Update: Western Screech Owl Boxes

This past year Power To Be has had the honour of working with wildlife biologist Joanna Preston. She inspired us to build nesting boxes for the endangered Screech Owl as you might have read about in a blog entry we shared earlier this year!

Recently, the screech owl boxes located at Power To Be’s Prospect Lake site have had some nesting activity! But it wasn’t exactly the kind of creatures we were expecting or hoping for. They’ve got fluffy tails and loves to store seeds/nuts in the winter… can you guess who it might be? The invasive Eastern grey squirrels have decided to make their homes in the cozy and dry cedar boxes.

Not-so-fun-fact, the squirrels were introduced to Vancouver Island in 1966, when they escaped from a game farm. They do indeed pose a threat (especially to the sensitive Garry Oak ecosystems) as they feed on bird eggs and nestlings. Keep in mind that we do have the native Red and Douglas squirrels. This fall we will be cleaning out the nesting boxes and preparing for a screech owls next year.

The Screech Owls are an endangered species (red listed in BC) and mate in the winter. Bigger owls like barred owls are known to hunt the smaller owls. Although these little beauties are struggling, we know they’re around. Below is a video from a neighbouring nesting box. This mama screech owl had four babies! Chances will increase next year of the screech owls finding the boxes, the holes are cut just big enough for the owls to get in.

A great way to identify their call is with the Merlin Bird ID app – where you can listen and record  bird calls and get immediate feedback about what species you’re hearing! The Screech Owl call is compared the sound of a bouncy ball – yes, you read that right! Check it out here!

Here’s to hoping for some Power To Be nesting Screech Owls in 2023!