Funny thing, yesterday on the way home from work, I spotted a Short-eared Owl hunting alongside a back road. Later that evening, Dean Ware reported seeing one down his way. I never saw one all of last winter, even though I keep my eyes open. They prefer pasture areas, but pastures are a rare commodity anymore. There used to be lots north of Wallaceburg. No wonder grassland species are severely declining!
I had my camera with me, but not ready. Too late in the day anyway.
When I first started birding we used to go out on winter outings and owls were always part of the trip. One time we came across an injured Short-eared Owl. I think it was the first time I had ever seen one. It was taken to a rehab somewhere. This was back in the 1980's.
Once in a while you luck on to Short-eared Owls, as was the case a couple of winters ago NE of Wallaceburg. I was heading up to a spot to look for Long-eared Owls, but I caught sight of one on a fencepost beside the road at two in the afternoon! Turns out there were around a dozen there and they stayed for several weeks. That pasture disappeared that follwing spring!
The Long-eared usually roost in pine trees, but not always. I found some NE of Wallaceburg one winter.
We have Screech Owls here in Wallaceburg. They have always been here and I remember them when I was about two or three years old. No kidding! They roosted on the fenceposts at dusk in the backyard. I still hear some occassionly, especially in the summer. Sometimes, the young ones will roost in the backyard cedars. I haven't seen young ones in a couple of years, but here is a photo of a family.
It was interesting to watch them at dusk as the parents fed them earthworms.
There are other owls especially seen in the winter. The only Boreal Owl I have seen was near Exeter one winter (on private property).
