There’s a little owl that lives in the big, tall sycamore trees. It’s called the elf owl, and it’s very small, even smaller than a golf ball. This little owl waits for nightfall, when the world is quiet, and comes out from its cozy home in the tree. In the quiet of the West Texas desert, the elf owl is busy. It looks for bugs, lizards, and even tiny mice to eat.
The elf owl is a strong hunter, even though it’s so small. It will catch things like scorpions, too. But before eating them, it makes sure the stingers are gone. It keeps them in its nest to eat later when it’s hungry.
If you’re lucky, you might see one of these owls in the deserts of Texas or Arizona. They live in old woodpecker holes in the tall cacti that grow in the dry land. The elf owl might seem quiet, but it’s a fast and silent flier, moving without making much noise. You can feel the wind when its wings move.
When spring comes, the mommy owl lays 1 to 4 eggs. The father takes care of his family at first, bringing food to the mother and babies. After a little while, the mommy helps too. It’s a big job to keep everyone fed.
If something tries to hurt them, like a bigger owl, the elf owl doesn’t fight. It tries to hide or even play dead, so it’s safe.
When it starts to get colder, the elf owl flies away to Mexico, where it’s warmer and there are more insects. In the spring, it comes back to the desert, ready to start a new family.
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