I know. You want an owl update. You maybe even subscribed to my site JUST for the owl updates. Here's the thing about owls. They're sneaky.
When last we met Mr. Snacks and Mrs. Snacks had fled for several days only to return. I made a statement at that time that I would not overreact when the owls behaved abnormally. So when they disappeared again the next day I didn't overreact.
Days went by and I was perfectly cool. Then it was a week without a sign of either of them.
March 13th, after 4 days of not seeing an owl, I put my iPhone on a light stand, hit the video record button and raised it up into the air until I could see inside the owl box.
Nothing. Alright I'm no longer feeling all cool about this. This is NOT cool.
I figured if I didn't report on this long absence and obvious abandonment of the nesting box maybe they'd come back. I'd just leave it another day, and another day.
I started getting irate emails from owl lovers demanding to see the owls. They went something like this:
Dear Karen,
I love your coverage of the owls, thank you so much for sharing them with your readers. I haven't seen them in a while, are they O.K.?
Random reader
Honestly, how am I supposed to sleep at night with this kind of vitriol.
I've checked the box (since I can see it from one single, luxurious square foot on my kitchen floor as long as I'm squatting and have my neck craned back like a baby Robin waiting for a worm) every day.
Nothing.
BUT THEN ...
March 24th I saw a flash of feathers falling as I randomly looked up at the box. I immediately dropped into my kitchen floor position and waited.
A few minutes later this popped out of the box.
Mrs. Snacks. At least I think it's Mrs. Snacks. Now I'm wondering if I ever really knew them at all. Maybe this is a Mr. Snacks. Maybe this isn't an owl at all.
I really just don't trust my judgement with this sort of thing anymore.
Worried the owl was going to leave and never come back I spent another 8 hours sitting on my kitchen square foot waiting for it to do something more exciting than sit with its eyes closed.
Hour 7 she/he/they acquiesced. And partly opened their eyes.
In a few days I'll release the rest of the photos from this shoot.
THE BEST PART
For the first time, I found an owl pellet under the box. What's an owl pellet?
A pellet is a BARF!
After eating, owls digest their food, but form anything indigestible like bones or feathers into a pellet in their throat. A couple of times a day they regurgitate the pellet up and spit it out.
A pellet looks very similar to a cat’s hairball. It's elongated and in the shape of a throat.
When you find an owl pellet you can break it apart and see the bones of whatever it ate earlier in the day. It’s SUPER interesting, gross and weird.
Obviously you want to see that. So this week I'm going to photograph and take video of the pellet as I take it apart. When I've done that I'll share everything here with you.
THAT'S something for us all to look forward to. A barf necropsy.
As of today as I write this (Friday afternoon) MR. SNACKS is in the box.
I don't think my owl box has been selected as a nesting box. It feels late in the nesting season for that to happen. I say this with all the confidence of someone who knows everything about screech owls.
I know nothing about screech owls.
Dear Karen,
You're a hoot! (I know that is original - lol) I love your posts, but my life is a crazy tilt-a-whirl, so I confess that the only time I actually take the time to come to your blog of late is when you post about the Snacks'.
If even not for nesting, I hope they continue to vacation at your getaway.
Mesmerizing to watch Snacks.
I want to put up an owl box, sadly fear it’s too late in the season.
Maybe not?
Beware, when food is scarce owls will eat the youngest of their brothers and sisters, which can make uncomfortable viewing. We have a camera in our Blue-tit box and enjoy the daily soap opera all of our own, but over the years we have experienced sadness, joy and heart break, as these little birds soon become part of our family.
The video was riveting!
She/He is beautiful!! I do hope they raise a family ( brood?) in your box. I have bluebird nesting boxes on my farmette and often have to use my phone to check the nest. It’s a thrill every time when I see those beautiful blue eggs. Thanks for the update🦉
Mrs. Snacks (or whoever she/he/they are) is really a lovely little owl. Thanks for sharing the picture, and I look forward to the pellet dissection.
So happy for you that an owl is using your nesting box again, even if it is as a second home. I loved the peek inside the empty box. :D Thanks for the update.
Glad at least one is back! You are right though, Owls are sneaky. I used to listen to Great Horned owls talking all night long for years. Only saw one a handful of times.
I'm so happy they're back!!!!
I well remember doing an pellet necropsy when we found one below some firs on our Elementary school playground. The 3rd graders and I loved it. The fascination kept them keen on owls and science the whole year! "Beauty is in the eyes of the Barf-holder!"
Barfholder. hahahaha! Good one, I salute you. ~ karen!
I'm here for the owl pellet. I've been trying to find one since I was in 2nd grade.