One of the highlights at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area over the past few months has been the sighting of an eastern screech owl in one of the wood duck boxes. Common in woodlands throughout the eastern 2/3 of the U.S., these small owls roost and nest in tree cavities or, as in this case, in man-made boxes.
These tiny but aggressive raptors feed on a wide variety of prey, including large insects, amphibians, reptiles, songbirds and small mammals. They mate for life and generally raise 4-5 young each year. Though often residents of wooded suburbs, screech owls usually go unnoticed until their eerie calls are heard at dusk.
Yesterday, I was among several birders to pull up across from the nest box at Eagle Bluffs. The reddish occupant was basking in the sun at the box entrance, a common screech owl practice on cold winter days.
