A screech owl appeared in my biggest tree last summer, announcing his arrival with a feather and a trilling night time song, changing my little backyard ecosystem in a good way. Now, I want to do everything I can to make him stay!
He lost a beautiful feather on my patio one night and I added it to my collection in a vase on my writing desk, bringing bit of his spirit in my home.
Eastern screech owl Species of bird:
In eastern wooded suburbs, this small, owl is often the most common avian predator, emerging from its nest or roost hole at dusk to hawk insects and small rodents.
Its whinnying and trilling songs are familiar,... I love to sit on the patio and hear his call.
I have another reason for encouraging an owl to take up residence in my backyard. They love to eat cicadas.
After 17 years underground, cicadas are expected to emerge with a loud buzz this spring and summer — and they may wind up in Kentucky.
The Great Eastern Brood, also known as Brood X, is a type of cicadas expected to come out of the ground this year.
I don't particularly enjoy the noise of hundreds of cicadas at once but Max, my greyhound, is literally terrified of the sound!
I can hardly get him to go outside in normal cicada season, but if we get even a fraction of the large brood of cicadas that are expected this year......
I'm hoping to have my own personal cicada control with my owl .
I've decided that I might have a much better chance of encouraging my owl to stay if I give him/her and owl box to nest in. To that end, one of my first summer projects will be building and decorating an owl box. After some research, I found what appears to be an easy pattern and instructions.
The, "What's that sound?" look
Ways to Learn More about owls in
Kentucky: An Owl Night Hike is hosted annually by the State Botanical Garden of Kentucky and the Central Kentucky Audubon Society (CKAS) and has, in the past, drawn upwards of 120 people to the UK Arboretum.
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
in Lexington has an annual Owl Prowl. Raven Run is home to several different owl species including the screech owl, great horned owl and barred owl. Join us just before sunset as we hike around the park looking and listening for these nighttime birds. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes for this 1 – 1 ½ hour hike. Bring binoculars and a flashlight or headlamp.
I am currently working on a new owl painting and have one for sale in the portfolio section of my blog site. Click on "More" on the menu and look under recent paintings.
I'll post an update when I get my new painting finished and the owl nest box built!
Living my artful life,
Pam
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