12 RHE? A UD U BO INT BU LE ROE 
useful woodland rodent destroyers, I scrambled down the tree and went 
on about my business. I visited this tree about once a week for the next 
two weeks, and by that time the young left the nest. This was the first 
week in June. 
On May 5 I found the nest of the barred owl. I had frequently heard 
the call of these big fellows all winter, and on several occasions during 
dark days or at dusk had seen them, but had not heard them since late 
March. On this dull gray morning I was working down in the low swampy 
ground northeast of the elk pasture where the timber and undergrowth 
are very heavy. I found a large basswood with a big hole in its trunk 
about twenty-five feet from the ground. There were raccoon signs about 
the base as well as opossum tracks. It looked definitely good for something 
and was an easy tree to climb, so I decided to try my luck. I scrambled 
and climbed up to the hole and poked into it gingerly with a long stick, as 
I did not want an angry raccoon bursting out in my face. Imagine my 
surprise when with a gutteral muttering a large bird swished by my head. 
It lit in a nearby tree, snapping its bill, hissing and scolding in tones that 
could be heard quite a distance. It jabbered and scolded, flying from 
branch to branch. Suddenly it gave a shriek that fairly made my hair 
stand on end, then went on muttering in less violent tones. Its mate joined 
it and they called and jabbered like a couple of nervous lunatics. I watched 
them a bit nervously for a few minutes, for I had learned from my pet 
barred owls at the Museum what they could do with their beak and talons 
when angry. Seeing that they apparently did not intend to attack, I peered 
into the cavity, lighting matches to see better. The cavity was about two 
feet deep and fourteen inches wide. On the bottom of the cavity were a 
few scattered twigs, chips, breast feathers, apparently from the mother, 
and a half-dozen bones. On this were huddled three fuzzy, white young, 
with black faces. Their eyes were blue. I judged them to be five or six 
days old. I picked up one of the youngsters. It was too young to be afraid, 
or at least it was not. It snuggled into my hand, opened its orange mouth 
and squalled for food. At this sound the others began to squall too, in a 
gutteral, hissing tone. Not wanting to frighten or disturb the nervous, 
noisy parents, I put the youngster back, slid down the tree and went about 
my business. They must have raised their family, but I did not hear them 
until about a month later when the young were out of the nest. I hope 
they stay in the neighborhood as they are very useful birds. They are 
not often seen, though frequently heard. 
I also found the nest holes of four screech owls by observing the adults. 
Two I found by accident while looking for something else. One nest was 
found on April 24 in a deep cavity in a bur oak about 14 feet from the 
ground. The cavity had been originally dug by a flicker and later enlarged 
by a squirrel, judging by the tooth marks. The bottom was filled with leaves 
and acorn shells, and on top of these the screech owl had built its nest. 
A few twigs, leaves and feathers composed a shallow nest in which were 
four round, white eggs about the size of a quarter. I noticed the hole from 
the ground and it looked as though it might be in use, so I decided to 
investigate. I rapped sharply on the tree trunk with a stick. I heard a 
