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Wanted! Sightings of Short-eared Owls in Ontario

The Ontario Barn Owl Recovery Program has launched a new survey - Searching for Short-eared Owls, designed to collect much needed information on the distribution of wintering Short-eared Owls in Ontario.

The Problem

Grassland ecosystems are recognized globally as one of the most imperilled ecosystems and grassland bird populations have shown steeper, more consistent, and more geographically widespread declines than any other group of North American bird species. The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is classified as a species of Special Concern in Canada and Ontario and was recently recognized as one of the "top 100 bird species of conservation concern in the United States". Destruction of native grasslands appears to have caused significant historic population declines throughout its North American range.

Short-eared Owls are nomadic, wandering extensively within their breeding and wintering ranges hunting for food, which makes population monitoring very difficult. Consequently, little is known about Short-eared Owl population size, and population trends. In winter, Short-eared Owls occur in areas with abundant prey and often roost communally in large numbers. Some regions within southern Ontario support significant concentrations of wintering Short-eared Owls. For example, the Fisherville Christmas Bird Count in Haldimand County regularly records the most Short-eared Owls in North America. Other southern Ontario "hotspots" include Niagara Falls, Amherst Island and Blenheim.

Although there are very few "natural" grasslands (e.g., tall grass prairie, savannahs, short grass prairie) remaining in southern Ontario, "rough" grasslands (e.g., hayfields, pastures) and various types of agricultural fields often support diverse assemblages of grassland flora and fauna, including the Short-eared Owl. Short-eared Owls roost, and forage in open areas such as fallow fields, hay fields, grasslands, airports and meadows. They form communal winter roosts on the ground within open areas and will often roost in conifer trees during periods of heavy snow cover. Identifying areas that support large concentrations of wintering owls will help direct future conservation efforts.

Appearance

The Short-eared Owl is a light brown bird, heavily streaked below, and featuring a prominent facial disk. The upper breast is darker than the lower underparts. It is a medium-sized owl, averaging 38 cm long and appearing similar in size to a crow. As the name implies, the ear feathers are typically inconspicuous. A black 'wrist' is visible on the wing in flight.

Behaviour

One of the most notable characteristics of a Short-eared Owl is its buoyant and somewhat erratic moth-like flight. At their breeding sites, Short-eared Owls often land right on the ground, but on migration and in winter they can be found roosting in trees, sometimes communally. Short-eared Owls tend to be active during the daytime more commonly than most other owls. The best time to see Short-eared Owls in winter is at dusk when they are leaving roost sites to forage in the open country.

We Need Your Help!

We are interested in all observations of wintering Short-eared Owls in Ontario, as well as locations of roost sites that have been active in the past. We are also looking for volunteers to monitor know roost sites periodically throughout the winter months. This survey will provide valuable information on the movements and distribution of Short-eared Owls.

If you see a Short-eared Owl in Ontario, please report your sightings to:

Debbie Badzinski
Phone: 888-448-2473
E-mail: dbadzinski@bsc-eoc.org.

Please try to be as precise as possible. If you see Short-eared Owls during the breeding season, please report sightings to:

Leslie Hunt
E-mail: leslie@migrationresearch.org
The Migration Research Foundation
www.migrationresearch.org

The Migration Research Foundation has initiated a long-term research project on Short-eared Owls. Click here to learn more about the project.

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