The western screech owlets have grown up and left the nest. All but one of the eggs hatched, and everyone who hatched has fledged. Using Terry’s video clips, I have assembled a video showing some of the high points. For all of the videos from 2025 and 2026, check out Terry’s Owl Cam page.
The video below is a bit big, so may take some time to load.
Here is the Terry’s updated hatch and fledge data from the past seven years. The hatching times show some variation, but the time from hatching to fledging is remarkably consistent at 29 days.
Four of the five eggs have hatched, and the parents are feeding them heavily with insects, rodents, and birds. The most recent videos are here. For all the rest, check out the owl box main page.
The western screech owls in Terry’s nest box are starting their spring activity. They seem to be slower getting started than in previous years. Nonetheless, there is nesting material in the box, and the male is hunting for food. Hoping for eggs soon!
If you want to see all the videos, including those from last year, go here.
Although the screech owls have been hogging all the attention this spring, many more birds are raising families in the area. Spotted towhees, Bewick’s wrens, lesser goldfinches, and chipping sparrows can be observed singing their songs and collecting food for their offspring.
We have been very lucky to have a clear view of a pair of western bluebirds. There has been a nest box on the back lot for many years. Last fall, it was time to replace the old, battered box with a new one, and the birds settled in early this spring.
Female western bluebird on nest box. 3/11/25.
They were getting things ready by the beginning of March.
Bluebirds staking out their nest on a cold spring morning. 3/15/25.
Despite the cold, they were ready to get started. Note the fluffed feathers in the photo above.
Mom peeking out of the box. 4/25/25.
The process was largely mysterious, with the parents coming and going during April and May, but no sightings of the nestlings.
The babies finally started sticking their heads out in May. Mom and dad brought food on a regular basis/
Nestling ready to test its wings and become independent. 5/23/25.
By the last part of may, the kids were ready to see the world. Within a day of showing their heads, everyone was gone.
Female starting the next nest. 5/29/25.
I cleaned out the old nest a few days after the fledglings left, and was surprised to see a pair of bluebirds bringing new materials less than a week later. It is impossible to say whether these are the same parents, but it seems likely. They can often raise more than one clutch per year, so maybe we’ll see more fledglings in a few months.
