The International Owl Center writes:

If you have a screech-owl box or want to put one up, YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

It is basically a how-to guide, with answers to every question you might ever ask, plus waaaaaay more.

You'll find box designs, placement advice, setups that will allow you to lower the box instead of climbing a ladder to check the box, different camera setups for observing and streaming them, what to do about squirrels and wasps, how to make your yard screech-owl friendly, what to expect from your owls, cultural views of owls and much, much more.

The authors together have decades of experience with screech-owl boxes, plus they included information from others with extensive experience. It is a reference guide you'll use over and over again. There should be a book like this for every species for which you can build a nest box.ox!

What are these (seen while walking in Allendale)?

Hint: They are not vegetarian bocce balls or Martian brains (as I thought as a child).

(Sorry that it's been a while between mysteries.)

Cooper's hawks might be getting a new name.

My latest column for The Record is all about the great bird-name debate. You can read it here.

Screech owls are charismatic and local. Learn all about them -- how to attract them to nest in your yard -- and make your yard more nature-friendly.

As a bonus, we are selling an amazing selection of Jerry Barrack's fine-arts photographic prints of the Celery Farm and other nature shots. Many are from books we have done together, including the Celery Farm book and  "Duck Enough to Fly."

The prints are reasonably priced, and all the proceeds will go to local non-profits -- including the library, the garden club, the Fyke Nature Association and the group that rescues local raptors.

These photos are mounted and ready to frame -- perfect holiday gifts.

The talk, sponsored by the Lee Memorial Library and the Allendale Garden Club, is open to all.

Please register so we know how many folks are coming. You can register here or here:

https://bccls.libcal.com/calendar/allendale/owlneighbors