Adorable Family Of Screech Owls Enjoys Serene Moment In Backyard Birdbath

Sep 25, 2020 by apost team

A parliament of owls was captured on camera enjoying a birdbath in 105-degree Texas weather in 2011.

While their full-size counterparts can be fierce and intimidating hunters of the night, baby owls are some of the cutest birds in the sky. Their impossibly large eyes, incredibly fluffy bodies, and long gangly legs give them an irresistible awkward appearance.

It's hard to imagine such a gentle fluff-ball turning into a full-size owl. Yet, the one thing cuter than a baby owl is an entire flock of them enjoying a warm afternoon together.

This video is a rare sight, as owls are not normally very likely to congregate. Here, the video starts with a single baby screech owl landing cautiously on the edge of the birdbath.

You can tell he can sense something in the area. Is it a squirrel? A car? His momma owl? He swivels his head in that distinctive way and piers carefully with his huge eyes. Within seconds, the question is answered as two more baby owls appear and join him in the bath.

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According to the original poster of the video, it was a blisteringly hot day in Texas with the thermometer peaking at over 100 degrees. Owls are typically night-hunters, and they prefer a cooler environment. Thus, these babies were probably extremely tired from the heat and need a chance to cool off. It does not take them long to take advantage of the water.

At first, the original owl carefully lowers his beak into the water to take a drink. Then, sensing a good idea when they see it, the second owl joins in with a timid glance. At this point, our final owl friend joins in the fun, making for a quite impressive gathering of four baby owls in the tiny birdbath.

Because owls are nocturnal, this was likely the last stop of their morning before hunkering down for the night. At this point in the day, their hunting would already be done and they will have already picked out a spot to roost for the night. Different owls prefer different environments.

For example, as the name would suggest, barn owls prefer to roost in buildings or other man-made structures. However, screech owls are an older species of owl and have never taken to the idea of roosting in an old house or barn. Rather, screech owls prefer to roost in dense trees, Britannica adds. Often, a live oak or magnolia is their preferred home.

Yet, not just any tree will do. Scientists are no entirely sure of the motivation, but screech owls will often examine dozens if not hundreds of trees before choosing one as their preferred place for a nap. Once a screech owl has selected a tree, it will likely return to that same tree, and often the same branch, for the rest of its life.

Many people might be surprised by how quiet the owls in this video are. Anyone who has ever lived in their region will be familiar with the familiar high-pitched call that gives the screech owl its name. It is actually perfectly normal for these youths to be quiet.

Adult screech owls are some of the loudest birds in the world. However, as children, they rarely make any noise at all. They will occasionally make practice calls at a much lower volume, but their lungs and vocal cords lack the capacity for a full-volume cry until they are much older.

Seeing these beautiful creatures gathered in such a wonderful spot is a rare treat, and it is thrilling that the moment got caught on video. It is not often that you get the chance to see four baby screech owls bathing themselves in a suburban birdbath.

What is your favorite place to see birds gathered and having fun? Be sure to tell your friends and give us your opinions! We would love to hear what you think!