Hi tweeters,
This evening as I went outside to see how the Screech Owl is
progressing in the nest box I noticed a ranting Robin sounding off in a
cedar twenty feet from the back door. Looking up towards the sound I saw
the round head and dark eyes of a Barred Owl! The rest of it was there
too. This bird proceeded to attack the Robin but was unsuccessful. I hope
that the Screech Owls will be able to avoid this bird. It was amazing to
see the Barred so close and here on Guemes Island. They really are
expanding their range. The Barred never hooted. The Screech are
continuing to call, which brings me to a question. Does the male or
female Western Screech-Owl have the lower voice? I was assuming that the
males are lower but it seems that may be incorrect. Lately the first
hoots that I hear in the evening are the higher pitched ones. It is
after these are sounded that I've seen the "female" stick her head out of
the box. As you can see I am not familiar with Screech Owl breeding
biology. My presumptions are that the bird in the box is the female and
she has just begun incubation. I haven't checked for eggs. This is the
first year their interest in the nest box has gotten this far and I don't
want to disturb them. This bird has been seen consistently for the last
three evenings perched in the hole of the box shortly after dusk.
Assumption #2, the male does not incubate but roosts nearby during the day
and then hunts for himself and his mate throughout the night. So what I
hear first is the higher pitched male calling to his mate from the woods
nearby and then the female, waking from her duties incubating, perches in
the hole to greet the new night and see if her mate has some goodies for
her. Well, it will be interesting to learn more about these creatures. I
hope that they won't end up on the Barred's menu but know that is a
possibility. Although this prospect would probably be received with some
joy from the passerines.
Adios,
Paul
Paul Moorehead
n9135066 at henson.cc.wwu.edu
Guemes Island, Washington