Date: 4/11/25 3:01 pm From: Bob Reiling via groups.io <rreiling2...> Subject: [southbaybirds] FWIW Western Screech-Owls
All.
For years Western Screech Owls were often heard, seldom seen, in our back yard. My wife and I then bought/built a nest box and mounted it in one of our Birch trees. We also bought a Trail Camera and a small solar panel to power it. Ultimately, we saw and photographed the Owls using the nest. The Owls then disappeared and we noted sticks protruding from the entrance to the nest box. Squirrels had packed the nest full of sticks and had damaged the entrance (a single Owl egg was found trapped inside). We eventually decided to remove the nest box as we could not stop the squirrels from damaging it and the old Birch trees were in bad shape (since removed). I then purchased a 12-and-a-half-foot pipe system designed to mount Purple Martin nest boxes and placed a new Western Screech Owl nest box on it. This is a squirrel proof system installed well away from trees and any property that might be damaged if it collapsed. Photo 3160 an adult at the entrance to the nest (about 7:30PM).The Owls have been using the nest box and as far as I know currently have young with multiple, nightly feeding trips to and from the nest. I have a recent photo with an adult feeding what appears to be a young Owl (with a light forehead and light throat, photo 5661).
It has been interesting to note that Owls, like many other birds, have multiple calls used at various times of the year (four to five that I have recorded) other than the Bouncing Ball call I am familiar with and that have not heard in the last few weeks. make sure the audioon the video is up high to hear it call as it flies away.
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
