tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24476778444288647142024-03-05T08:51:30.081-08:00New Jersey Screech OwlLIVE VIDEO AND RECORDED CLIPS OF NESTING EASTERN SCREECH OWLMichael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-43523348148909226212015-05-04T17:52:00.003-07:002015-05-04T17:52:58.547-07:00Owlets HatchWell, the long wait is finally over. As of this morning, all 3 eggs have hatched and the tiny owlets are doing well. Papa is a good provider. He brought two mice to Momma last night, one just after dark the other just before sunrise this morning. The first was consumed during the night, the second fed to the babies (and eaten by Momma) during the day. Here is a video of the day before the first egg hatched.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0mZiU4Mf_vI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0mZiU4Mf_vI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-25165420934871923192015-04-15T09:26:00.001-07:002015-04-15T09:26:14.593-07:00Female takes over boxSo in the case of my nesting owls, here is the best I can put together after watching them both on the camera and directly over the past two months.<br />
<br />
1) The owl that was roosting prior to the failure of my camera on 3/26 was the male! He is a "redder" red-phase than the owl that is in the box now, although she is also more red than gray. The male was there until at least the afternoon of March 28 when I had good looks at him from the house during the afternoon each day.<br />
2) From March 29 to April 2 (5 day period), there were no daytime sightings of either owl. <br />
3) On April 3, I viewed an owl from the yard just before total darkness but no sightings earlier in the day despite keeping a really close look. This behavior is consistent with the (obviously) female owl that has been there recently.<br />
4) When I opened the box to look after observing her fly on April 7, there were two eggs in the box. When the camera was repaired on April 9, there were 3 eggs in the box. Therefore, I would put egg laying (unfortunately not recorded with the camera) on about 4/4, 4/6, and 4/8.<br />
5) Since 4/9, the female has been "close sitting" every night with breaking of only a few minutes following each sunset and just before dawn. The male has been bringing her food each night.<br />
<br />
So here is a new video recorded on April 13 for your viewing pleasure:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xeKIH2L1a1k/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xeKIH2L1a1k?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-62568429094069472932015-04-11T11:59:00.000-07:002015-04-11T12:06:45.369-07:00Is my owl a male or female??Frederick R. Gehlbach studied screech owls in Texas from 1967 until 1991. His focus was on population studies and his extensive observations were published in <i>The Eastern Screech Owl, Life History, Ecology, and Behavior in the Suburbs and Countrysid</i>e. (NOTE: Thanks for Jim Wright for providing me a copy of this seminal work in this field). While this work contains a substantial amount of data (almost too much to comprehend), it is difficult for most of us to use to interpret our own nest boxes in a couple of important ways:<br />
<br />
1) He routinely netted (including owls roosting in trees) and/or captured the owls from boxes. This was important for the scientific data he was seeking but most of us don't, or at least shouldn't be, intruding on their lives to that extent. This allowed him to do determine the sex of each owl and follow individuals (he banded them), not only through a season, but from year to year.<br />
2) His results provide detailed statistical information on large populations but never really focus down to an individual bird or pair of birds.<br />
3) Since it was his career, he spent more time (day and night) than even I do!<br />
<br />
I have been watching the Screech Owls in my yard for more than 10 years now, the last 5 with a nature cam in the nest box (an advantage that Gehlbach didn't have). So what can I share with those of you who have contacted me about your nest boxes? <br />
<br />
Background; My box is located about 50 feet from my back door in a suburban yard. Immediate neighbors have lots of a little over an acre; across a major street is a development of about 1/2 acre lots. Except for mine, most lack a diversity of wildlife habitat, mostly standard lawns with a few shrubs and isolated trees. Behind my lot however is a farm field (cows), an "old" field undergoing succession to mostly invasive species, and eventually a major river with mature trees.<br />
<br />
Here are a couple of observations:<br />
1) When a female has been in the box with eggs and/or young, she virtually NEVER looks out of the box from dawn until it is too dark for us humans to see well. The only way I know she is there without the camera is when another bird (chickadee, titmouse, or bluebird most often) looks into the box and announces to the world that it is occupied!<br />
