Ward
and June are finally showing some interest in the nest box. June entered
the nest just after dark on March 13th, and spent almost ten minutes
rearranging and chomping on the wood chips. The next night, she came back
with Ward and rocked the nest with this frenzied
duet. The monkey call is Ward, while the squealing sound is coming
from June. These are the first night visits in more than two months and
suggest that they may be thinking about starting a new family this year.
These visits should become more frequent in the next two weeks if they are
to nest.
The two wild turkeys shown strolling near the nest box on March 13th also seem to have thrived despite the heavy snow cover that still persists in the area. The presence of such large birds indicates that the territory may be in good enough shape to support a new owl family.