2011 - Eastern Screech Owl Nestbox in Austin!

[chlosmom]

see there's the 6th one in the back 

[dale]

"Must've been that frijole-waxwing burrito. Sorry, you guys..."

[Donna]

"Must've been that frijole-waxwing burrito. Sorry, you guys..."

  It looks that way too!

[Dumpsterkitty]

The Hieronymus Bosch moments have begun...

(cannot find the comparison picture-I think it's a piece of Garden of Earthly Delights)

[chlosmom]

are they as crowded as they look? that nest box looks small for 5

[Dumpsterkitty]

are they as crowded as they look? that nest box looks small for 5

It is pretty crowded in there, but they'll be up on the perch in no time. 

[dale]

The Hieronymus Bosch moments have begun...

oh, most definitely (see reply #91, back on p. 7 of this thread - April 16).

two cool action shots from today, plus one silly one

[dale]

I like the unusual head angles on these.

[Donna]

I think they need a condo!

[Patti from Kentucky]

Speaking of funny head angles...and I'm not sure I can explain this in words, but I once attended an owl program at a local nature center.  The raptor rehabbers brought a handful of education birds and did a classroom thing, then we went on a night hike in the woods with flashlights to see if we could find any owls.

Anyway, in the classroom they did one thing that amused all of us.  I think they largely did it to illustrate what is means that owls can turn their heads 270 degrees.  They got two owls out at the same time; one was an Eastern Screech Owl and the second was a Barn Owl.  The Screech Owl is small enough to be potential prey for the Barn Owl, so the Screech Owl was keeping his eyes glued to the Barn Owl.  The Barn Owl was well fed, and didn't seem particularly interested in the smaller owl.  They kept the Screech Owl stationary, and started with the Barn Owl at the front of the room, and as the lecturer was talking, he did an entire clockwise turn about the room with the Barn Owl...of course the Screech Owl followed the Barn Owl with his eyes and his head...first 180 degrees as the Barn Owl reached the back of the room, then he kept turning his head in the same direction until the Barn Owl reached the left side of the room...a full 270 degrees!  It was quite stunning to watch.  The little owl finally had to relocate his head as the Barn Owl continued back to the front of the room.  Pretty fun!

[dale]

I think they need a condo!

they have one!

...of course the Screech Owl followed the Barn Owl with his eyes and his head...first 180 degrees as the Barn Owl reached the back of the room, then he kept turning his head in the same direction until the Barn Owl reached the left side of the room...a full 270 degrees!  It was quite stunning to watch.  The little owl finally had to relocate his head as the Barn Owl continued back to the front of the room.  Pretty fun!

That's so great. I never get used to the head trick. I was watching the GHO nest at my sister's the other day; the owlets both had their hulking huge backs to me, but the wind was strong and kept messing their back feathers around. Suddenly one owlet whirled its head around a full 180 degrees and tried to press the feathers down. It was breathtaking.

My favorite thing in these last photos from Chris' box is the owlet that is looking straight up so we see its jawline from below. The other angles are nice too.

[dale]

This one proves that they read this forum. "You wanna see head angle? HERE'S head angle..."

[chlosmom]

love the story about owl head twrilling---but one question---
how do you get cuter than a baby screech owl?

[dale]

Not mentioning any names...but SOME people are still asleep...


and the ones that aren't are dropping like flies

[dale]

no comment necessary, I believe