2) Prior to egg laying, owls are occasionally seen looking out of the box during the day, sometimes for long periods--with their eyes closed (but very much aware of their surrounding). This may be a function in my yard of the proximity of my bird feeding station with birds (like blue jays that will mob an awake owl.<br />
3) This was the first year that a roosting owl spent as much time as it did (sometimes several hours a day, and virtually everyday for at least 1/2 hour before sunset) looking out.<br />
4) This was also the first year that an owl roosted nearly every day from mid-February until mid-March in the box; in past years you could count the days on one hand.<br />
<br />
So, if you see an owl in your box, it is likely NOT a nesting female. But is it a male, or a pre-nesting female??<br />
<br />
From Gehlback, "Males inside or close to cavities by late February, replaced by their mates in mid-March, are strong evidence of nesting, so I often find the first egg within a day of laying."<br />
<br />
(ponder that and I will provide more tomorrow . . .)<br />
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-63555553981650866682015-04-10T09:24:00.000-07:002015-04-10T09:26:35.555-07:00Camera fixed; 3 eggs in nest boxMaintaining a blog consisting of live, wild animals (and complex electronics and computer connections) is really a challenge and I apologize that I seem to disappear at times.<br />
<br />
With advice from Richard (www.birdhousespycam.com) my Hawkeye Nature Camera is functional again. With owls in the box day and night, and not wanting to do anything to affect their natural behavior, I was left with working "outside the box". The initial technical difficulty was obvious--a broken cable. After 4 attempts to repair it (it consists of a bundle of three very fine telephone wires) I finally searched the entire length of the cable and located a second very subtle break only a few feet from the initial break--affecting only one of the small wires inside the sheath and not at all obvious from the surface. He suggested several causes--only one of which makes any sense--Squirrels! It was up in the oak tree where the next box is located.<br />
<br />
With the technical problem solved, I was able to record the video recorded last night, April 9, and contained in a separate post. Enjoy as the female owl prepares for her evening break and flies to reveal 3 eggs (NOTE: I had opened the box after she flew on April 7 and there were only 2 eggs).<br />
<br />
Tomorrow I will address questions raised by several viewers who also have nest boxes but no camera inside. What do you see and what does it mean?Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-48645551852895348462015-04-10T09:09:00.001-07:002015-04-10T09:09:29.837-07:00Three Eggs April 9, 2015<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ECVDDc27k-U" width="459"></iframe>Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-8384742309884629352015-03-17T18:15:00.000-07:002015-03-21T11:40:31.643-07:00Romance is in the airIt has been a cold snowy month in Central New Jersey. The cold finally broke about a week ago and it seems like the owls have sensed spring. Activity at the nest box during the coldest times was very low with one of the adults (I am now pretty convinced it was the male roosting in the box almost everyday but very little activity after dark. By very little I mean one, or at most two visits on any night back to the box and only rarely was this by both owls. Atypical visit lasted no more than a minute--not very exciting if you were to stay awake waiting for it. Thankfully, I can record and scan through the night in just a few minute. Of course, I have no idea what they are doing away from the box except to say that I occasionally hear distant calling from the yard.<br />
<br />
Since March 12, however, there have been nightly visits including last night when I recorded the following movie. The entire clock time from fly out to the last visit shown was less than 20 minutes and I have compressed it to about 4.5 minutes for your pleasure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MxLzDVluKzg/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MxLzDVluKzg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-77176163430740621712015-03-07T12:38:00.001-08:002015-03-07T12:43:10.600-08:00Status Update March 7, 2015One of the owls has been roosting in the box during the day every day (except for 3) since February 7. This is very different from past years. In the last year that owlets were successfully fledged (2012), the female was the owl that roosted in the box but only a few times until just 2 days before she laid the first egg (then every day after that).