping up to be a bumper crop of dewberries thanks to our birds...I think. They weren't there before and I can only imagine that the birds were enjoying them somewhere else and deposited the seeds here when they were finished with them.


When we were kids my Dad used to take us to a field in our neighborhood to pick dewberries. That was always a treat and a memory that I love. That makes having them in my yard even more special.

Last but not at all least, Mavis Pearl wants you all to know that she's ok. Almost fully recovered from the meningitis, and nursing her collapsing trachea like a champ. She's a spunky young dog again and for that I'm very grateful.



Welcome back to my happy place.

What this isn't.....

It isn't an Eastern Screech Owl in a nest box provided specifically for the Eastern Screech Owls.



This isn't the view we typically have from our back porch, even in the most wintry of winters. We got twelve inches of snow in one day when we're usually lucky to get a dusting all winter. This one's for Kimberly out on the East coast. I promised her I'd do the "stop snowing dance" for them. It backfired. I've never been much of a dancer.

What this is...it's a beautiful diversion from the hurry I've been in lately.

Perhaps I'm back. We'll see. It's been good here, but priorities have shifted.

Snap!

A whole month? Really has it been that long? I've been very busy taking care of the doglet (she's doing very well) and taking care of myself too. Between the 2 of us it's a whole lot of high maintenance. First, the doglet. We've been at this treating the disease thing for a little over a month. The doggy neurologist was very impressed when we went in last week. I got a little optimistic and asked how soon we could taper down the meds. He said not any time soon. Boooo. She's taking prednisone which makes her CRAZY. And hungry. Bad combo for a doglet. No sleepy sleep for me. Over all it's good and I'm grateful to still have her here.

The biggest reason I've been MIA is this new thing/life/journey I've started. I've dubbed it "operation truth in love". You know, from where it talks in the Bible about speaking the truth in love? Ephesians 4:15-16. I like the "Message" translation best. My friend Renate TWICE spoke some truth in love to me regarding my health. I'm dense like that. It took 2 heart to hearts and one more trip to the urgent care clinic with a crushing migraine for me to snap out of it - or in to it. I've committed to making a life change for the sake of my health, which frees up my energy to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. It's totally Biblical. I'm not always certain of what the will of God is for me, but I'm pretty sure He would like for me to take good care of myself so I can be a better me. I'll just say that the first step was seeking the help of a nutritionist, and making some radical changes in my diet. I'm saving most of those details for my next post. It deserves one all it's own. I'm just sayin' it's taken a lot of focus and I'm all in. So the blog, Twitter, and Facebook have all gone by the wayside, till now.

Now, especially for Vicki, I will leave you will some delicious video of my juvie owls. This one is of a goofy, wobbly juvie. It was a great rainy evening with lots of thunder and lightning.


If you don't have 4 minutes left, then don't click the next video. If you do, enjoy the visit to my backyard with the lightning and thunder. Listen close to the owls trilling and whinnying, and the bill clacking. All three (the 2 juvies and adult female) were in attendance. I'm pretty sure at the point the bill clacking started mom was trying to break up a sibling spat. Priceless.


Today my adult female Eastern Screech Owl returned to her old roost. Same branch, same spot on the branch. I've missed her while she's been out rearing those younguns.

wonderful distractions part 2

Right on the heels of wonderful distraction number 1, I left on a business trip to Tampa. It was a lonely boring business trip, and I was pretty blue, but I had at least two things to look forward to. Dinner with my cousin Lindsey...who I adore, and almost never get to see...and special plans with my bloggy friend Vicki.

I had some free time one afternoon, so Vicki picked me up at the hotel and graciously spent her whole afternoon showing me the best of St. Petersburg. It was great to meet another bloggy friend face to face, and I felt like I'd known her forever. To quote Vicki, "you meet the neatest people here in the neighborhood". Ditto Vicki!

I got the behind the scenes tour of the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve where Vicki is a volunteer. Lucky me to have an up close and personal introduction to Stretch and Wheezer, the resident Eastern Screech Owls at Boyd. Stretch was the only one to grant me a REALLY up close hello. Wheezer was busy protecting the last owlet in rehab as all good mothers would. They made great foster parents I hear.


Another new friend made was Spirit, a magnificent Bald Eagle. I'm pretty sure I will never get this close to another Bald Eagle without a fence between the two of us. I really was that close, almost no zoom used for these photos.
It was really sweet the way Spirit recognized Vicki as we approached. They had quite the conversation. She volunteers regularly with the raptors, but had been out for a few weeks with Mohs surgery on her nose. I think Spirit really missed her.


