Contemplating The Future

Ward and June's nest box has several unique design features that should come into play when the owlets climb out of the nest. I added these features to more closely simulate the situation that barred owlets encounter in a natural cavity. In nature, they usually are able to climb up the walls of an irregularly shaped rotting cavity and continue on the rough bark of a tree trunk. They therefore have a reasonable chance of getting out without falling to the ground and can retreat to the nest cavity when threatened. In an ordinary nest box, this is not the case as the relatively smooth lumber leaves them no choice but to fall to the ground. While they usually survive and climb back up into a tree, this would present an opportunity for the coyotes that frequent my area and might also encourage the owl family to go elsewhere to do their branching. The three features that I added to give them this opportunity are the "owlet ladder" the "owlet step" and the "owl rail". Together, they provide the flightless owlet a path to the tree trunk. The owlet ladder consists of the two dark horizontal strips you see under the door in the internal pictures. The "owl rail" is made up of maple branches attached to the front and sides of the box to provide a path to the tree trunk. Finally, the owlet step was added this year because the distance between the bottom of the door and the owl rail was too great for Peanut last year. It will be interesting to get the real experts (the owlets) assessment of these features in the very near future. I would not recommend an owl rail for the boxes of smaller owls that might be more vulnerable to climbing predators. Meanwhile, Wally has shown one truly bazaar behavioral characteristic. He lies down on the floor and propels himself around the nest by churning his feet and kicking up a wake of sawdust. He continues to churn his feet even after a wall has stopped him. I have no idea why he does this, but he would have completely destroyed a stick nest by now. There were many loud feeding sessions last night and two mice remaining in the nest box this morning.

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