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another major difference this year is that nocturnal activity at the box has been very minimal compared to 2012 and other previous years. Below is a video of the best observation I have been able to make of the owls together in the box since the day they were both in there during the day. In this video, one owl enters the box calling (a monotonic trill) followed immediately by the second. Is the male chasing the female or is he leading her into the box to try to entice her to nest? Or maybe it is something else entirely.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, enjoy this video and the live feed that I am trying to provide during daylight hours. During the day, the roosting owl almost always "sleeps", a restless sleep interrupted by squirrels and small birds looking in to the box to see if she/he is there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyk7sDchBDn8R1kLjGv3Rk-NFYgIp1mPKXVxCcgw-E_FC-7xU2gk8oCUD2kVzAl3TL9q6ZgZ4B3VizPXMeyOA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-39417370331107919722015-03-05T12:50:00.000-08:002015-03-05T12:50:25.003-08:00One of the big mysteries to me is which owl is which. In past years, I could tell the difference between the two individuals and identify the sex of each based on their behavior. This year they appear to both be red-phased owls and I have not been able to identify any significantly different features. Here is (I hope) the video that I tried to post a couple of days ago of the two together in the box. This, by the way, is the only time I have ever seen both owls together for long periods of time. In this case, the top owl as you are looking at it was there when the sun came up, the other owl joined during the daylight--I think in response to a marauding Cooper's Hawk that scattered the feeder birds about the same time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxeGr8wTAnHKhso5XcEK6vSH7QmQaO6eKpgIavBNl8zhhmpw6UunBSSgennT5-I9jpBFfeyekHd7aoCQu2lKQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-45006320968748119492015-03-03T11:07:00.001-08:002015-03-03T11:07:38.847-08:00My owls are completely wild and are free to come and go as they please. I make every effort to WATCH and not interfere with their activities in any way. As a result there are things I don't know and have to deduce by continuing to watch. My priority is to record and document their activities. In order to do that, I use my computer to record from sundown to sunrise every day. During the day, the Screech Owls (as do other nocturnal owls) spend virtually the entire time sleeping. <br />
<br />
I will be trying to broadcast live during the day (I know that is the boring time) and preparing short videos from the nocturnal activities to share with you. In central NJ, nesting (if it is going to occur) is due in mid-March. By that time, I hope to be able to record and broadcast simultaneously. At the moment it looks like I will need a second computer (newer than the one I have which is running on Windows XP) but I am looking at other options.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow, I will share some of my observations from this and past years on the weeks leading up to nesting. I also hope to have at least one video ready (but am struggling a bit with the updated software that is smarter than my brain). More then.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-38530028894720435302015-02-19T17:06:00.000-08:002015-02-19T17:19:25.848-08:002015--A New Year for OwlsFirst, I want to apologize to my past viewers for dropping posts last year but after the squirrel moved in things changed rapidly. As soon as the squirrel was out of the box (a couple of days after the last post), I cleaned the box but never saw the owls again. Now it is a new year and new owls. Much to learn and share again.<br />
<br />
There as been at least one owl in the box every day since February 7. On February 12, one owl was in the box after the sun rose but sometime during the day, it was joined by a second. A Cooper's Hawk flew through the yard scattering the birds from the feeder about the same time, however it would be conjecture at best to say that was the reason. In any case, here is the video of the two together with the first owl near the top, the second owl at the bottom. I would be guessing to apply a sex to either owl. (NOTE: I will have to add video later)<br />
<br />
In any case, I have the camera mounted and the recorder working. Still not able to broadcast live but hope to have that together by the time any eggs are laid (mid-March is typical in Central NJ). In the mean time, I will try to post images and videos of what ever happens and share my thoughts and what I have learned on this blog. Thanks for joining me (and the owls) for a new year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I</div>
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-65669928804029078392014-03-10T18:53:00.001-07:002014-03-10T18:53:46.552-07:002014 New Year, New FemaleJust an announcement that will be followed but updates (hopefully) on a regular basis: <br />
<br />
