Short Eared Owl Adventures

Lately I have been sticking closer to home, taking a little break from the snowy owls. Part of it has to do with my taking care of Chango, my son Conor’s dog, while he is out west on tour.

The weather has been too cold to go up to snowy owl country with him and I don’t like leaving him at home on his own. So we drive into the farmlands surrounding Cambridge where I know I will often encounter wildlife whether it’s bald eagles, northern harriers or deer. 

Chango goes nuts when he sees deer or wild turkeys that hang out in the corn fields. When we saw a coyote once he actually howled.

A landowner I know has been seeing a pair of short-eared owls on a regular basis and these owls are of great interest to me. Smaller than snowy owls, they can be preyed upon by bigger birds.

As a matter of fact, I saw my first shorties a year ago while looking for snowy owls. They are most active at dusk or dawn – when the light can be a challenge for photography. About a week ago I spotted one hunting along a berm and I shot hundreds of images. But none were keepers – too dark.

On Friday I checked the weather forecast and was pleased to see that there would be clear skies around sundown which meant there would be a better light while the owls hunt. Eventually the two owls turned up. One landed on a hydro pole and looked around. A male northern harrier was also out looking for voles and mice which I noticed kept the owls stationary.

An adult male northern harrier hunting in the same grounds as the short-eared owls

One owl perched on top of a hydro pole while the other landed on the ground in some brush. But once the harrier had left the area the pair began hunting.

A short-eared owl flying along a berm looking for voles and mice.

This owl hovered above its prey before diving. Time and time again it missed. Persistence is part of their makeup.

Earlier in the day I had met the landowners where this pair  are mostly seen and was given permission to go out there onto the property – in exchange for sharing some images with them.

Birders and photographers post sightings on birding websites for others to view. That explains why people drive a hundred kilometres for the chance to see a rare species. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems.

One of those landowners I referred to told me he had counted more than a dozen cars parked outside his home one Sunday afternoon.  Some people were actually parking on his driveway pointing cameras towards him. Needless to say he isn’t pleased with the visitors.  Another neighbour walking his dog hustled past me Friday refusing to converse when I said hello. 

I have cringed when I see photographers and birders parked on both sides of a road making it difficult for local people to pass along these narrow country roads. Unfortunately, poor habits like these give all photographers and birders a bad name.

But enough of the negative. The light was beautiful and the owls were active.  They put on quite a show. They are a treat to watch, hovering over prey, suddenly diving and then continuing their flight.

With the last remnants of sunlight this owl hovered while facing me.

On another pass across the berm this owl hovered  above the brush before continuing the hunt.

I have been back a couple of times since and will continue to observe these owls. Once Conor picks up Chango I will then have the dilemma of choosing between short-eared owls and the snowies. What an incredible choice to have, eh?

                                                                                          -30-