A Young Gray-Morph Screech Owlet Visits WPC
A storm in Washington County last month knocked down a tree where a mother screech owl and her newly-hatched chicks were nesting. The mother became frightened and flew away, leaving her two young to fend for themselves. The Pa. Game Commission received a call that day and were able to save one of the two young chicks (pictured above, being held by Beth Fife, wildlife conservation officer. The chick was only a few weeks old at the time.
The screech owl is Pennsylvania's smallest common owl. It nests in hollow trees, often where a woodpecker previously created a cavity. This owl lives its life as one of three color-morphs: red, brown or gray.
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