The Screech Owl

By Al Lowe
Contributor

In a great deal of Ontario, we have several small owls. One of these is the Screech Owl (Otus asio), which lives in some of the very southern parts of Northwestern Ontario but is not really very common anywhere up here.
The owl doesn't really screech, but makes a sort of wailing sound, starting high and coming down in pitch. It certainly is not a nice sound, and has often been associated with ghosts or beings from another world. Lots of people still think that the sound of the Screech Owl means that something bad is about to happen, or someone is going to die.
In parts of the Cajun country of Louisiana, if you hear a Screech Owl at night, you are supposed to get out of bed, and turn your left shoe upside down. That will save you from the evil spirits.
Well. back to reality. There are two very distinct colour phases of this little owl - grey and red. The red ones are really quite red, with a lot of the feathers about the colour of the red fox.
The Screech Owl is only about the size of a robin but because its feathers are fluffed out, it looks a lot stockier. It is also the only small owl with "ears". These are not really ears, of course, but are just tufts of feathers. Some of the bigger owls have them, too.
This little owl favours open woodlands, orchards and 'edge' woods. It usually nests in holes in trees, old woodpecker holes being a favourite. It will take up residence in a suitable bird box once in a while.
It also likes to spend the day in a cavity. It really is a 'night-owl' and won't come out in the daytime at all if it can help it.
Food is just what you might expect about a small bird of prey. Small animals are good - mice, voles, bats, frogs. It also likes the larger insects, especially the big night-flying moths. Sometimes when a lot of those big Lunars or Cecropia gather around a street light, a family of Screech Owls will gather there, too. They take small birds if they can, but since most of our little birds are active only during the day, this is not really of much account.
In warmer climates, the orchard growers are always happy to have a family of Screech Owls take up residence nearby. They almost live on mice, since both species are out and about at the same time of day. The farmers are even happy to put up with the wailing at night.
A family of Screech Owls is usually from four to six. They are like kittens in that they are blind for almost two weeks until there eyes open. They are fuzzy and white at first, gradually becoming sort of mottled. Parent Screech Owls are very protective of their young. Many people have been quite startled when, out of the darkness, this small bird makes a sudden dive at a hat or a head.
These owls are not common anywhere in Northwestern Ontario. They have been spotted between Rainy River and Lake Superior, and sometimes in the Sault St. Marie area.
Anyway, you will likely hear him before you see him - that descending wail. When you do, don't forget that bit about your left shoe.