Screech Owls
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The tree that this cavity burrow is in is located in the front yard of a home close to where I live. The tree is only 2ft from the sidewalk leading to a front door and 10 ft from the house itself. Nature has provided this species with some excellent camouflage and they know how to use it. While she was perched at the entrance of the burrow, I watched this female fluff her feathers so that they extended beyond the edge of the tree's bark. Then she moved backward so her feathers fanned outward against the bark of the tree, filling in most of the gaps between her and the tree, and allowing her to blend in. -- Published in Sierra Magazine May/June edition Published in National Wildlife Magazine May/June edition Audubon Photography award - Top 100 of 2016 http://www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2016/the-2016-audubon-photography-awards-top-100 Viewbug Camouflage Subject photo contest winner - https://www.viewbug.com/contests/camouflaged-subjects-photo-contest Chosen for the 2018 Peregrine fund Calendar (October) National Wildlife's 2017 Photo Contest Honorable Mentions https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/Photo-Contest/2017-Honorable-Mention-Gallery Made short list (finalist) Windland Smith Rice in 2016
For the past three seasons, I have photographed a pair of Eastern Screech owls and their young in the front yard of a home close to where I live. At the end of last season, the tree in which the cavity resided was blown down during a hurricane. Hoping they would return, the property owner and I built them a new home. We used a hollowed-out palm tree that once had a cavity burrow in it and placed it near where the previous tree once stood. Last night I got the call that I was hoping for and immediately went over to see the new tenants. Not sure if this is the same female, but regardless hopefully in about 50 days we will see the owlets peeking out to their brand new world.
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Momma screech owl (in original tree)
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Another angle of the Female showing off her ability to blend in. This was taken with a Canon 7D mK2 500mm + 1.4x 1/80 f8 iso 800.
Starting in 2014, I have photographed a pair of Eastern Screech owls and their young in the front yard of a home close to where I live in Cocoa Florida. In 2016 after the pair fledged 3 owlets, the tree in which the cavity resided was blown down during a hurricane. Hoping they would return, the property owner and I built them a new home. We used some circular pieces of plywood, a 4x4, and a dead hollowed-out palm tree that once had a cavity burrow in it. This is a photo of the female occupying her new home. The pair would go on to fledge another three young Screech owls.
This little one is surveying his surrounding in preperation for venturing out of it's cavity. Not long after this photo was taken this owlet left the safety of the cavity to join his sibling who had already done so. To young to fly, but wow! These guys can climb.
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Adult Male Screech Owl (Red Morph)
Screech owl - This was taken at a friend house in Florida. The tree that this cavity burrow is in is only 2ft from his sidewalk leading to his front door. Nature has provided this species with some excellent camouflage and they know how to use it. While she was perched at the entrance of the burrow I watch this female fluff her feathers so that they extended beyond the edge of the tree's bark. Then she move backwards so her feathers fanned outward, filling in most of the gaps between her and the tree and allowing her to blend in. it was amazing to watch. This was taken with a Canon 7D mK2 500mm + 1.4x 1/80 f8 iso 800.
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All three owlets waiting for their evening feeding
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In 2016 the tree in which the Screech Owl had resided in was blown down during a hurricane Mathew. Hoping they would return, the property owner and I built them a new home. We used some circular plywood, a 4x4, and a dead hollowed-out palm tree that once had a cavity burrow in it.
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This shot was taken as this owlet was leaving the cavity. He climbed up the tree like a pro just moments later.
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Male Eastern Screech Owl - Red Morph
This is the other half of the pair that I have been photographing since 2014. They female is usually the star, since she sits at the entrance to the cavity burrow, but not this day. Here is a video of him calling back and forth with the female. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADtk37HFmq4
Momma Screech - Comes real close; We were sitting on the other side of the drive way when she flew over and landed just above us, posing for this shot. She then flew right over my head and landed on a tree 10 ft behind me. Moments later she dropped to the ground catching an insect and then back to feed the little ones, passing very close as she flew by. This is why I love what i do. There is just nothing cooler than just watching God's creatures. Feeling the breeze move across my face that was created by an owl flying by was priceless.
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This female Screech owl sitting in the entrance of it's burrow. I think she is looking a little like yoda. www.wklein.smugmug.com
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