Feeders beginning to get busy again

There’s no doubt bird feeding stations have been slow compared to past Novembers and early Decembers but a reason for this is likely the abundance of natural food sources available this fall, and mild temperatures. We’ve only had a couple of brief cold snaps. As of yet, we’ve had no reported sightings of Purple Finch or Pine Siskin but Goldfinches have begun visiting feeders again in their drab winter plumage. Other winter migrants like White-throated Sparrow, Junco, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker are being seen, and if you live where there is a presence of pine and cedar trees you may be seeing Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Holiday Shopping

Keep The Wood Thrush Shop in mind for holiday shopping. We are well stocked and have experienced only a few problems getting merchandise. Our everyday inventory of Bluebird houses, hummingbird feeders, squirrel proof, suet, finch, and seed feeders is in good supply and always make great gifts. And here are a few other things you may or may not know we have:

Windchimes, Birdbaths and fountains, whimsical metal statuary-including skunks, armadillo’s and giraffes, playing cards and puzzles, books and binoculars, bird pins and zipper pulls, Amazon Lights anti-Mosquito Incense, T-shirts, gift certificates, thermometers and rain gauges, socks, and coffee mugs.

The Wood Thrush Shop will be open Friday Dec. 24th until 3 pm. and we continue to offer curbside service.

Northern Saw-whet Owl Banded at Warner Park

For only the 3rd time a Saw-whet owl was captured, banded, and released by staff at Warner Park. The Saw-whet Owl is the least familiar and least known of owls in TN. The likely reason for its elusiveness is because of its diminutive stature and very minimal vocalizations. Like most owls they are mostly nocturnal and stay concealed in heavy vegetation during daylight hours. So, all factors considered these owls are very hard to find. They tend to favor areas with evergreen.

The Saw-whet is only about 8” in length, no larger than a Cardinal and has a catlike face, oversized head, and bright yellow eyes. The Northern Saw-whet is a formidable hunter, however, favoring mice as its prey. Where mice and other small mammals are concerned this fierce, silent owl is anything but cute. One of the most common owls in forests across northern North America (and across the U.S. in winter), saw-whets are highly nocturnal and seldom seen. Their high-pitched too-too-too call is the best indicator that one is nearby. Visit Cornell Labs allaboutbirds.org to learn more.

We would like to remind everyone that we will be open Sunday Dec. 22 from 11 until 4 in case you have some last minute shopping to do. Monday the 23rd we will be open from 10 am until 5:30 pm, Christmas eve from 10 until about 2, and resume regular business hours on Thursday Dec 26, 10 am until 5:30 pm. Merry Christmas to everyone. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Did you know there are seven species of owl that can be seen in Tn? Can be seen, but not without some difficulty. The easiest to hear and locate are the Barred and the Eastern Screech Owl. Great- Horned owl would be the next easiest to see while the other year round resident, the Barn owl, is the most uncommon and difficult to find. A local birdwatcher recently discovered one and it may be the only one in Davidson Co. reported this calendar year. The other owls include Long-eared, Short-eared, and Northern Saw-whet

Now is the time when some owls in TN are likely beginning to court with actual breeding occurs in late winter.

Great Horned Owls are the earliest nesting species in Tennessee with courtship beginning in late fall or early winter. They use a variety of nest sites, including trees, rock-bluffs, buildings, and sometimes the ground. They often put nests in hollows of broken-off tree trunks and sometimes use the nests of other bird species, like crows. Nest height ranges from 30 to 50 feet above the ground.

This is the largest owl nesting in Tennessee and is easily identified by its large size, ear tufts and yellow eyes. It is a nocturnal bird, common and widespread across North America. Its call is a soft hooting, much more subdued than the animated call of the Barred Owl. Males and females are alike in their plumage but as with most birds of prey females are larger.

Eggs are usually laid in January. Females do most of the incubating, which lasts up to 35 days. A typical clutch size is two eggs with the possibility of up to five. Both adults feed the young and at 5 weeks old they leave the nest. The fledglings do not fly well until about 9 weeks old and will remain with the parents for up to 3 more months.

Barred Owl nest later than Great-horned with peak egg laying in early March. Barred owls prefer to nest in cavities in deciduous trees but occasionally will use open nests made by hawks, crows, or squirrels.

They will use nest boxes where cavities are limited. Nest heights range from 20 to 50 feet above the ground. Clutch size is typically 1-3 eggs and the female does most of the incubation which lasts up to around 33 days. Both parents feed the young and at about 5 weeks old climb out of the nest but not able to fly well until 6 weeks. The young will stay with the adults for about 3 months.

Screech Owls

The Eastern Screech-Owl is a small owl, about 8.5" in length (height), with feathered ear-tufts. Its wingspan is about 20” and weighs in at only about 6 oz. The eyes are yellow, and the bill is greenish. Male and female plumage is similar. As is the case with most birds of prey the female is larger, but the male's voice is lower-pitched.

Its song is a distinctive trill and descending whinny that does not sound like the typical hooting of its bigger relatives, the Barred and Great Horned owls. To hear the call you can go to the Tennessee Watchable Wildlife website, or to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website allaboutbirds.org.

The Screech owl has two color-morphs, reddish-brown and gray. In Tennessee the red morph outnumbers the gray by almost two to one. No other North American owl has such distinctive plumage differences. It is found in urban as well as rural areas and readily nests in nest boxes. We don’t sell a lot of Screech owl boxes per year but several customers have had success attracting them. Like most owls, it is more often heard than seen. This small owl will feed on insects, earthworms, rodents, and even crayfish and songbirds.

The nesting phase of Screech owls begins in March with peak egg laying late March to early April. Clutch sizes are usually 3 to 4 eggs but may be as many 6. Nests are usually in cavities that are either natural, excavated by a woodpecker, or human-made nest boxes, including Wood Duck boxes. They add no nesting material to the nest cavity. The female does most of the incubating which lasts about 26 days. It then takes around 30 days, give or take a few, for the fledglings to leave the nest and then remain dependent on the parents for up to 3 months.

If you are a do-it-yourself person and need a winter project try building a Screech owl box. Follow this link and find instructions to build your own, as well as many other plans for wildlife structures.

http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/woodworkingforwildlife.cfm

Early winter birding notes & Wood Thrush gifts ideas

Owl's in Tennessee

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