Out of season Screech Owl breeding

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Posted by Jim Duquesnel on 16:54:31 08/08/04

Well, according to my experience and my best published source (Paul Johnsgard - North American Owls, 1988), Florida’s screech owls mate in the late winter or early spring. Our Key Largo pair is fledging at least one chick in August. In the first week of May, I attached a new nest box to a tree just 15 feet from our (second story) front door. This was after what we believe had been a failed nesting attempt in a (previously successful) box on the other side of the house. The new box was up just two days when we noticed a pair of screech owls copulating on its roof. For the next few months, the adults were regulars at the box, and at our porch lights where they pick off June bugs, moths and cicadas. A baby owl's face appeared at the nestbox entrance hole three days ago (Thursday) and is becoming a more frequent sight. On a few occasions, the youngster has stayed perched on the entry hole's rim, watching us. "Spishing" also calls the face back up for a look, but it doesn't linger like the adults did. Most appearances are a "jack-in-the-box act," a downy head slowly ascends to peer out and the pops back down as soon as it sees someone is watching. I had noticed and commented a week or two ago that the adult in the box was sitting higher than usual, as I could often make out the top of its head or sometimes a face. But with so much time lapsed since we observed the mating (early May), and no records of August breeding, I had given up hope. I don't think any have left the nest (fledged) yet, and as the hole only shows us one face at a time, it's too soon to say if there is more than one chick. However, the adults do not peer out of the hole anymore, like they had been doing, so I assume they have moved out for lack of room. Does anyone know itf this is as unusual as I think it may be? Visitors are welcome, if they call in advance (305-451-9459).
Jim and Janice Duquesnel

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Re: Four Screech Owls fledge in August - Jim Duquesnel 16:28:36 08/24/04 (1)
- also 4 owls in May - Kathleen 09:06:32 08/31/04 (0)

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Comments:	: Well, according to my experience and my best published source (Paul Johnsgard - North American Owls, 1988), Florida’s screech owls mate in the late winter or early spring. Our Key Largo pair is fledging at least one chick in August. In the first week of May, I attached a new nest box to a tree just 15 feet from our (second story) front door. This was after what we believe had been a failed nesting attempt in a (previously successful) box on the other side of the house. The new box was up just two days when we noticed a pair of screech owls copulating on its roof. For the next few months, the adults were regulars at the box, and at our porch lights where they pick off June bugs, moths and cicadas. A baby owl's face appeared at the nestbox entrance hole three days ago (Thursday) and is becoming a more frequent sight. On a few occasions, the youngster has stayed perched on the entry hole's rim, watching us. "Spishing" also calls the face back up for a look, but it doesn't linger like the adults did. Most appearances are a "jack-in-the-box act," a downy head slowly ascends to peer out and the pops back down as soon as it sees someone is watching. I had noticed and commented a week or two ago that the adult in the box was sitting higher than usual, as I could often make out the top of its head or sometimes a face. But with so much time lapsed since we observed the mating (early May), and no records of August breeding, I had given up hope. I don't think any have left the nest (fledged) yet, and as the hole only shows us one face at a time, it's too soon to say if there is more than one chick. However, the adults do not peer out of the hole anymore, like they had been doing, so I assume they have moved out for lack of room. Does anyone know itf this is as unusual as I think it may be? Visitors are welcome, if they call in advance (305-451-9459). : Jim and Janice Duquesnel
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