Post #2 Bushy-tailed Tree Rats

For many weeks before the owls showed up this year, we had to keep fox squirrels out of the boxes. My success at getting them out by hitting the box with a flower pot or soccer ball was uneven, although our dog, Sienna, thought that was great fun! The thrown items often missed and ended up in the street or neighbor's yard to boot.

Time for a better plan. Pat picked up a Colt M1911A1 pistol, so now we're talking! Actually, it sounds much more dangerous than it is. It shoots plastic bbs with a mechanical launcher. It's not very accurate, but if you manage to land a shot, the squirrel does leave.....but only for a while. Nonetheless, it has been reasonably effective. I'm pretty sure the hundreds of bbs in our yard, our neighbors' yards, and the storm drains are biodegradable. We put the gun out of sight when the grandkids come over. But one day not long after she got it, Felix ran in the front door and excitedly asked, "Grandma! Where's your gun!?" We're not big gun owners so having this Colt was a big deal!

The infrared camera in the nest box also has a microphone. So, the big TV in the family room has the image of the inside of the box and the sound on. One thing we can hear is when a squirrel touches the box or even gets near it. Sienna quickly learned that sound too, and knew what was to follow: we get up, grab the pistol, open the patio door, and start blazing away. She helps by barking and dashing around like a maniac. Now, all we have to do is open the patio door and the squirrel quickly leaves.

Sometimes, the female owl in the box will snap her bill when a squirrel is nearby. But, mostly she doesn't seem too concerned. Fortunately, when she leaves her eggs (two as of this post) at night, the squirrels are asleep somewhere else. And, of course, we are super careful not to hit her box with a bb if we have to shoot!

I read a recent story from Grand Forks about a rare Boreal Owl that pounced on a squirrel there. That species is considerably smaller than our Western Screech-Owl. I don't expect either of our owls to take a fox squirrel, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they did.

Post #1 Looks Promising; Social Distancing with Owls

Dear Birders, Bored People, Bird-Curious, and our Grandchildren,

Nothing could have brought us more joy this past week (short of a visit with our grandchildren) than to see a Western Screech-Owl exhibiting some nesting behaviors in our nest box. The camera we installed last year sat unused all last season, though we had our first owlets born there in 2018.

Finally, our patience was rewarded when on March 27th, we discovered the first egg in our nest box. That night, the female left the nest at about 10:30 PM and we were concerned. We sat up until quite late, sure that she was leaving the egg exposed to 30 degree temps for too long. I don't pretend to know anything about owl behavior, but Terry was literally pacing the floor. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that she probably knows more than we do about what to do with her egg, and we finally called it a night.

First thing in the morning, there she was, hunkered down again, preening and snuggling the egg. (No, I realize snuggling is not scientific. Refer to previous disclaimer.)

We were sick of news of the pandemic anyway, so she owned the 55" TV screen that entire day. But alas, that night, we did not have a second egg. "Oh, shit, oh dear!" is Terry's favorite expression these days, but there was happiness again last night when she left at dark to feed. The second egg lay shiny and lovely next to its sibling egg.

This is our Easter, and dog walking, watching, and logging owl events are our new normal. If you know me, you know I already have many photos, live streams and other video, and will continue to capture every little flicker of her adorable "ears," tail, and wings. Never mind when there are owlets!

The most challenging thing we are dealing with (besides the quarantine, which we're used to, now) is coming up with names for the pair of owls. We're open to suggestions...sort of.

Finally, for today, my FB is Patricia Gander Rich, so if you want to see my live streams, that's where they are. I guess we'll figure out how to upload everything here.

Pat, Owl Mama