First documentation of acorn consumption by eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)

Abstract

We present evidence for the first documentation of consumption of a water oak (Quercus nigra) acorn by an eastern screech owl (Megascops asio). A screech owl diet typically consists of small mammals, small birds, and arthropods. In our study, we had a 1-m x 1-m sand pad under observation from a game camera that was set on a 1-min time-lapse delay. On this sand pad, we placed five water oak acorns. In a series of six images over six minutes, we observed an eastern screech owl land near the sand pad, walk to an acorn, and appear to consume the acorn. Although there could be other plausible explanations and events that transpired between 1-min image intervals, we believe this acorn was consumed by the eastern screech owl. The importance of this addition of food type to the diet of a raptor is largely unexplored and undocumented.