I saw my baby owl tonight!

Cockatoo · May 08, 2009, 09:31:17 PM

:-D

Ain't she a cutie pie?

The mamma was watching me inspect my hive yesterday.
She wouldn't let me photograph her and I'm not 20 feet away.
But the chick will let me walk right up to it! :-D

Natalie · May 08, 2009, 10:42:56 PM

How cute, the little eyeball peeking out at you. :)

nella · May 08, 2009, 10:52:21 PM

What kind of owl is it?

Cockatoo · May 08, 2009, 11:08:06 PM

Eastern Screech Owl.
They've been with us for about 11 years now.

Cindi · May 08, 2009, 11:43:03 PM

Cockatoo, you mean to tell that the owls have lived in that box in your yard for 11 years. That is about one of the coolest things that I have ever heard!!! That little youngster eh, he hasn't learned to be afeared of the human yet it looks like. I thought those pics of just one eye peeking out at you were just the sweetest thing, you are fortunate to share your life with these critters, they must solely trust you, and that is a beautiful thing, good for you. Have the wonderful day, to love and live our great life, health. Cindi

Cockatoo · May 08, 2009, 11:55:48 PM

I've had to replace their box twice now.(that's box #3 now)
The wood rots in about 5 years.
That one is pretty new/
The owls don't seem to mind that their home is updated every so often.

Sometimes the hen will fly to the back deck, and lite on one of the railings.
Then watch is in the house. :-D

If the male is feeling frisky, he'll fly out of nowhere and swoop your head.
If you have on a ball cap, he'll grab it with his claws and flip it off your head! :shock:
He's done that to my wife's grandad about every year now when he's here for July 4th.
He would then land in the apple tree by the house and watch us.

Cindi · May 09, 2009, 10:54:58 AM

Cockatoo, oh that is simply thrilling. I love it when we get those rare chances to commune so closely with the Mother of Nature herself, those birds. We live on acreage here, but our birds stay in the tree-ey parts, they don't come so close. Consider yourself a very lucky soul to have these beauties. I love what the male owl does with taking the cap, sweeeet, beautiful days in these great lives we all live and share, health. Cindi

dragonfly · May 09, 2009, 04:08:31 PM

That is SO cool.:)

I've never seen a screech owl before. Thanks for sharing.

Highlandsfreedom · May 10, 2009, 09:15:32 PM

How did you get them to take to the hut? That would be too cool to have a owl house.

Cockatoo · May 11, 2009, 09:58:25 AM

Well first off, my backyard hasn't been maintained since we bought the house, 14 years ago. :-D
The nest box needs to be about 15 feet in the air and have a 3" hole .

Here is a set of plans.

http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/plans_screech_owl.htm

Cockatoo · May 11, 2009, 09:11:28 PM

This is the daddy owl, he's smaller than the hen.

Natalie · May 12, 2009, 10:32:28 AM

He doesn't look like the type of guy you would want to mess with huh? :-D

You really are lucky to be able to observe them so close up like you do.

Cindi · May 13, 2009, 10:42:48 AM

Cockatoo. What GREAT shots, I love the way that he has those beady eyes looking straight at ya. Beauty. Have a great, most wonderful day, love this life, health. Cindi

vermmy35 · May 13, 2009, 10:55:31 AM

Nice picks cockatoo, since I left my boyhood home some 26 yrs ago to live in cities I don't get the chance to observe nature like I use too, and that is one thing I really miss. I loved the one with the male you can just see his eyes :)

Highlandsfreedom · May 13, 2009, 11:27:18 AM

So thats the guy who pops off your hat?? Funny little guy.

Wes Sapp · May 13, 2009, 09:44:55 PM

We've had a box up in our yard for about 4 years now, my dad made it. He put 1/4 moon cut-outs on each side like on a out-house, along with the main hole. This is the first year we've seen three owlet's setting in each hole at the same time. I'll try to get pictures tomorrow.

Cockatoo · May 14, 2009, 03:09:21 PM

Super!

Wes Sapp · May 15, 2009, 03:00:48 PM

I had trouble getting good pictures and it was impossible to get a picture of all three at once...their old enough now to be leary. Here's one with a owlet sitting in the moon cut-out

Here's one with the owlet sitting in the main hole you can see how the squirrels have chewed on the moon cut-out making it big enough for them to sit in the opening.

Cockatoo · May 15, 2009, 04:04:09 PM

TERRIFIC!
Absolutely terrific!

Natalie · May 15, 2009, 09:45:50 PM

Great pictures. I never see owls around here. We do see bats all the time though, they just aren't as cute. ;)