Eastern Screech Owl Abandons Nest Box With Three Eggs

Video:  Eastern Screech Owl Abandons Nest Box With Three Eggs

Mother Screech Owl looks sad and tired as I take her last picture before she abandoned the nest box. You can hear her beautiful and soulful voice at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-p-ec-DHlw&list=UUcNyzOCKvyMBaA4iQVgO9EQ

Not exactly sure what happened, but the male stopped bringing food and as a result she left the eggs alone for well over three hours after dusk in 50 degree temperatures for two nights - after that she ceased incubating. She stayed in the nest box during the day for another week and then left overnight on April 6th.

I look forward to seeing her next year and hearing the amazing sounds of the Eastern Screech Owl in the woods.

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Video:  Eastern Screech Owl Abandons Nest Box With Three Eggs

Screech Owl Sitting on Three Eggs in Nest Box

Video: Screech Owl Sitting on Three Eggs in Nest Box

Eastern Screech Owls are settling into a routine - looks like three eggs is it. Same as last three years. Hatching should begin around March 31st. Will start experimenting with some live broadcasts in the coming days. The owls have picked a different nest box this year with the older camera and the microphone is a little shaky but working. I have not located the male owls daytime hiding spot yet. He is no doubt hiding in the dense brush within sight of the nest, but their camouflage ability is amazing. Stay tuned!

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Video: Screech Owl Sitting on Three Eggs in Nest Box

Eastern Screech Owl Calls - Third Egg in Nest Box

Video: Eastern Screech Owl Calls - Third Egg in Nest Box 

Eastern Screech Owls now have three eggs - some classic screech owl calls and Mr. Owl brings a big meal to the mother owl at the 1:40 mark. Not sure exactly what it was, it may be another bird. She will now spend most of her time sitting on the eggs after short trips outside at dusk and dawn with the male bringing food.

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Video: Eastern Screech Owl Calls - Third Egg in Nest Box 

Eastern Screech Owl Call - Second Egg of 2014

Video: Eastern Screech Owl Call - Second Egg of 2014

Video: Eastern Screech Owl Call - Second Egg of 2014

Mother Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl is returning at dawn and calling softly to the male nearby as is her custom. She will spend the day sitting on the now two eggs. She will likely lay another egg tonight. Last year there were four eggs and one didn't hatch. It is obvious from the feathers in the nest box that she has eaten another small bird the previous day - that is just the way of Nature. Most of their diet consists of lizards, small snakes and large bugs.

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Transformer Owl Takes Down Curious and Annoying Squirrel!

Squirrel investigates Eastern Screech Owl With Predictable Results!

Inquiring Minds Want to Know - Squirrel checks out Eastern Screech Owl

Transformer Owl 2013 was patiently guarding over her nest box with three owlets when a pesky and curious squirrel decides to check her out. She puffs herself up and extends her wings to look big and scary as the squirrel is already right on top of her. She holds her patience for awhile and then sends the squirrel on his way - scared but unharmed. This is the same mother Transformer Screech Owl that has displayed her prodigious talent in the past by shrinking to look like a tree branch from a Red-Shouldered Hawk on the exact same tree in 2012. This amazing wild creature is the real wild transformer owl! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NPXU5AZSAc

The Genuine Wild Transformer Owl Makes Herself Look Thin - May 2012.

The Genuine Wild Transformer Owl Makes Herself Look Thin in May 2012.

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Great Picture of an Eastern Screech Owl Entered into National Geographic Photo Contest

Great Picture of an Eastern Screech Owl Entered into National Geographic Photo Contest Had to Tweet this - classic example of Eastern Screech Owl camouflage.

Portrait of an Eastern Screech Owl - Traveler Photo Contest 2013 - National Geographic on.natgeo.com/17JSDR9 via @natgeotraveler

— Backyard Birder (@Nature_Fix) May 16, 2013

Last Eastern Screech Owlet Makes the Big Jump out of the Nest Box

Last Owlet Realizes She is All Alone!

Eastern Screech Owlet in Nest Box - Last one Out

The youngest owlet was 5 days behind the eldest and 3 days behind the second and was clearly not expecting to jump but was relaxing in the bottom of the nest box waiting for Mom to put food in her mouth. She had not yet been perching for food - losing out to the two eldest. When she realizes her brother has left her expression is priceless. Mother continues to call in a nearby tree and withhold food. The little one has guts - it only took 10 minutes from realizing she was alone to making a jump even though she couldn't fly. She managed to fly to the tree with Mom and climb up high where she is doing fine. A classic end to the 2013 season!

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Last Eastern Screech Owlet Makes it Safely Out of the Nest Box

Video of Owlet Hiding in Deep Cover - A good thing!

Mother Screech Owl Guarding the Owlets in the Trees

After the 2nd eldest left last night the youngest quickly decided to make the plunge even though it had never perched at the entrance before. It fell to the ground but managed to fly into a Palmetto tree and then tried to fly back to the nest box. Mother Owl came to the rescue and calmed it down and it followed her back to the tree. This morning the little owlet was making noise and exposed but It hid and I managed to catch of glimpse of it this morning. We will only hear them now - they have moved into very dense brush.