There is a new female in the nest. She is a beautiful red-phase Eastern Screech Owl--very different from the female of past years. There is also a male that is a gray-phase that could be the male from last year but I have no way to know for sure. Here is a photo from today of the female looking out of the nest. No eggs yet and she has not been in the nest box on a regular basis. She has been here alone and with the male on several occasions but we will have to wait to see if this will actually be a nesting year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl2wEYEyds-ZJkYHCd6H4aryIPDpS9UsETJfMK70zw8yJpo-YyHLC5PPZlbetwuIyZsCp8I6yeRZ8qlzlzaYv-5FJdFpzUKJNLEMvlIIVnej9e_gBYOKoH3gbZhqmzyL6_gC_RBV01zFD/s1600/Red+Screech+031014+crop+comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl2wEYEyds-ZJkYHCd6H4aryIPDpS9UsETJfMK70zw8yJpo-YyHLC5PPZlbetwuIyZsCp8I6yeRZ8qlzlzaYv-5FJdFpzUKJNLEMvlIIVnej9e_gBYOKoH3gbZhqmzyL6_gC_RBV01zFD/s1600/Red+Screech+031014+crop+comp.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If all goes as planned, I will have two cameras this year. One in the box, the second is the one in this photo that should allow us to see the interactions from outside. I do not have all of the computers/connections available to broadcast at this point but am working on identifying what is needed. If anyone would like to help out financially, I may have to ask for help with that down the road. More in the next couple of days.</div>
Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-57172111619252506232013-03-30T16:55:00.001-07:002013-03-30T17:13:11.196-07:00Squirrel has moved inOn Tuesday night (3/26) both owls were around much of the night and even were both in the box together. I will try to sort out the video from that night when I have a chance. Then on Wednesday, only Gray was around. No owls came by during the night since early Thursday morning. Today, I was away most of the day and when I got home there were many new leaves (and a squirrel) in the box. Trying to evict the squirrel, I tapped on the box, it left, and I opened it to clear some leaves. Unfortunately, I discovered that the mother squirrel had brought her young into the box also. They are not new born but appear to be several days or more old. I couldn't see how many there were (at least 2, maybe 3 or 4). Not wanting to hurt them, I closed the box for the night. The mother squirrel has returned to nursing and sheltering her brood. I don't know what will happen if the owls return tonight. I guess we will find out together.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-63175486255481167632013-03-24T15:49:00.000-07:002013-03-24T15:49:15.164-07:00Long CourtshipIt is a new year and I, as well as the pair of owls have a lot to learn. At least this time around, it will be very easy to tell the owls apart. I have only had one brief view of the new red-phase owl--it is a truly beautiful, full rufous red, not at all a "brown phase" individual. <br />
<br />
For anyone reading this who is not familiar with Screech Owls, they mate for life. If one passes, the other will adopt a new mate. Once the eggs are laid, the female will depend almost exclusively on the male to bring food for her and the owlets. What is apparently occurring now is the test phase. Is the box suitable? Will the male be able to supply the needed food? Do they trust each other?<br />
<br />
I record video every night from dusk to dawn, log every arrival/departure to the box, and make notes on any behaviors that I observe. I don't know why, I guess it has become an obsession. On a typical night lately, 12 hours of video have produced 5-30 minutes of owls doing something, anything--the rest nothing (which you probably already know if you have checked out the live feed). Although I delete much of it, I save many hours more than I share with you here--you get the cream. Maybe someday, I will figure out what to do with the rest of it.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, here is a video from March 23 of Gray feeding Red. This was the first (maybe second but it was not conclusive) of a feeding taking place. Check back to last year and you will see videos of Papa bringing Momma whole voles to prove his worthiness! Stay with us to see what happens this year:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mLFGidkv-W0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-15340045278850782652013-03-24T13:33:00.000-07:002013-03-24T13:33:17.922-07:00UpdateI apologize for keeping my 9 followers in suspense. This year is a new experience for me with my owls. As I have mentioned, the pair includes a red-phase owl, easily distinguished on the videos because it is much lighter in color than the other. The pair (one gray, one red) have been scarce at the nest box but I still think we are going to have a successful year. I have been trying to upload a video made last night of Gray feeding Red! That will be the first time I have seen them on camera! More when I can do that.