A nomadic species, the short-eared owl never overstays its welcome. In early October I flushed a bird on Faville Prairie. It was hunkered down in a clump of willow, and flew west into a thicket of brush, not to be seen again. I searched on subsequent evenings for the bird, waiting at dusk for its flappy moth-like flight, hoping to glimpse its piercing yellow eyes. Nothing.
Then, in mid-November, Aaron Stutz reported two short-eared owls on Martin and Tillotson Prairies, along with interesting photos and video. From then on, every time I’ve gone down Prairie Lane at dusk, I’ve seen the short-eared owls.
Photo by John Wethall
We usually do see these owls in winter, but sometimes their appearances can be fleeting. It seems this year they’ve stuck around longer than usual, presumably due to an increased food source. There appear to be at least two short-eared owls in addition to two northern harriers, which would suggest an abundant population of meadow voles. To add to the birds of prey bonanza down Prairie Lane, there has also been a northern shrike, kestrels, and the resident Bald Eagles have constructed a new nest just south of their old residence.
It’s unclear the exact reason why meadow voles might be so abundant, but none of the Crawfish River Prairies burned last year, so perhaps there was enough cover and vegetation to prime a population explosion. It would be interesting to survey the population of voles and shrews on these prairies, but at this rate, whatever device would be used to capture the voles might end up in the talons of a bird of prey.
Short eared owl photo by Monica Hall
You should still be able to observe the short-eared owls down Prairie Lane, they’ve stuck it out through the most recent snowfall, though you need four-wheel drive to make it down the road successfully. Use caution, since the road is difficult to turn around on, especially when icy, and can be impassible after a heavy snowfall. And please respect the owls by driving slowly and dimming your lights if it is safe to do so.
Written by Drew Harry, Faville Grove Sanctuary land steward
Cover photo by Monica Hall
