If you build it they will come

MIFFLINBURG No, not Shoeless Joe Jackson. We re talking here about the Eastern Screech Owl, a mottled gray-brown or reddish-brown character with bright yellow eyes and tufts of bristly feathers that stands all of 10 inches high.

If its size doesn t give it away, you ll know the screech owl by its small knobby ears and prominent hooked beak.

Rolf Helbig of Mifflinburg has been watching these little creatures inhabit his screech owl box for 19 years, and said now is the perfect time to put out your own box the owls need the next few months to stake a claim before the cold of winter kicks in.

They re curious little birds, popping in and out of the box to hunt for prey at night or bask in sunlight during the day. There s really no mistaking them, he added.

If that doesn t convince you, the screech owl is great for rodent control, Helbig said, and will catch more mice than a barn cat.

The box also gives the screech owl a place to roost, and if you re lucky, you might see a few fledglings peek out in the spring.

Even better, they re not finicky, high-maintenance visitors. A cozy roosting spot and a steady diet of mice is all they require.

This little bird really doesn t have a preference. You could find it in town, out in the country or in a farm setting, Helbig said. If the screech owl finds a suitable habitat, they ll use it.

They prefer small holes in trees, but he s seen them nest in buildings. The box, however, is more in keeping with the animal s natural habitat if they are unable to locate a spot in a tree.

Obviously, most of the owl s activity takes place after sunset, which can be a deterrent for some people.

Helbig said the screech owl s screeching more like a high-pitched whinny or a gurgling sound isn t constant, and it hasn t bothered him.

Then again, he is a little prejudiced. His fondness for owls and other animals spurred his move from chef to full-time nature lover. From his Mifflinburg workshop Helbig constructs different varieties of bird houses and owl boxes and is working on other nature-related projects, like a homemade vegetarian suet.

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