The first email from Chris…

Hi Bruce,

I was catching up with your blog today, Bruce, and noticed your post from
November speculating that there are no longer any Eastern Screech Owls in
the park.
Never fear:  though I don’t know where they live (at the moment), I have
seen one or two ESOs hunting in the familiar areas, on more
than one occasion when I’m out walking my dog after dark.  The most recent
sighting was last week, when an ESO did a fly-by as I watched a raccoon
shamble down from a tree for her evening dumpster diving.
So, they’re still around, probably enjoying the peace and quiet that comes
when one’s avian celebrity star has waned a bit.
with best wishes for the holidays (all of them),

Chris