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-50933636291478901992013-03-19T06:40:00.001-07:002013-03-19T15:48:14.647-07:00SquirrelsThere have not been any visits to the nest box (day or night) by either owl since 3/14. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are gone or that they won't nest, just that this is a new year and I have lots to learn. The squirrels (up to 4 at a time) have been visiting the box so it will be a challenge. I have been gently discouraging the squirrels and removing any plastic bags and other unnatural trash that they bring. So far none have tried to spend the night.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-62826849418873076642013-03-15T10:14:00.001-07:002013-03-15T10:14:35.212-07:00Squirrel but no Owl today--Don't WorryNeither owl is spending today in the next box. The squirrel looked in early this morning, as it has every morning. Since the owl wasn't there, it has started bringing in materials to rebuild its nest. Based on previous years this is perfectly normal. Check out two previous blog entries: Nest Prep and Courtship (posted 4/11/11) and Three Eggs and a Squirrel (3/19/12). At least with the experienced female of past years, the owl will always win the battle. As much as I try not to influence nature though, I am going to give the new owl(s) a break and help out. I can see the squirrel is filling the box with plastic bags (wish I could find out where it is getting them) and I am concerned that an owl, especially a young one, may have difficultly negotiating such a mine field. Leaves I am not worried about. I will remove the bags just before dark tonight and let the owls take it from there.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-16139000278513611492013-03-14T10:09:00.000-07:002013-03-14T10:09:38.509-07:00The red-phase owl is learning about the nest box.While I am still not sure which owl is the male and which is the female, one thing is clear. The gray-phase owl (I am going to call it Gray--perhaps in honor of one of my longest followers, Grey) clearly has been around the nest box before and is "wooing" the red-phase. Every other year for 8 years now, the female was a gray phase owl. Last year, both were. In 2011, I called the male a red-phase but he was really much more a brown-phase (see photo in Sibley, Field Guide to the Birds). The red-phase (hereafter called, you guessed it, Red!) owl is an incredibly beautiful rufous-red. I hope to be able to share a photo sometime soon but it is very shy. Now I will shut up and let you see a video clip from yesterday morning and let you help decide which is the male and which is the female--not until we have eggs will be know for sure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rNe658Xo3cY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-59967237549815125542013-03-13T13:12:00.000-07:002013-03-13T13:12:10.245-07:00Video from March 11 (early morning)Here are two videos of the pair of owls. These were recorded on the morning of March 11. Since then, the red-phase owl has spent two days (yesterday and today--March 13) in the nest box. I will try to keep the live feed on for people to watch while we wait for egg laying and decide for sure which owl is the female.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gi9m5440mtE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
And the second video a couple of hours later:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ZIybWn2Bno?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-35391928151212417282013-03-13T04:54:00.000-07:002013-03-13T04:54:27.935-07:00New Owl(s)!Sorry about the delay in postings but things have changed. After the last post questioning which owl was which, everything went silent around the nest box. From 2/7 until 3/9 only a squirrel was there. After spending a wonderful week in Puerto Rico learning about its varied habitats (especially the rain forest), I returned on 2/27 to a nest box crammed full of leaves and junk. In the past, Momma had quickly cleared the squirrel nest and taken over--not this year. On 2/29, I cleared the box (no there weren't any baby squirrels) and reset the camera.<br />
<br />
March 9, activity began again. I will be posting videos later today or tomorrow (just been too busy and they are a lot of work) to help everyone understand the interactions of the two owls that have been visiting. The bottom line is that the owl that is now roosting in the box is a really beautiful full red-phase bird. All evidence points to this bird as the female.<br />
<br />
I will try to keep the live feed on, adding sound at night, for you to watch with me as the spring progresses.<br />
<br />
