Cambridge, Mass.
1906.
March 6
  Clear with light W. wind.
  Screech Owls have been repeatedly seen or heard of
late in our garden. On February 21 Karl saw certainly
one and he thought two in the early morning before it was
fully light. One was seen about the same time by Spelman.
C. heard one wailing in the lindens about four o'clock this
morning. She thought the sound was like that we hear in
autumn & not the somewhat different spring wailing.
A pair of Screech Owls in our garden.
  At 6.20 this evening Karl told me that he had just
seen an Owl fly from the red cedar at the rear of our
house into the garden. I went out at once and soon
saw a red bird perched in a cherry tree, low down.
It sat erect bobbing its head up & down. The next instant
it flew across the flower garden and alighted in the
lilacs. Immediately after this another Owl flew
from the birches into the fir by the pond. Approaching
it closely I found that it was a gray bird, a size
larger than the first and no doubt a female. When
I got within about 15 feet it took a short flight &
alighted in a maple in the jungle. Both birds on
starting to fly shot down towards the ground and then
curved upward as they neared the branch on which they
alighted. The bird that crossed the garden vibrated its wings
evenly and rapidly at first and sailed on set wings for
the terminal third of its flight. The other bird described a
much deeper curve and gave only a few flaps just after
leaving its perch. I suspect these birds may be intending to
breed in the garden. It is singular that they are so nearly
silent. Bathchelder saw a pair of Screech Owls in the College
yard a few evenings ago.