> FirstName: Jeanette
> Enter your city : Tampa
> Enter your request : I found one of a pair of nesting screech owls dead
> on the lawn today. What happens now ? Will the
> other abandon the nest, or try to feed herself and
> her brood ? I strongly suspect the cat, who is
> now wearing a bell. I don't know if I should try
> to see what is going on in the nest box or what.
> Please advise me. I have read several "owl" sites
> looking for information and have found nothing
> covering this situatiuon... Thanks, JMC
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

Our Reply...

Here is what I believe will happen. The remaining owl, if it is the female, will continue to feed herself and her brood. If successful she will probably return next year. This is a behavior called nest tennacity. I don't know if the male will take over her duties, if the dead mate is the female. The owl will not attempt to move her offspring.

What happened to her mate is a natural occurrence in nature - all too often from a feral or domestic cat.

For next season, I suggest you consider putting the nest box on a metal pole near the original nest box. The pole should be tall enough to put the box at its current height.

Purchase or build a well fitting predator guard for the pole and this will keep snakes, cats, raccoons etc from attacking your beautiful nesters. Visit this web site for information on predator guard types and plans: Birds.Cornell.edu

Thanks for your great question and for visiting the Central Florida Bird Watchers web site.