From Aaron Davis

2026 Family Portrait!

"Our" backyard western screech owls were banded yesterday evening by scientists at Intermountain Bird Observatory. This was intended to be a baby-owl banding event, as in past years. However, mama was in the nest box this year, so she joined her chicks in the fun! We've not had an adult banded here, so it will be interesting to see if next year's mother is the same bird.

Usually by this stage, mother spends much of her time out of the box, concealed in a nearby tree. Nests get hot as chicks grow and fill the space. Only two eggs hatched this year, of the five that were laid. Weather has been recently very cool, after an increasingly normal hot spell that has no connection whatsoever to human impacts on climate. My theory for mother's presence in the nest box is that with only two babies, and cool temps, it's probably very comfortable in there, but for the occasional ornithologist reaching in, taking birds away, adorning them with bracelets, and then returning them..... The nest box also got some swanky modifications this year to increase shade and ventilation, so mama is probably enjoying the fruits of my labors, which makes me happy.

First photo is mother on the left, and her two chicks. Second is mother. Birds were taken out of the box by a brave expert (Jake), who didn't even bleed at all (someone else did though when mama clamped down on a hand....). The birds are weighed and measured in various ways, and assigned bands with identification numbers that allow for identification and tracking and follow up studies in the future. The mother owl was also inspected to determine her age range. All three were quickly returned to the box and have resumed their normal activities. Hopefully mama won't hold this against me, even though this little adventure was gentle....;)