I will certainly miss Momma (and will have to rename the new female) after spending 8 years with her. But that is nature and we will establish a new relationship. Stay tuned.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-32057666716926071152013-01-20T11:10:00.002-08:002013-01-20T11:10:57.956-08:00Update, Video, and QuestionOver the past week, the screech owls have been around but were not seen, either in the video or in the yard on either January 17 or 18. I record every night from at least dark until dawn and log in a spreadsheet, every arrival and significant (and some not so significant) observations. The following video is a clip from last night (1/19-20). At 1:40 a.m., one of the owls (the one I have been calling Momma) was in the box, the second owl arrived and they almost instantly changed places. Here is the action:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5b-27-7aAV4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Now the question: Many references discussing the Eastern Screech Owl mention that the male selects the cavity and then attracts the female by calling. The female selects the male with the "best" nest cavity and presumable voice as well. They are also believed to mate for life (of course if one passes away, a new mate may be found). If one were to judge only on the above video, one would assume that the first owl was the male, and owl 2, the female. I believe it is the other way around. Evidence:<br />
<br />
1) This nest box has been used for 7 straight years. The female (and if fact every owl I have ever seen looking out of the nest box including last night) has always been a gray phase bird. The average life of a wild screech owl is about 14 years. I am assuming that the one in the box first last night is the same female that has been here for years.<br />
2) The difference in coloration (can't really see color in the night videos unfortunately) suggests that owl 2 is a red phase. (NOTE: the phase color does not indicate gender). Two years ago the male was definitely a red phase, but last year, I am pretty sure they were both gray phase. If the above are true this is a new male.<br />
3) In the video on 1/12, the owl in the box (tonight's owl 1) left for 12 seconds and returned with a grub--too quickly I believe to have dug it up on its own. That suggests that the owl that was not visible provided it to owl 1--typical behavior for a courting male.<br />
<br />
We will all have to keep watching to find out for sure.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-49951967402817711062013-01-16T08:13:00.000-08:002013-01-16T08:13:44.446-08:00A Couple of Words on 2013I have recently replaced the camera in my nest box with a new Hawkeye Nature Cam (www.birdhousespycam.com). Some may notice that the owls enter from the opposite side of the image this year--still the same box and placement in my oak tree--just more logical for me since it now is what I see from my window. I also have a second Hawkeye Cam (their original model), mounted outside the box that I can monitor during daylight and early evening/morning and save still images from the front of the box outside. I don't anticipate broadcasting from that cam unless someone out there has a substantial amount of money to contribute to the hardware and effort necessary.<br />
<br />
The new camera has great sound but I have issues broadcasting audio apparently due to an incompatibility between UStream and the Dazzle digital-to-video converter I am using. Any suggestions would be welcome.<br />
<br />
Finally, Blogger, YouTube, Pinnacle Studio, and UStream (all of which I use to bring you my simple, lovely owls) are constantly changing and I need to figure out the changes (improvements?) available since last year. For the next couple of weeks, I will be changing things in the broadcast periodically as I learn. Hopefully, by the time that Momma Owl is there more frequently and ready for egg laying in March, I will have it all figured out and the broadcast can be on-line most of the time for your pleasure.<br />
<br />
If you become a member of this blog, you will be kept up to date on all of the happenings. Thanks for joining us!Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-48720201546279558982013-01-14T18:30:00.001-08:002013-01-14T18:30:24.429-08:00It's a new year for Momma OwlThe 2013 Screech Owl year is beginning. Last year on January 9, I recorded encounters between Momma and Papa at the nest box. Last weekend (1/12/13) they returned again. The following video records some of the sounds Momma was making as she interacted with her mate. At one point, she leaves the box returning in 12 seconds with a grub. Did she have time to catch her own, or did she take an offering from him. I will post as interesting things transpire but remember that the first egg was not laid until March 12 last year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9wSgFRycukk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-23066225535190652802012-05-14T17:49:00.003-07:002012-05-15T03:11:56.158-07:00Bye, bye Baby!At 8:19 this evening, the young owlet finally got up the courage to lean out and fly. Shortly after, I stepped out the door and was "attacked" by Papa who will defend the young one and Momma for the next few days. I didn't try very hard to search for them tonight--best to let the young one follow its parents to a safe secure perch for the night. Tomorrow, I will try to locate their daytime roost and share a photo. For now, here is the farewell video:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/COX_imHVqPM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/COX_imHVqPM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/COX_imHVqPM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Stay tuned for outside photos.