Here's a shot of Vicki at Boyd Hill showing me a Red Rat Snake, who had just shed his skin and was unbelievably soft.

We also took in a quick tour of the fabulous Salvador Dali museum in St. Pete, and dinner at the 4th Street Shrimp Store...which was satisfied my craving for some good ole Florida seafood...with Vicki's daughter Abby and her husband. A rather enjoyable dinner, really.

On my last night in town, Lindsey and I had dinner at my now favorite place to eat in Tampa, Datz Deli. I had an egg salad and smoked salmon sandwich for which there are not words. And the wine? Oh man the wines. I chose an incredible French Rose (it was sweltering after all). Also no words.

So thank you Vicki and Lindsey, for the wonderful distractions from my blues regarding a sickly doglet. Vicki, I am better for knowing you. And Lindsey, I am proud to call you family.

so long, farewell...

Our owlets have taken up roost somewhere beyond where I can see during the day. I hear them at night, and have seen one hunting after dark, but the day watching is definitely over. This may end up being my favorite photo of the whole season. A very satisfying end result to the long season of watching and waiting.

And here's a little video clip of one of the owlets trying out his wings. So sweet and wobbly! It wasn't long after this before they both flew clean out of the yard.

Elvis has left the building.

That's what I'm calling him. Elvis, the larger owlet, and I'll think I'll call the other Costello. They left the nest box sometime between dusk Thursday and dusk Friday. I'm betting it was late Thursday since I was out watching them till around 10pm.





They are roosting way up in the top of our Cypress, so It's been tough to get good pictures during the day. Last night a little after dusk mama owl coaxed them down with food but it was too dark by then to get any pictures. I did enjoy sharing the whole feeding experience with Fred and Joanne, and especially little Elise. She calls them the Portuguese name for owl "mocho" (Fred is Portuguese). Over and over she would say "mocho, whoo whoo". It was very sweet!

I'm a little sad that my nest watching days are over, but very glad they made it.

Credit for the photos in this post go to April. She has been great with her 21 year old eyes in helping me spot the owlets so high up in the tree.

yes there are two

Tonight I witnessed a shoving match when not one but two heads appeared at one time in the nest box opening. Good to know that sibling rivalry happens in the owl family too. Although I didn't get it in a photo, I can confirm that the owlet has at least one sibling! I got it on video, but I'm having some technical (read amateur) difficulties. Hoping to share that (the video not the difficulty) at some point.

I was able to snap some better pictures this evening. The little ones don't show themselves till right at dusk making it difficult to get a good shot. I don't want to use a flash. Not sure that would be the ethical thing to do since they are fighting off predators for their very lives and all.



I have thoroughly enjoyed the evenings this week watching the young-uns peer from the nest box. I've had to become a little less obtrusive as mother owl has gotten very protective. Up until this week I could walk out and sit right under the branch she was perched on. Now, if I so much as near the edge of our porch she barks at me and makes a close pass swooping in my direction. I'll keep my eyeballs thank you very much. I'm pretty sure she wants to claw them out.

owl babies

First sight of our Eastern Screech Owlet! I'm not sure if there is just one or maybe two. Fledging can't be too far away now. I'm thinking in the next day or so.

and now for something completely different

Just kidding. Check out today's Spock mug shots. I couldn't pick a favorite so I'm giving you the whole bunch. And did I mention? WE HAVE OWLETS IN THE NEST BOX!

my what big claws you have

Spock has been spending evenings out of the nest box before dusk. She still spends the good part of the day in there though. Last night I watched and she is still in and out of the box as she hunts after dark as well. I'm still wondering and second guessing whether or not we have owlets on the way or here already. Too chicken to climb up and look inside. **update June 19th 9pm - we have just heard owlets making noise in the nest box as the adults come in with food!! WE HAVE OWLETS!!**




I love to watch her as she gets ready to head out for the evening. She has the routine of stretching each wing one at a time, and checking out the action in the yard pre-dusk. We just sit quietly in each others company. It makes me so happy. Who needs TV?

she's still here

Spock is still here cooking her clutch, figuratively I hope and not literally. It's getting hot out, and she has been coming out for a breath of fresh air in the middle of the day. I'm still hoping that she won't have a lost cause. Either way I'm honored that she picked my backyard.





A year ago today when I started this blog, I could have only dreamed that we'd have nesting owls in our backyard. Just one more reason it's my happy place.


