Posted by Debra Raymond on April 3, 2007

Q: Is there some kind of food or habitat that we can provide for these owls to bring them down from the rocks and into the trees by our school? They used to always hang out in the trees during the day. Then in February a new sidewalk and parking lot area was constructed, using lots of heavy equipment, and men with dogs. And now the owls rarely, if at all, come down to sit in the trees. We are a small rural K-8 school and thoroughly enjoy our wildlife. We really want the owls to return to the trees. Please, help us. :-)

Habitat: desert

State: Oregon

Habitat: desert

A: Dear Debra: I wish I had a teacher like you when I was in school! What a great opportunity for learning.

This is probably a case of timing because Screech Owls famously coexist with humans in very urban situations. It's usually the winter when people report seeing owls because their young raising responsibilities are over. At this time of year they're very busy!

They're breeding in February and March so it may be that your owls are incubating or feeding chicks.

Consider erecting a Screech Owl Nest Box in a tree near the school this fall. This may pull birds in all year. Good luck! Jim Berry

Jim Berry ( April 9, 2007)