It’s been an emotional time in the bird world of our habitat. First we were concerned we’d accidentally startled away our Screech Owl resident during a well-meant daytime branch pruning. But happily the owl returned and is once again watching over all backyard activity.
I’m hopeful that the owl being so quick to flush might actually indicate that there are babies in there, but really I’m just looking for any sort of sign at all that we might get to see baby owls at some point soon. For all we know, we’ve just got one extremely comfortable bachelor hanging out in his awesome pad.
The other owl house has become occupied by a squirrel and most likely its family, and well, that’s not such a good thing, as you’ll find out shortly.
Very exciting is that we recently enjoyed a flock of migrating birds all taking baths together in the waterfall of our pond. They arrived together and left together — I invited them to stay but they clearly had places to go after they got all clean. They wouldn’t let me get too close for pictures, but as long as I was a safe distance away, they splashed about eagerly.
We had Chipping Sparrows, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, one Ruby-Crowned Kinglet– I’m still working on IDing the rest. There’s another sparrow in there, and that yellow bird looks like something other than a finch — possibly another kind of warbler and one Nashville Warbler (this yellow bird is new to me — Audubon gurus Jane T. and Laurie F. identified it for me — thank you both!). Even Carolina Chickadees (not pictured) and White-Winged Doves (also not pictured) flew down to join in. Safety in numbers, I suppose — plenty of birds to look out for danger while the rest splash about.
Some bathed in the waterfall plants, while others went straight to the waterfall.
The flock was only here but briefly, but those few minutes made us so happy that we had a waterfall to offer them.
But today we feel sad, because yesterday afternoon our young Carolina Wren babies were snatched away. We are blaming the squirrel seen in the vicinity during the hour when it must have happened, as we had just prior checked on the babies and they were all there. I had no idea that squirrels would eat baby birds until that happened. It’s upsetting, but it’s nature. Plants provide food for animals, who in turn become food for larger animals, and so forth. That’s why I don’t hang out with saltwater crocodiles.
But even though it’s all the circle of life, I’m not thinking squirrels are so “cute” anymore. They were clearly setting me up, doing all their silly antics and making those innocent faces! Then they go and eat the baby birds I’d been daily protecting and documenting the growth of. But while my habitat is songbird-friendly and apparently a squirrel’s delight, it’s also owl-friendly. Squirrels might be on the larger side of a Screech Owl’s diet, but they are definitely on the menu. So those squirrels better realize they are in prime viewing range of that which might eat THEM.
Speaking of owls, if you have a chance to visit the Wildflower Center, be sure to take your camera. There’s a Great Horned Owl nesting right where visitors can stop and say hello.
Apparently her big-eyed owlet is peeking out now, too — if I can, I’m going to head down there to get a picture! I’m going to venture a guess that this baby is safe from squirrels….
Oh No! I am so sorry to hear about the wren babies, sad news indeed.
We had a screech owl nest in the backyard a few years back, but not since. The baby owls are such a delight.
Thanks, Dawn. I felt so protective of those babies. My heart definitely aches.
Meredith, I’m so sorry about the wren babies. Last spring the Flycatcher nestlings, just 24 hours old, were snatched from the nest on our front porch. In that case I’m fairly certain it was Steller’s Jays, but regardless, after watching the patient mother incubating, and waiting for the eggs to hatch, it was tremendously disappointing. Nature can be so cruel.
You know, the squirrel might be too large for the Screech Owl, but he’s probably just the right size for a Great Horned Owl snack…he better be careful where he ventures from now on! 😉
I agree about the size of the squirrel and the owl, but apparently they’ll sometimes catch them. Those talons are amazingly strong if they can get the right hold. I haven’t heard a Great Horned Owl in the neighborhood lately, though — that’s probably why the Screech Owls are happy here, as they are on the big owl’s menu for sure. My good friend and neighbor also has a screech owl in her house — we’re hoping one of us will get to see owlets. I’m all ready to zip over there to get pictures if her owl has them! I’m sorry to hear about your Flycatchers. One year it was a snake that got our baby birds, and that was a shocking discovery, as well.
Meredith, wonderful pictures from your habitat! But so very sad about the baby wrens. I share your sadness. Last year, our baby cardinals all kept falling out or jumping out of a nest that the parents had put in too hot a spot. I rescued them as I could but I couldn’t be there all the time. I still haven’t recovered but the parents are back this year, hopefully finding a better spot for their nest. Pooh on squirrels after all. . .unless the owl got them?
Oh how sad about the baby birds…squirrels left my cute list a long time ago as they destroyed garden after garden and not for food…I am hoping to attract owls to get the voles..they even less favored…I love the birds who visit the pond and I now have a robin nesting in the small willow outside our front door…can’t wait to see what goes on with them…love the great pictures
I’m so sad to hear about the baby birds. I will certainly look at the squirrels differently too. They are not may favorite back yard animals anyway. I have flying squirrels nesting in my bird house. I’m just glad they are in the bird house and not my house. I hope your owl will have some owlets…it would be fun to see some photos.
Bummer, I’m so sorry to hear about your wrens! Squirrels are quite opportunistic and will eat almost anything that’s available. I’ve got quite a love/hate relationship with my squirrels……
On the other hand, those owl pictures are amazing! That’s so cool that they’ve chosen your wildlife garden to hang out in. I would feel so blessed!!
I’m sure that would happen to me if I went through the trouble of getting/building an owl house, mounting it just right, and waiting for an owl to move in — squirrels would claim it instead.
I love the owl photos, and sorry about the chicks. There are so many different ways that any nest/chicks story can end badly.
Thanks for the reminder about the owl at the Wildflower Center. I need to go see it.
We recently lost a nest of wren eggs in a pot by our front door. One day the mama wren was sitting on 4 eggs, and the next day everything was gone, the nest completely cleaned out. Something got them.
Sadly, our resident screech owl seems to have moved on as well. We haven’t seen him or her in the box for a couple of weeks now. I’m glad you still have yours.
Oh no! So sorry to hear about the badly behaving rodents~Their charm has long worn off here in C and L. The owl photos are spectacular~I must check on adding a nesting box. gail
Thanks, everyone. I don’t really mind the squirrels in general, but I can’t deny my sadness over the baby birds. Fortunately, I jumped right in to exciting discoveries about the purple martins at the school, and they’ll get their own post soon.
Pam, I’m sad, too, for the loss of your baby wren eggs. It sounds like both our mama wrens chose poor spots to build their nests. And your owl, too — seems like you might have had a different owl this year, based on the shyness it seemed to have compared to your owls last year. We sure get attached to our wildlife friends fast — they’re just like part of the family.