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-16507508033400353382012-05-14T07:42:00.002-07:002012-05-14T07:49:05.704-07:00And still here!I checked back to last year and fledging took longer than the books say but this is ridiculous! Maybe tonight. In the mean time, here is a photo of the owlet looking out yesterday (and no, I do not know why he/she looks yellowish.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRaODsPKrr2qgOaMxbrTrTiun4LoHWp857yMMew-5O2cDhq9xJV4CdFNmeXCc-GE9wDG2K3bdurvGboLRq6RdnY5vsbVP7vDmbpHKVRPQKUdHcjxuyM1DtbY13nusvdOyXmpIjGm4k2P-/s1600/BabyOwl2012a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRaODsPKrr2qgOaMxbrTrTiun4LoHWp857yMMew-5O2cDhq9xJV4CdFNmeXCc-GE9wDG2K3bdurvGboLRq6RdnY5vsbVP7vDmbpHKVRPQKUdHcjxuyM1DtbY13nusvdOyXmpIjGm4k2P-/s320/BabyOwl2012a.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
And feeding last night included a Cecropia Moth. I used to raise the large silk moths (Luna, Polyphemus, and Cecropia) but that is not possible with screech owls feeding baby nearby. A couple of years ago, I caught Papa on top of the mating cage picking off the male moths as they arrived. Here is proof of the problem from last night:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_YWJqXdhKJQwmFwpEZik3ER_bRdNr6OPSgoIsqSXMDpv_3ulLgI7-stjo4UbrW2xO0EQN1a_kMpDWskoZBxTS-RJV1VmdzMjkq-fxzfWwD1Ne1vhlonmS9PkZ3fPWJRDKKp11utaXiZm/s1600/0513CecropiaMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_YWJqXdhKJQwmFwpEZik3ER_bRdNr6OPSgoIsqSXMDpv_3ulLgI7-stjo4UbrW2xO0EQN1a_kMpDWskoZBxTS-RJV1VmdzMjkq-fxzfWwD1Ne1vhlonmS9PkZ3fPWJRDKKp11utaXiZm/s320/0513CecropiaMoth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A nice meal for a young one, and here is a photo of the owlet stretching its wings:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Fflarn95h68MxGctqzZMX5RE4TAuyjzmc5O2YQPBY1AeNh0WZTyzqsWSInA18aeDyHFaB7iZxyRPaCzvaeRoorLyAD-WtQFfybXW1-E3djOtqUvHU8H9stwuoaOmMmbaGR3e3lUIljtq/s1600/0514AllFeathers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Fflarn95h68MxGctqzZMX5RE4TAuyjzmc5O2YQPBY1AeNh0WZTyzqsWSInA18aeDyHFaB7iZxyRPaCzvaeRoorLyAD-WtQFfybXW1-E3djOtqUvHU8H9stwuoaOmMmbaGR3e3lUIljtq/s320/0514AllFeathers+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Check in tonight. It has to leave soon because I have run out of recording space for videos even though I delete most of them!Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447677844428864714.post-80678023112216063922012-05-11T12:02:00.000-07:002012-05-11T12:02:04.463-07:00Baby Resists LeavingIt is 29 days since hatching and baby is still clinging to his nest box. Momma is seldom leaving him(or is it her?) any food when she leaves. She often feeds from a mouse until the owlet doesn't seem to want any more, then takes the rest out of the box presumably to eat herself.<br />
<br />
Early in the evenings, most of the food brought in by both Momma and Papa are small moths, grubs, worms, and other, often unidentifiable insect. One night Papa brought something that looked like a Dobsonfly. Here is an early evening video from May 7 and some larger insects from a couple of nights earlier.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MXBLluy26P0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5H30aTszoiAZ_5xPbiZ6Y3lq04b-AB02ndRHLvgmf1w8I15LZt1maqUHL_kEOqfoXYGCVXUe4UAomavvLwVorQwzzfQ7TN-8W7p0ziBIgJh81HAryMx-02j7p5Agwcks3hT9CBxcXepO/s1600/0430LargeInsect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5H30aTszoiAZ_5xPbiZ6Y3lq04b-AB02ndRHLvgmf1w8I15LZt1maqUHL_kEOqfoXYGCVXUe4UAomavvLwVorQwzzfQ7TN-8W7p0ziBIgJh81HAryMx-02j7p5Agwcks3hT9CBxcXepO/s320/0430LargeInsect.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvlrRqdmGhONVLPqcUud4LVKRh8SSAoCYNcDoPlkszXpLMtuLH38GjFWWh2WOdnhy1WL2dTMCKoaKiWuiAGPLYvz5UTcZSC1zb0cWHoiwjP5pjoyP1I90Zf-OtbJkUWcBFB3F7jxed2Xg/s1600/0429LargeMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvlrRqdmGhONVLPqcUud4LVKRh8SSAoCYNcDoPlkszXpLMtuLH38GjFWWh2WOdnhy1WL2dTMCKoaKiWuiAGPLYvz5UTcZSC1zb0cWHoiwjP5pjoyP1I90Zf-OtbJkUWcBFB3F7jxed2Xg/s320/0429LargeMoth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Later in the evening, the fare changes to rodents with Momma still preparing most of them for the owlet. He is swallowing larger and larger pieces though so a whole mouse, which is typical adult food, should be soon either in or out of the nest box. This morning was the first time this year that I have seen the food include a bird. Identity of the bird is pending but it obviously did not have the best morning.Michael Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02091252611325697446noreply@blogger.com0