These two Western Screech-Owls live in a dead tree trunk right next to a road in the San Antonio Open Space Preserve in Los Altos, California. Although few vehicles other than park ranger trucks use the road, it's well traveled by walkers and runners on most days and especially so on the weekends. Even with this constant human traffic, at least one of the owls is usually sitting there facing the road, with it's eyes closed, dozing the day away. And although they're only 5 feet from and facing the road, most people will never spot them in the tree because they blend in so well. Occasionally, something will cause the owl to open it's eyes and look around, but after just a few seconds, it's back to a very sound sleep.
Both owls are sound asleep..zzzZZZ
Very sleepy, but trying to open eyes to see who's down there
Dang it's hard to keep those eyes open...
Western Screech Owl
Would you spot this guy in the tree as you walked by?