Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!pmd
From: pmd@cbnews.ATT.COM (Paul Dubuc)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: A Home for an Owl
Message-ID: <14233@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 21 Feb 90 19:35:00 GMT
Reply-To: pmd@cbnews.ATT.COM (Paul Dubuc)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 24


A small grey owl has recently taken up residence in my yard.  It's a
North American Screech Owl.  I think it's quite wonderful for me, since
I live in a residential area of the city where owls are not a common
sight.  There's a problem, though.  It has apparently made its home
in a hollow spot in an old and dying silver maple tree.  The trees is by
the street and the city has marked it to be cut down.  I don't know how
long the city will take to get to the tree (could be several more months).

I would like the owl to stay if it's happy here (i.e., it has enough food
and all) but don't know what to do to help it, if anything.  I could call
the city and see if they will spare the tree until the owl moves out.  I
could let them cut down the tree and disrupt the owl's home.  Will, or can,
it find another easily?  Or, would it be possible to buy or build a suitable
house for it in another tree, and hope the owl will move into it?  I have
five other mature and healthy trees in my yard.

Any advice from those who know about owls would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
-- 
Paul Dubuc   |   The true light that enlightens every one
att!asr1!pmd |   was coming into the world ...
	     |   			JOHN 1:9
	     |