A Snow Bird? ©

An actual Snow Bird!  

The Baltimore Oriole inhabits Maryland and the rest of the eastern United States in the summer months.  In the winter, some of these migrating birds live in the southeast United States but most fly further in search of neotropical climates.

(Copyright 2012)

Hotel Saguaro ©

Not only are the owls on the top floor of this saguaro--on the middle floor we find a family of European Starlings.  They nest and roost in a cavity of this saguaro.

An adult breeding Starling is glossy black with iridescent purple and green, its bill is yellow with a bluish color at the base and pink legs.

An adult transitional Starling is overall glossy black, showing iridescent purple and green with some white spots.

A juvenile is dull grayish brown overall with a short tail, fairy long wings and a black bill.

(Copyright 2012)

Peek! ©

A Great Horned Owl's wingspan can be as wide as 57 inches and it can weigh up to 5 1/2 pounds. The females are larger and generally darker than the males.  The Great Horned Owl has a large head, yellow eyes (that create a cat-like appearance), gray-brown plumage, and feathered ear tufts.  It gets its name from the horn-like feather ear tufts which have nothing to do with hearing.  The Great Horned Owl's ears are actually on the sides of its head.

Voice Song: Its territorial song is a series of 3-8 loud, deep hoots in a rhythmic series; the second and third hoots are often short and rapid: commonly "hoo hoo-hoo hoooo hoo"; often longer, "hoo huhuhoo hooooo hoo".  Mostly heard near dusk and dawn.  Male territorial singing begins about November.  Duetting commonly begins 1-2 months before the first egg is laid.  Female's voice is the higher pitched, closer to a mourning dove's.

From the"National Geographic book, Complete Birds of North America, 2006"

(Copyright 2012)

Little Hoot ©

Mama Owl was late getting to her saguaro nest this year but she finally showed up, hunkered in and so far one owlet has shown itself!





Did you know that owls do not build their own nests?  They will take over an abandoned nest built by a hawk, heron, crow or even a squirrel.    Also, they will nest in a hollowed-out tree cavity or in this case the hollowed-out saguaro.


Owls are monogamous with peak breeding activity January through March.  Incubation period is 28-35 days--incubation begins as soon as the first egg is laid and ends 30 days after the last egg is laid.













(Copyright 2012)