Great Crested Flycatcher Lays an Egg in Owl Nest Box

Video: Great Crested Flycatcher Lays an Egg in Owl Nest Box

Great Crested Flycatcher lays the second egg in the Screech Owl Nest box. Caught on the nest box camera from beginning to end. She has filled the nest bowl with snake skin - a flycatcher tradition that makes for great protection for the eggs. After all the eggs are lain - usually 4 or 5 she will begin incubating full time and then they should hatch in two weeks.

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Video: Great Crested Flycatcher Lays an Egg in Owl Nest Box

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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Eastern Screech Owls Return to Nest Box for 2014

Video: Eastern Screech Owls Return to Nest Box for 2014

The Eastern Screech Owls have returned for 2014! Courtship and mating now - hopefully eggs within 2 weeks! The male can be seen in the outside nighttime video checking out one of the nest boxes - the one they have used for the past three years, but Ms Screech Owl seems to prefer the other somewhat larger nest box and has spent a few days in there sprucing it up. As you can see she was not too happy to have her picture taken for the video thumbnail! She is the same mother from the past three years which is pretty remarkable. If all goes well eggs will be lain in one of the boxes in the next week or two. It is possible that once these owls stake out a box for sure and stop defending one of the boxes that the other box will be occupied by another Screech Owl couple a little lower on the "pecking order" -perhaps their young from previous years. Should be another exciting season - stay tuned! 

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Not exactly excited at having her picture taken!

Video: Eastern Screech Owls Return to Nest Box for 2014

Squirrel's Valentine's Day Date !

Video: Squirrel's Valentine's Day Date !

A cute and tasteful Valentine's Day squirrel love story of epic proportions! Have you ever heard the sound squirrels make whilst in the throes of passion - it's cute! Unknown to these young squirrels they were caught on a video camera meant for observing Screech Owls. This is the story of two classy, but adventurous, young squirrels who dared to check into an Owl Nest Box to conduct their courtship ... introducing an element of excitement, danger and intrigue to their romance........

Play at high volume and HD for best results! The rest of the story at:

http://screech-owls.blogspot.com/2013/02/squirrel-romance-in-owl-nest-box.html

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Video: Squirrel's Valentine's Day Date !

Baby Owls Say Humbug to Chipmunks Caroling "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

Video: Baby Owls Say Humbug to Chipmunks Caroling "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

Upbeat Chipmunks continuously singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" might get on some people's nerves. Here is a little holiday fun as the young Screech Owls are brought to the nest box entrance by the sounds of Chipmunk Carolers singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" .

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Baby Owls Say Humbug to Chipmunks Caroling "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

Funniest and Cutest Baby Squirrels - Really !

Video: Funniest and Cutest Baby Squirrels - Really !

Funniest and Cutest Baby Squirrels is not an exaggeration (or"kittens" as squirrel young are called) - perhaps gentle, innocent, and curious. All sorts of words will come to your mind as you watch this video. A mother Red Squirrel high in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina has her hands full raising these precocious youngsters in an Eastern Screech Owl nest box. Try and count how many little squirrels there are as you watch the video! They are still totally dependent on nursing and this is their first morning really beginning to explore the world outside the nest box. Apparently young animals just can't resist squeezing their heads through a nest box entrance - see how owlets do it at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTmQ1mnjAJc  "Funniest and Cutest Baby Screech Owls"

The music at the end is the appropriate  "Get Outside" by Jason Farnham, courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library.

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Funniest and Cutest Baby Squirrels - Really !

Red Squirrels Kittens Raised in a Screech Owl Nest Box

A mother Red Squirrel raised her five kittens in one of our Screech Owl nest boxes and rather than a nuisance this was a delight. The only regret was not having a camera set up inside. Unlike Gray Squirrels the little Reds don't seem to make a mess of the box and as they have vacated by mid-October the owls can have it back for late winter nesting. I grew rather fond of these little Red Squirrel kittens (that's what baby squirrels are called) and will have some really cute videos in the coming weeks. If you subscribe to the companion YouTube channel you will be sure and get the latest videos - they will be delightful - I guaranty it! Subscribe at: 

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Two of the five Red Squirrel Kittens - just like owlets they find their first glimpse of humans fascinating.

This cute one with the pointy ears spent its early days staring out at the big world out there to be explored.

Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl Guarding The Nest Box

Video: Mother Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl Guarding the Nest Box in Florida

Mother Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl Guarding the Nest Box in Florida

Watch this dedicated Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl mother display a range of facial expressions as she guards her nest box and hops to a new perch. The three owlets are getting big and it is too hot and crowded for her to spend the day in the box so she perches nearby - always ready to come to their aide.

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Curious Eastern Screech Owlet

Video: Curious Eastern Screech Owlet

Curious Eastern Screech Owlet

Cute and Curious - the eldest Eastern Screech Owlet this season was this male Gray Morph. He finds the world outside the box fascinating. Unlike last season we did not see a lot of fighting over who gets to sit in the nest box entrance. The 2nd egg did not hatch so there were 4 and 6 days difference in age between the eldest and the next two and he was way ahead in development - leaving the nest box 3 days before the youngest.

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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