Death Call

We live in a fairly wooded area and for a suburban neighborhood we have a lot of wildlife. It is not unusual to see a pack of 7 deer just meandering down one of our roads or munching on our hastas. We see fox just skipping across the road from time to time. There are at least 4 Blue Jays that hang out in our backyard and we have so many squirrels it's frustrating. Basically, it all just makes you want to sing Zipidy Do Dah on any given moment.

The newest addition to our wildlife listing is the Eastern Screech Owl. The first few times we heard this bird we thought there was a mutant baby of a Cat and a Turkey outside our window. Or maybe it was the call of death? Scared and unaware it can all become a bit frightening when the imagination is allowed to take control in a situation like this. But after a chat with my parents it turns out we're not alone. They too have heard this crazy creature and they were told it was a Screech Owl. Eric and I looked it up and we have now confirmed, by way of google, that it is indeed an Eastern Screech Owl. If you go here and click on "B Song" you'll hear the Eastern Screech Owl. Be sure to crank up the volume because in real life this "song" is LOUD!

Does this not sound like the mutant child of a cat and a turkey? Is it not creepy?

And get this! This scary death call comes from a bird that is only 7-8 inches tall and weighs 8 ounces.