From Shravan Sundaram

Awakening - A Western Screech-Owl emerges from a sycamore cavity at sunset to begin the evening hunt.

My anecdotal observation is that sycamores are one of the preferred tree species of Western Screech-Owls along with oaks.

I often think about how these natural cavities must be prime real estate in the natural world. I learned from a friend a while back about an instance where a Northern Saw-whet Owl displaced a Western Screech-Owl from a cavity and I thought that was very interesting. There are probably so many interspecific interactions going on in ecosystems that we don’t get to see!

Species: Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii)

Location: California, USA

Equipment: Canon EOS R3 + RF 100-500mm IS

Settings: 1s, ISO: 640, f/8 @500mm, On Tripod w Remote Release, Electronic Shutter

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      3 days ago

      There’s always someone out there bigger than you, especially if you’re the size of a tomato paste can!

      Poor little Saw Whet…

    • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      3 days ago

      I hope it’s got some nice plush leafy grassy stuff in there.

      This page has the insides of 9 nest boxes. I don’t think I’ve come across any photos or videos of owls moving nesting materials, and if they did, I’d imagine they’d make their own nests while they were at it, so I don’t think these were “furnished” by the owls. They seem to like it though.

      It’s those Burrowing Owls you need to watch out for. I hear they leave manure at the front door and entranceway to deter visitors. That’s definetly a “shoes off in the house” kind of place! 😄