I think for my 1 year blogiversary I'll spend some time learning more about how to actually make my blog design more purdy. I'm lazy and ignorant when it comes to the technical stuff, so don't hold your breath. It'll probably be 6 months closer to the next year mark before I actually get around to it.

Geeky Owl Stuff

I've been sitting out most nights for at least a little while with the owls. Since I've gotten the night vision monocular it's been really exciting for the nature geek in me. They really don't mind me sitting so close ogling. I've watched the missus hang her head from the nest box while Spock brings her a small mouse or bird. Even with the night vision it's tough for me to tell exactly what he's delivered, but it often seems to be the size of a small mouse or bird. Tonight they sat on the branch together just outside the box and just hung out for a little while. Eastern Screech Owls mate for life. I just love it.

Speaking of geeky, I've been trying to think of a way to use a camera through the monocular lens. My camera lenses are too big. Then I got the idea to use my iPhone since the lens is so small on it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the iPhone night vision camera. Also my arm is about to fall off for trying to hold the monocular and camera at just the right angle. Small sacrifice. Next time you see me if I can't lift my arm to welcome you it's because I've been juggling devices in the backyard at midnight just so I can share with you. Feel special. You are.

Saturday Morning Surprise

My Eastern Screech Owls have been very busy at night, but this is the first time I've seen either of them in daylight since nesting began.

Owl Sighting After All

I'm REALLY happy to report that we finally spotted our Eastern Screech Owl in the yard last night. Not only one, but two! One of them in the Owl house - I'm going to assume it was a female. We'll call her "the missus".

We were sitting out under the porch during a rain storm and saw one fly to a branch nearby. I heard him trilling, and alternately a trilling I had not heard before - kind of a more excited form (and not the B song - I know that one to be very different). It was difficult to tell where the alternate trilling was coming from until I saw a head poke out of the house for a minute or so. When she retreated into the house, it sounded like the excited call was coming from inside it again.

Now I'm wondering if Mr. Spock was really a mister since he's no longer roosting in his spot. Was that the missus all along? Is she inside the house now and not roosting in the old spot? Is he roosting in spot just out of sight? Man, this is driving me crazy. I got out my copy of "The Eastern Screech Owl" by Frederick Gehlbach. I'm skimming pages to look for any information to give me a clue. Also for anything that will help me know how to accommodate them so that they won't abandon the nest.

Stay tuned! I'm hoping I'll have more good news to report. Maybe even owlets!

Owl Update

An update on our resident Eastern Screech Owl - he seems to have moved on to the neighbors yard. I have to say this has made me a bit blue, but I believe he's chosen a mate and nest in the next yard, which would be a good thing. Because of this he is no longer roosting in our yard, but likely just a few feet from the nest. I've watched the owl house that we placed in our back yard closely at dusk, and later in the evening for a few weeks now. I got excited last week after seeing shavings on the grass below the house (we placed wood shavings in the bottom of the house for nesting material). I assumed that because the shavings were in the grass, that the owl had taken up residence. However, seeing no activity at all I'm pretty sure that the house wasn't chosen this mating season. Although I'm discouraged, I have hope that it will still be used, perhaps next year.

The reason I believe that a nest has been chosen in the next yard is the regular calling from a tree in the evenings after dark. Several times in the last couple of weeks I've sat in the back yard late at night listening to an Eastern Screech Owl calling with the A-Song. It seems to stay in one spot - a tree in the next yard - without moving. Tonight it was almost an hour that I sat and listened. The owl never moved from the spot, and called every minute or two. It would make sense that a female is calling from the nest. Probably to her mate asking him to hurry up and bring back some dinner. I've never witnessed our Mr. Spock calling from one place for so long. He would usually go from limb to limb calling no more than 2 or 3 times from the same spot. Last Friday night (Sat morning early) about 1am I sat out while one of the owls called from our Cypress and Pine trees, and even landed in the grass about 10 feet in front of me to pick something up. So Spock seems to still frequent our yard, just not roosting during the day. I should also mention that I'm still finding pellets in the yard - roughly 1 inch grey ovals composed of fur, feathers, bones, and other things that the owl doesn't digest. A sure sign that they are still spending some time in our yard.

I suppose my having shared all of this qualifies me as an owl geek. How else would you explain my sitting for hours in the dark listening to them talk, and picking up regurgitated owl pellets to examine. Hey, I'm even considering getting some night vision goggles for after dark watching.

**Disclaimer: I'm assuming that our owl - Mr. Spock - is a "he". It's difficult to tell the female from the male (at least for me). So for now, until I learn otherwise, our owl will be Mr. Spock**