Tag Archives: Western Screech Owl

•

Glenn and Kalynn Funk noticed this cute little owl in an owl nesting box they put up in their Anchor Bay property some years ago. Finally, they have attracted a Western Screech-Owl. Craig Tooley went over and captured a photo of the little owl.

A Western Screech-owl in a nesting box by Craig Tooley Western Screech-Owl finds a home by Craig Tooley

We hope this owl will attract a mate and nest in the Funk's box. What fun that would be!

This owl has a bird-like call, not screech-like at all. To hear it, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Screech-Owl/sounds

Thanks to Craig for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com

• 1 Comment

•

Two little Western Screech Owls, each believed to be hit by a car, were rescued and taken to the Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa. One was found in October and it had a broken bone in its wing. The other was rescued in November. The two Owls were put together. Diane Hichwa was given the charge of picking them up, driving them up windy Highway One and then ten miles up Mountain View Road where one of the owls was found. She invited Rick and me to join her and her husband, Bryant. And what an experience it was! Here is one of the little owls waiting to be set free.

 Below Diane is taking one of the owls out of its travel box. I am nervously standing by, wearing gloves to protect my hands.

 It was so awesome to hold this little owl. They only weigh eight ounces. The one I was holding was quiet in my hands.

 Below Diane has the second owl out and we are prepared to let them go. We let them look at each other before setting them free.

 Diane released her Owl first and it flew off into the trees. I followed a few seconds later and the second Owl followed the first one. Here's hoping they thrive in the future.

Everyone involved with these owls can be proud of a job very well done. It was thrilling for me to be a part of their release.

Bryant Hichwa took these photos and I thank him for allowing me to share them with you here.

•

Peggy and Mike Mee were thrilled to see a Western Screech Owl appear in the opening of the Owl house they installed near their Sea Ranch home.

 Two years ago they had a Kestrel stay a few days in the same Owl house.

Thanks to Peggy Mee for allowing me to share her photos here.

To see a photo of a Nothern Spotted Owl, here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/07/23/northern-spotted-owl-as-photographed-by-coastal-photographer-ron-levalley/

• 2 Comments

•

Last night - and a balmy one it was - Rick and I heard a Western Screech Owl calling just outside our courtyard. These owls don't screech! They have a very melodic, soothing call. We know we have Screech Owls in our area in Anchor Bay because last year we found two juveniles in a dark canyon. Here's the link to see them on this blog: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/04/29/hoping-for-a-western-screech-owl-to-take-up-residence-in-my-beautiful-owl-house/

I decided I'd like to learn more about owl calls. I found a great web site, forgetting that I had turned the volume on my iPad all the way up. Huckleberry was sleeping behind Rick and me. It was very tranquil and quiet. Quiet, that is, until I clicked on the very loud "hoo, hoo, hooooo" sounds of a Great Horned Owl. The calls boomed out into our house, echoing off the walls. Huckleberry reared up in great alarm, looked everywhere in the living room and then began barking.

Here's a photo of a Great Horned Owl taken by Steve Wilcox. I thank him for allowing me to share his photo here.

And if you'd like to hear their call, here's a link: http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Bubo&species=virginianus But learn from my lesson and keep the sound down so you don't scare your furry friends!

• 3 Comments

•

Last year my neighbor Charlie discovered two juvenile Western Screech Owls in a day roost on his property. Charlie took Rick and me to the dark, secluded area where the two young Owls quietly sat. I got as close as I dared to take this admittedly poor photo. But it does show the baby Owl. So Rick and I had Goldie Pound, birdhouse maker extraordinaire, make us an Western Screech Owl birdhouse in the hopes that one might nest there. So far...no luck! But we enjoy looking at the birdhouse on our daily walks. It's made out of the same redwood siding as our house and has a crystal hanging from the top.