PET CLASSIFIED'S

    GEORGIA SCREECH
               OWL
                                         INTERESTING FACTS

THE SCREECH OWL IS PROBABLY GEORGIA'S MOST COMMON  OWL. IN
FACT, SCREECH OWLS COMMONLY  LIVE IN BOTH RURAL AND SUBURBAN
AREAS AS LONG AS THEY CAN FIND OPEN WOODLANDS OR BACKYARDS
DOMINATED BY MATURE HARDWOOD TREES.

IN RURAL LOCATIONS THE SCREECH OWL MAY RANGE OVER 75-100
ACRES. HOWEVER, IN SUBURBAN LOCALES ITS RANGE IS SOMETIMES AS
SMALL AS 10-15  ACRES. THE SIZE OF THE OWLS HOME RANGE IS
DETERMINED LARGELY BY THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD,. RANGES TEND
TO BE SMALLER WHERE FOOD IS MOST ABUNDANT.

LIKE ALL SPECIES OF NATIVE WILDLIFE THAT USE NATURAL CAVITIES,
SUITABLE NESTING AND ROOSTING SITES ARE OFTEN AT A PREMIUM.
EACH YEAR LOGGING, LAND CLEARING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF CAVITY TREES. AS A RESULT, SCREECH OWLS MUST
COMPETE FOR THESE SITES WITH WOOD DUCK,SQUIRRELS, STARLINGS,
HOUSE SPARROWS, RACCOONS AND A HOST OF OTHER SPECIES.

SCREECH OWLS CAN OFTEN BE FOUND USING ABANDONED NORTHERN
FLICKER CAVITIES. WHILE  THEY WILL NEST WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE
GROUND, MOST SCREECH OWLS NEST IN CAVITIES 10-30  FEET ABOVE
THE GROUND.

              NESTING FACTS

* MALES ATTRACT FEMALE TO THEIR TERRITORIES THAT CONTAIN 1-2
CAVITIES.
* EACH FEMALE LAYS 4-6  EGGS WHICH SHE INCUBATES FOR 27-30 DAYS
* SCREECH OWLS HAVE ONE BROOD PER YEAR
* YOUNG SCREECH OWLS FLEDGE IN 6-8 WEEKS
* NESTING BEGINS IN THE SPRING
* THE MALE FEEDS THE FEMALE DURING INCUBATION
* BOTH THE MALE AND FEMALE FEED THE YOUNG MAKING 10-70
FEEDING TRIPS PER NIGHT.

PLUMAGE
THE PLUMAGE OF THE MALE AND FEMALE ARE ALIKE. SCREECH OWLS
CAN DISPLAY TWO  COLOR PHASES, REDDISH-BROWN OR GRAY. IN
GEORGIA, MOST SCREECH OWLS ARE GRAY: HOWEVER,
REDDISH-BROWN BIRDS PREDOMINATE FURTHER NORTH.

SIZE
STANDING ONLY 8 INCHES TALL, THESE TINY BIRDS APPEAR TO BE A
MINIATURE GREAT HORNED OWL.

TO GET SCREECH OWL NESTING BOX PLANS CONTACT WRD'S NONGAME
WILDLIFE/NATURAL HERITAGE SECTION (478) 994-1438

SCREECH OWL NEST BOX PLACEMENT AND CARE
* PLACE  BOXES AT LEAST 10' ABOVE THE GROUND
* IF SQUIRRELS ARE A PROBLEM, ERECT BOXES ON A METAL POLE
* POUR 2-3"  OF WOOD CHIPS OR SHAVINGS IN THE BOTTOM OF EACH
BOX
* CHECK BOXES ANNUALLY. REMOVE LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS FOUND
IN BOXES