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Screech-Owl Bath Time

2/27/06 - Unafraid at Dusk

We couldn't believe our good fortune when a pair of screech-owls decided to use our nesting box each year but when they began to do their bathing in our pond only a few yards from where we sat on quiet evenings we knew that we had a unique opportunity to share their nightly routines.

Each night we knew when to expect the male screech-owl to arrive outside the nest box. He silently appeared each evening at dusk to escort the female away from the box. His quiet call could easily be missed by anyone not waiting to hear it. The female would appear at the entry hole and initially drop down out of view only to appear a few minutes later above our pond. They would start their night with a bath.

When we built our first pond we created a winding shallow creek between the waterfall and pond. At the end of the creek before the water spilled over into the pond, we carved out a shallow pool. This was a favorite bird bathing area for bigger birds. The creek could be full of migrants during spring migration but we never expected the thrill the nightly water ablution of screech-owls. During this time we had two kids in high school and someone was often up late nights especially on the weekends. We soon discovered that the owls returned during the night. Frequently about 3am we would find them again bathing.

Do Rats Scream When Caught by an Owl?

3/30/05 - An eerie cry in the darkness

While working very late one night I heard what sounded like a tiny scream just outside my window. Cracking open the wooden shutters I peered around. All was quiet. A sudden movement directly below the window caused me to look down onto the top of the head of a tremendous owl. Its wings were stretched out so far I couldn't believe I was this close to a huge bird. Yellow eyes scanned the surroundings but the owl stayed frozen in position. I don't know how I could see the owl so clearly and yet it couldn't see me. Moonlight must have been causing a reflection and since the owl was pressed up against the wall it didn't have a good angle to see me.

Remembering that a small sound had caught my attention in the first place I wondered what the owl had in its talons. Resting my arms and chin on the windowsill from my computer chair I continued to watch this magnificent night hunter. As quickly as this began it was over and I saw a long tail hanging beneath the owl as it lifted off and was gone. So do rats scream? No, the sound I heard was likely the owl vocalizing as it caught the rat. But, casting aside the scientific evidence, it sounded exactly like what your imagination would create for a screaming rodent.

If you are up late at night working on a computer in a quiet house, keep your senses alert to unexpected sounds. You never know what amazing events could be going on just on the other side of the wall.

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