An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL continues to roost daily in a nest box in our yard in northeast Ithaca. The owl seems clearly to have become more active with the onset of spring. For the past 4+ weeks, we have been able to see it often throughout every morning and afternoon, regardless of weather. We also hear it regularly, occasionally even by daylight. Two nights ago, I watched the owl vocalizing. This was only the second time I've had such luck; the previous time was almost six years ago to the day. As with the first time, the owl lifted its chin, narrowed its eyes as if in intense concentration, fluffed its throat feathers, intoned its long trill, then caught a few panting breaths to recover.
At midday today, I heard a sustained commotion from at least four chickadees, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch from a spruce tree in our yard. I peered under the tree and into the dense branches to try to find the trigger for such agitation. I saw nothing at all until, in a flash, a small bird flew powerfully all the way cross the yard and straight into the owl's nest box. A moment later, I saw an owl perched at the hole, first in cryptic and then in more relaxed posture. I also saw an owl in the box earlier this morning. I think that there are two possibilities. 1. There is one owl in our yard. This bird flew across from the box to the spruce at some time between 8 AM and noon, perhaps to escape some living threat or nuisance, or to find greater thermal comfort on this warm day. (Songbirds have often mobbed the owl in the box, but have never managed to roust it before, to my knowledge.) 2. There are two owls in our yard. One was in the box this morning, while the other was in the spruce. Flushed by me, the latter owl joined the other in the box. I feel that the second option is just as likely as the first, or even more so. If this is so, then it would seem highly likely that the two birds are mates. Photographs are inconclusive. I've posted some here. https://picasaweb.google.com/imtstroi/EasternScreechOwl# <https://picasaweb.google.com/imtstroi/EasternScreechOwl> I can see both similarities and differences in the crowns shown in today's pictures and those from previous shots. Mark Chao -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
