Owl House in Grapevine — Live Webcam Streaming Eastern Screech Owls
Owl House in Grapevine — A Window into the World of Nocturnal Predators
In the city of Grapevine, Texas, USA, a unique Owl House with a webcam has been installed, allowing real-time observation of Eastern Screech Owls. This is more than just a broadcast — it's a chance to peek into the enclosed space of a nest where a pair of owls raises their young. The webcam operates around the clock, showing the natural behavior of birds in an urban-wild environment.
Unlike many other bird webcams, here the camera is located inside the house itself, giving viewers an intimate look at how owls incubate eggs, feed chicks, and defend their home. The broadcast is in high quality with live audio, so you can not only see the birds but also hear their characteristic sounds.
Who Lives in the Owl House — Leo and Lily Rose
The inhabitants of this house are a pair of Eastern Screech Owls named Leo and Lily Rose. Lily Rose is particularly notable: she is a rufous morph, which is less common than the gray coloration. Eastern Screech Owls are small owls with characteristic ear tufts and yellow eyes, inhabiting the eastern part of North America.
Interestingly, the rufous morph is more common in southeastern regions, while gray individuals predominate in Texas. Therefore, Lily Rose is a true rarity for this area. The pair chose an artificial house as a nesting site, which speaks to the high adaptability of these birds to urban environments.
Rufous Morph — Lily Rose's Rare Coloration
Eastern Screech Owls have two color morphs: gray and reddish-brown (rufous). Both morphs have a complex pattern of stripes and spots, which provides excellent camouflage against tree bark. Lily Rose's rufous morph stands out with warm brown-reddish tones in her plumage, making her particularly visible on camera.
Research shows that color morph does not affect behavior or reproductive success, but rufous individuals often attract more attention from observers. In some regions, the rufous morph may predominate, while in others, like Texas, gray owls are more common.
How the Owl House Is Arranged Inside
Inside the house, the inhabitants have made a nest from pine needles and straw. Such bedding serves not only for comfort but also performs practical functions: pine needles have antibacterial properties and help maintain cleanliness in the nest. The space inside the house is enclosed and dark — ideal conditions for nocturnal birds that rest in shelter during the day.
The house's design is specifically developed for owls: it's spacious enough for a pair to comfortably accommodate with chicks, but at the same time protected from predators and bad weather. The entrance hole is calculated so that larger birds or mammals cannot get inside.
Life Cycle of Owls in the House
The live broadcast from the Owl House in Grapevine shows the full breeding cycle of Eastern Screech Owls: egg laying, incubation, the appearance of owlets, and their growth until fledging. This is a rare opportunity to observe all stages of owl development in natural conditions.
Eastern Screech Owls begin establishing breeding territories and searching for nesting sites approximately from February to March. They readily use artificial nest boxes, which makes the webcam in Grapevine possible. The female usually lays 3–4 eggs, which she incubates for about 26 days. The chicks are born helpless, covered in white down, and are completely dependent on their parents.
Night Life of Owls — What Happens in the Dark
Owls are nocturnal predators, and their activity begins with the onset of darkness. At this time, you can observe how Leo and Lily Rose fly out to hunt, return with prey, and feed the chicks. The night vision and hearing of these birds allow them to hunt successfully even in complete darkness.
During the day, owls usually rest in the house, but even at this time you can notice interesting moments: how they preen their feathers, move around the nest, or react to sounds from outside. The webcam with live audio allows you to hear their characteristic calls and chirping.
Why Owls Choose Artificial Houses
Artificial nest boxes play an important role in conserving owl populations. In urban environments, natural tree cavities are becoming fewer due to the felling of old trees and landscape changes. The houses provide a safe place for nesting, protected from bad weather and predators.
Eastern Screech Owls are especially willing to use artificial nests, making them frequent inhabitants of suburban yards and parks. Installing an owl house is an easy way to attract these helpful birds, which help control rodent and insect populations.
What You Can See on the Camera
The webcam in the Owl House shows a dark enclosed space lined with pine needles and dry grass. On the bedding of pine needles and straw sits an owl with a characteristic light heart-shaped face and dark eyes — this is Lily Rose, a rufous morph Eastern Screech Owl. Behind her is another, smaller bird, likely a chick. The birds are located in the nest where their daily life takes place: resting, feeding, and caring for offspring.
The broadcast is in 1080p HD format with live audio, allowing you to see the finest details of plumage and bird behavior. The external camera shows the arrival and departure of owls, and the internal one shows everything that happens in the nest. This is a unique opportunity to observe the life of nocturnal predators in real time, without leaving home.
