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Title: Snowy Owls in Winter Post by: Bobbie Ireland on 26-Jan-15, 05:20:19 AM Interesting piece, with some ROC input.
http://hbmo.ca/blog/snowy-owls-dispelling-the-starvation-myth/ (http://hbmo.ca/blog/snowy-owls-dispelling-the-starvation-myth/) Title: Re: Snowy Owls in Winter Post by: Donna on 26-Jan-15, 08:09:37 AM Interesting piece, with some ROC input. http://hbmo.ca/blog/snowy-owls-dispelling-the-starvation-myth/ (http://hbmo.ca/blog/snowy-owls-dispelling-the-starvation-myth/) Snowy Owls on the breeding grounds are diurnal because it never gets dark during breeding season. However, in winter, using night vision equipment, Norman has found that they do most of their hunting at night (which is also the best time to capture them). He has collected over 6,000 pellets. He has watched these master hunters capture an assortment of mammals and birds including mice and rats, rabbits, cats, passerines, waterfowl including geese, great blue heron, gulls, and even other raptors including American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owls, Barn Owl, Saw-whet Owls, Barred Owl, Peregrine Falcon and even another Snowy Owl. Distribution trends and tracking during the current invasion seem to indicate that much of the transplanted population is preying on sea birds. Interesting read, thanks Bobbie!! Title: Re: Snowy Owls in Winter Post by: Bobbie Ireland on 26-Jan-15, 08:15:26 AM Interesting piece, with some ROC input. http://hbmo.ca/blog/snowy-owls-dispelling-the-starvation-myth/ (http://hbmo.ca/blog/snowy-owls-dispelling-the-starvation-myth/) Snowy Owls on the breeding grounds are diurnal because it never gets dark during breeding season. However, in winter, using night vision equipment, Norman has found that they do most of their hunting at night (which is also the best time to capture them). He has collected over 6,000 pellets. He has watched these master hunters capture an assortment of mammals and birds including mice and rats, rabbits, cats, passerines, waterfowl including geese, great blue heron, gulls, and even other raptors including American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owls, Barn Owl, Saw-whet Owls, Barred Owl, Peregrine Falcon and even another Snowy Owl. Distribution trends and tracking during the current invasion seem to indicate that much of the transplanted population is preying on sea birds. Interesting read, thanks Bobbie!! Imagine!! Such a diverse list of prey. (Could one of them come over here and deal with these MICE?!) Title: Re: Snowy Owls in Winter Post by: MAK on 26-Jan-15, 03:53:17 PM That's an impressive list of prey! Bobbie, I hear cats are good for taking care of mice problems! :harhar:
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