A friend of mine in Texas, and a member of this community, Russell, has a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls that return to his property every year to raise their family.
This year, he was lucky enough to capture video of the pair together on his roof, reaffirming their bond as breeding season begins. Video included, so consider this your Rated R warning. ๐
A few beautiful facts about Eastern Screech-Owls:
โข Eastern Screech-Owls often form long-term pair bonds
โข They return to the same nesting territory year after year
โข Breeding season usually begins in late winter and continues into early spring
โข They nest in tree cavities, but readily use well-built owl boxes when natural spaces are limited
Providing habitat matters. Leaving mature trees when possible, or installing an appropriate owl box, can give these owls a safe place to raise their young, especially as natural nesting sites disappear.
Moments like this are a quiet reminder that love, commitment, and home are not uniquely human.
Sometimes, love really is in the air. ๐ฆ๐ค
If you have any questions for Russell, please leave them in the comments. ๐๐