I'm not usually one for anthropomorphizing pets or wildlife but this story is telling itself. I'm pleased to announce the engagement of Mr. Snacks, of the Southwestern Ontario Snacks, to Mrs. Snacks, of around.
Let me tell you how this happened to me.
I, as it happens, am a bit of a night owl; so my affinity for these raptors is genuine. I get it. Rising at the crack of 10 a.m. the other morning, I made my way to the kitchen because that's where the coffee is.
Snacks the Eastern Screech owl that appeared in my owl box last week has added a new step to my morning routine. As I get near the refrigerator to pull out the cream, I drop to the floor in a crouch and look up outside my kitchen window where I can see Snacks roosting in his owl box.
This morning was no different. I dropped, crouched, looked up and froze.
Whatthef*CK!
THERE WAS A DIFFERENT OWL IN THE BOX. A completely different owl. As surprised as I was to see her, she was eye poppingly alarmed to see me as well.
I couldn't see her well enough so I crept out the back door to peek around the corner to see her in real life. As soon as my head rounded the corner she dropped down into the box like a Whac-a-Mole.
This is when I realized Snacks had taken a bride.
What this means is I now have a nesting pair of owls and it could lead to an entire family living in the box for the next couple of months.
So many owls. So few camera lenses and tripods. So few directions to shoot them from. I have two, maybe 3, very small areas in my backyard that have a direct view of the owl box.
The Snacks
Mr. Snacks is a grey morph, a grey version of the screech owl, the most common in my area.
80% of screech owls in Ontario are grey morphs.
Grey morphs are adapted to cold weather.
Lady Snacks is a red morph, a red version of the Eastern Screech Owl.
Rarer in my area because red morphs are less adapted to cold weather.
Less than 20% of screech owls in Ontario are red morphs
Mrs. Snacks spends her day in the bottom of the owl box, only appearing for a few minutes a day. Once in the morning and in the afternoon. I think. That seems to be what's going on if you ask me anything and I'm a certified owl watcher.
Both are Eastern Screech Owls, just different versions. There is also a brown morph, which is brown with red tinges, but less than 3% of owls in Ontario are brown morphs so if I find one of those I would be absolutely justified in buying a better lens with which to photograph it.
As the two are a busy modern couple, a date has yet to be set for official engagement photos, but they have jointly released this candid pre-engagement portrait.
Shot from inside my kitchen through a dirty window.
Snacks spends all day in the opening of the nesting box while his lady friend sits in the bottom of it, presumably getting used to her new life and possibly laying or sitting on eggs.
Obviously, she is also plotting to kill me.
In a month or so there will be a family to feed and more movement from Snacks as he roams the neighbourhood looking for meals and mayhem.
Mr. Snacks' given name, as you may know, is Ohmygod. It was given to him the first moment I saw him as it is what I said out loud.
I believe you have all deduced what Mrs. Snacks's given name is.
FANTASTIC!!! (both the news of Mr. Snacks' engagement AND the awesome photos!) Congratulations to all!
That is so cool you have owls in your backyard, I love the pictures! Your stories always make me laugh!!
You may have your Mr & Mrs switched... As per https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl
"Like most raptors, male Eastern Screech-Owls are smaller than females, and are more agile fliers and hunters. The female doesn’t hunt while on the nest; she and the chicks depend on food brought them by the male. Though the male is smaller, his voice is deeper than the female’s."
Hi Stacy! Yes! I was aware of that unusual fact. I'm basing my judgement on every other behaviour they've exhibited. But I could absolutely be wrong, lol. (no sign of them recently eep) ~ karen!