That’s right – in January and February, often the coldest, snowiest, iciest months of the year, Great-horned Owls, Barred Owls and Eastern Screech Owls are establishing territories, finding mates, and choosing a place to nest and raise their young! If you live in or near a tree-dense or forested area you may catch a glimpse of one or more of these majestic creatures as they roost in a tree cavity or on a branch during the day or hear mated pairs calling to each other at night. Winter is a great time to go for an evening hike to listen to Owls calling to each other – they are very vocal during mating season.
Did you know that none of these three owl species builds their own nests? That’s right - Eastern Screech Owls generally nest in tree cavities, but they never excavate the hole themselves. Instead, they use holes created by woodpeckers, squirrels or created by rotted wood. They will also readily use man-made nest boxes/houses.
Barred Owls like to nest in naturally occurring tree cavities and will sometimes use platform nests created and previously used by hawks, crows, ravens, and herons. Great-horned Owls will also use nests vacated by other large birds and they will sometimes nest in tree cavities. Just like their cousin the Eastern-screech Owl, both Barred and Great-horned Owls will raise their young in man-made nest boxes.
All three of these owl species raise one brood each year. Screech Owls lay 2-6 eggs, Barred Owls 1-5, and Great-horned Owls 1-4. Only the female incubates the eggs for 30 or more days and after about another month of being fed by both parents, the juvenile owls are ready to fledge the nest into the springtime air. Their parents will continue to feed them and teach them how to hunt on their own.
You are probably wondering how birds that fledge in the spring ever survive the egg or hatchling stages that occur in late January and February. There are several factors at work here. First, female owls develop brood patches when hormones cause belly feathers to fall out just before the eggs are laid. This warm patch of skin allows heat from the mother to transfer to the eggs during incubation and to the chicks after hatching. Male owls do not produce brood patches, which is why only the female incubates the eggs. Owls also have dense feathers that help keep eggs and young warm. The Great-horned, Barred and Eastern Screech Owls even have feathers on their legs and feet to provide even more downy warmness!
Since all three of these owls will use man-made nest boxes, you might be interested in installing a species-specific owl box/house in your yard if you live in or near forested habitat. Here at the store, we sell Eastern Screech Owl and Barred Owl houses. The Barred Owl house also meets the size requirements necessary for Great-horned Owls to raise their young. The boxes are handcrafted in Maine from eastern white pine, chosen for its excellent durability and insulation. Textured interiors help fledglings climb out when they are ready to leave the nest. The boxes open for easy cleaning in between nesting seasons. Owls are usually monogamous and will often reuse the same nest for several years, especially if their broods were successful and food is plentiful.
Our owl boxes are available in-store, curbside and online at mywbu.com/sudbury.
