Artist: Nat Drumheller

This Northern Saw-whet Owl was looking at the photographer with apparent concern as he prepared to check her nest to count how many eggs she was incubating. Northern Saw-whet Owls nest in cavities, usually abandoned woodpecker holes, although this owl was using a man-made nest box. Average clutch size is about five eggs. It takes two months from when the first egg is laid to when the young owls are ready to leave the nest. Throughout the nesting process the male owl lives nearby and delivers prey to the nest for the female and young. This owl returned to the nest shortly after the photo was taken and her young were successfully raised by the two parents.