Date: 4/9/26 5:33 pm From: Bob Reiling via groups.io <rreiling2...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Unusual Owl activity
All,
At little after 8 last night (4/8/26) my wife was in our Spa when a Western Screech-Owl landed in our bird bath about 20 feet away from her and spent some time soaking its feathers in the water. I then came out and saw the Owl fly a bit South, A short time later it returned to the bird bath and once again soaked its feathers and flew a bit south. The Owl was then seen to fly to a tree just west of the Spa where it perched for a few minutes and flew back to the South. I got good bino views during a third trip to the bird bath (note we have lights on in our front and back yards until 10 PM). There are several reasons why birds might need to soak their feathers but my assumption is that there are young involved as it was not hot out and they might need the moisture or the Owl had some sort of infestation, I'm interested what others might think of this activity or if they have ever seen an Owl doing it.
Take care,
Bob Reiling
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.
