May 20, 2013 (Tragedy in the owl box)

This morning the box was empty.  The mother and father owl where easily spotted in the trees.  Typically both are very well hidden. The mother visited the box often only to confirm her owlets were gone.  The box empty and the owlets nowhere to be found.

So what happened?  We log a still pic every ten minutes of the owl box (below) and they tell the story:

• 11:53PM: All is well.  Mother attending owlets.
• 01:03AM: Ringtail Cat invades the owl box.
• 01:13AM: It's over.

I would have thought the parent owls capable of holding off the Ringtail's assault.  Either they couldn't or were taken by surprise.

Nature makes it tough growing up as a Eastern Screech Owl.  Research show the morality rate at 70%.  Put another way, out of every 10 eggs laid only 3 will yield as an adult owl.  We are sad, but we gave the little guys the best chance we could.  In any event, the Ringtail ended our 2013 Owl Box Season. 

May 19, 2013

Breakfast lizard for two owlets. 

May 18, 2013 (First Hatch)

We think both owl eggs have hatched; hard to verify as the mother blocks the view. The father is providing routine food drops. All seems normal.

May 16, 2013

One owlet in the box.  One egg remains.

May 13, 2013

Owl sitting on eggs. All seems normal. Estimated hatch date is May 20.