nest box time lapse.
Eastern Screech Owls live in our region year round. A cavity-nesting species, they readily take up residence in man-made nest boxes like the ones in-stalled at our Harold N. Peek and Burden Hill Forest Preserves in New Jersey. This series of photos taken by staff member Steve Eisenhauer document the two-month period during which female owls lay and incubate eggs and rear the young until they fledge.
![Photo: Steve Eisenhauer](https://natlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/4-9-20-Peek-CMYK-1024x663.jpg)
April 9, 2020 Screech owls don’t build a nest; they settle into whatever debris is in the nest box. Boxes are often used year after year by the same monogamous pair.
![Photo: Steve Eisenhauer](https://natlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/4-15-20-Peek-CMYK-1024x744.jpg)
April 15, 2020 Given their size—about that of an American Robin—Screech Owl eggs are rather large. A standard clutch is two to six eggs.
![Photo: Steve Eisenhauer](https://natlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/4-21-20b-Peek-CMYK-1024x817.jpg)
April 21, 2020 Mama owl has a tasty mouse ready for her babies, which are visible as a bit of white fluff beneath her. The male owl brings food to the female and babies.
![Photo: Steve Eisenhauer](https://natlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/4-27-20-Peek-owl-CMYK-1024x768.jpg)
April 27, 2020 After a rainy night, the owl family will feast on a frog for break-fast. Screech owls will cache several days’ worth of food when prey is plentiful.
![Photo: Steve Eisenhauer](https://natlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/4-30-20-Peek-CMYK-1024x1018.jpg)
April 30,2020 Though they’ve grown quickly, the owlets still have their fuzzy down rather than smooth flight feathers.The owlets are almost adult sized at this stage.Just about a day or two from fledging, these young owls will depend on food from their parents for many weeks after.
![Photo: Steve Eisenhauer](https://natlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/5-10-20-Peek-P5100661-CMYK-1024x768.jpg)
May 10, 2020 The owlets are almost adult sized at this stage.
![Photo: Steve Eisenhauer](https://natlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/5-15-18-Patterson-Burden-Hill-Forest-Preserve-CMYK-1010x1024.jpg)
May 15, 2020 Just about a day or two from fledging, these young owls will depend on food from their parents for many weeks after leaving the nest box until they gain hunting skills.