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More info at: http://screech-owls.blogspot.com/

Live Screech Owls Tonight!

Watch "Florida Screech Owl CAM May 9th - Live From outside the Owl Nest Box!" on YouTube

Will the last two leave the nest tonight?

Eastern Screech Owl Chased Off Of Hunting Perch by Mockingbird

Video of Mockingbird Chasing off Mrs. Screech Owl

The female Screech Owl was taking up her usual position to start hunting for the owlets at dusk, but a Mockingbird with a nest in a nearby tree took exception. Mockingbirds are fast and fearless, and while they make some of  the most beautiful calls in the bird world, when they are on the attack they have an extremely aggravating call.

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Last Two Eastern Screech Owlets Will be Leaving the Nest Box Tonight - Live Feed

The second oldest owlet is now sitting in the entrance - the eldest left last night!

Tonight will likely be the last live feed as the two remaining owlets will likely leave the nest box. 

Starting early today! This will likely be the last night - the eldest left overnight and two very over-active owlets are in the nest box. The parents want them out of the nest box. They are guarding and feeding the eldest in a nearby tree. This is the time to say goodbye. They are very over active today and will likely leave between 8 and 9 PM. The parents will likely call them from nearby trees or perch and then withhold food to coax them out if they are not ready already! Will broadcast from outside till its too dark.

Live outside the owl box tonight!

Watch "Florida Screech Owl CAM May 7th - Live From outside the Owl Nest Box!" on YouTube

Watch "Florida Screech Owl CAM May 7th - Live From outside the Owl Nest Box!" on YouTube

Owl Watching - Nature Meditation

16 minute HD Video - Owl Watching at its best.

Male Eastern Screech Owl Guarding the Nest Box

The male Screech Owl has a favorite position to guard the nest box with the mother and 3 owlets inside. Now that the owlets are getting bigger the female has been leaving the nest during the day to cool down and rest. The male will do most of the hunting during the night. Here we see just 16 minutes of his day long vigil - these small owls only expose themselves to such danger when they are nesting. The other 10 months of the year you would never see this guy. To keep up on the owl family developments and get more HD videos every week. consider subscribing at: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=MyBackyardBirding

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 5th - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

The Eldest Owlet is Close to Fledging!

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 5th - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

Running the live feed this afternoon and evening. The eldest will likely fledge in a day or two - seems ready to get out of the box - his two siblings are taking their afternoon nap.

Screech Owl Family Update

Male Eastern Screech Owl

Female Eastern Screech Owl

Eastern Screech Owlets in Nest Box

Squirrel Who think its an owl

The 2013 Screech Owl season is progressing perfectly according to plan. The male spends his days hidden and resting and will do most of the hunting for food tonight. The female is now spending the day out of the nest because it is getting too crowded and hot with the three fast growing owlets. She is where she can see the nest box and come to the rescue of the owlets if need be. Two of the owlets are now perching and looking out on their new world. Fledging should begin early next week. Amazing and precious little creatures! There is also a weird young squirrel who has taken perhaps an unhealthy interest in the owl parents after discovering their roosts. It is impossible for the squirrels to get at the nest box otherwise they would ruin the nesting season The squirrel is fascinated by the roosting owls - more on that later.

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 3rd - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 3rd  - Live From the Owl Nest Box!
We will continue live streaming on YT until the owlets fledge mid to late next week. They are growing so fast and tonight will need a lot of feeding!

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 3rd  - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 2nd - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 2nd  - Live From the Owl Nest Box!
After a rainy night last night expect a very active and wild evening tonight - the owlets are active and hungry! If you love little owls you wont be dissapointed.

Florida Screech Owl CAM May 2nd  - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

Eastern Screech Owlet Perches and Looks out of the Nest Box

First appearance of the eldest owlet in the nest box perch!

Eldest Eastern Screech Owlet

Probably due to an abundance of high protein food such as lizards and bugs after a mild winter the owlets have grown incredibly fast in the past few days. Yesterday (April 30th) the eldest owlet made a first appearance at dusk in the nest box entrance. Our first view of those amazing eyes. In the video you will see the mother owl take off from the nest and the two eldest try to look out on the world beyond the box for the first time. The second eldest is not quite big enough to look out but you can see its head next to the eldest. It will be a rainy night tonight we'll see how the owls handle that. 

Florida Screech Owl CAM April 30th - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

Live tonight -- watch them grow before your eyes. Seem to be a few days ahead of fledging schedule - may be due to an abundance of high protein little lizards!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WXjQ0fS_rg

Florida Screech Owl CAM April 29th - Live From the Owl Nest Box!

Feeding action is getting intense in the early evening now that the 3 owlets are growing rapidly

The eldest Screech Owlet has grown amazingly fast in two days and is now perching beside its mother. The second eldest will likely be perching by tonight - April 30th. The youngest is kind of a goofball spending its time flapping its wings and kicked up wood chips all over its sibling. The broadcast is live every night and then an archive of the activity is posted automatically to YouTube a few hours later. Our goal is to have an extensive documentation of the owlets development. Enjoy!