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Index of Subjects
Index of Subjects --_9c76d00a-7ce6-4029-8e9b-4c4ac313ea44_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable In recent discussions on Qu=E9becOiseaux there has been some debate abou= t the cause of these southward movements of Snowy Owls (Harfangs des neiges= ). The current thinking is that this occurs in years of lemming abundance= =2C when a pair of owls may raise up to 11-12 young instead of 2-3. If eno= ugh survive there is not enough room for them in winter=2C when larger terr= itories are needed=2C many young go south=2C often arriving in the fields o= f southern Canada in an emaciated condition=2C as they are not adapted to h= unting in the boreal forest that they must cross. It is especially importa= nt not to disturb them at this time of year=2C when they need to regain the= ir strength. It appears that this was a good year for lemmings=2C and the = person studying them had predicted that it would be a good year for Snowies= in the south. =20 This is quite different from the irruptions of Boreal owl species=2C such= as the Great Grey=2C which do seem to be the result of food scarcity. Wayne Neily Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia "In nature's infinite book = of secrecy A little I can read." - William Shakespeare=2C 1607. > Date: Tue= =2C 18 Nov 2008 14:02:59 -0500> From: lance.laviolette@lmco.com> Subject: [= NatureNS] RE: Snowy Owl - Kennetcook> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > Rollan= d McCormick wrote:> > > Has anyone kept a record of the number of snowy owl= s seen > > this fall? It seems to me we have had a lot more reported > > th= an usual. A few years ago they were rather rare - this year > > they seem t= o be more plentiful. > > There are almost always some sightings of Snowy Ow= ls in southern Canada> in winter but there is no question that there is a m= ajor southerly> movement of Snowy Owls this year. In addition to several in= dividuals> being reported around Nova Scotia and Liz's report of large numb= ers> being seen at Cape Race in Newfoundland=2C there are reports of> conce= ntrations in Quebec along the St. Lawrence River east of Quebec> City=2C of= birds in Ontario as far south as Lake Erie and I believe there> are also l= arge numbers in southern Saskatchewan. > > These southern 'pushes' of north= ern owl species=2C in this case Snowy> Owls=2C are generally the result of = too many owls for too few small> mammals in the northern areas that they no= rmally stay in in winter. > > All the best=2C> > Lance> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D> Lance Lavi= olette> Glen Robertson=2C Ontario> lance.laviolette@lmco.com> =3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D>=20 _________________________________________________________________ --_9c76d00a-7ce6-4029-8e9b-4c4ac313ea44_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html> <head> <style> .hmmessage P { margin:0px=3B padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt=3B font-family:Verdana } </style> </head> <body class=3D'hmmessage'>  =3B =3B In recent discussions on Qu=E9becOiseaux =3Bthere has = been some debate about the cause of these southward movements of Snowy Owls= (Harfangs des neiges). =3B The =3Bcurrent thinking is that this oc= curs in years of lemming abundance=2C when a pair of owls may raise up to 1= 1-12 young instead of 2-3. =3B If enough survive there is not enough ro= om for them in winter=2C when larger territories are needed=2C many young&n= bsp=3Bgo south=2C often arriving in the fields of southern Canada in an ema= ciated condition=2C as they are not adapted to hunting in the boreal forest= that they must cross. =3B It is especially important not to disturb th= em at this time of year=2C when they need to regain their strength. =3B= It appears that this was a good year for lemmings=2C and the person studyi= ng them had predicted that it would be a good year for Snowies in the south= .<BR>  =3B<BR>  =3B This is quite different from the irruptions of Boreal owl species= =2C such as the Great Grey=2C which do seem to be the result of food scarci= ty.<BR><BR><BR> <DIV>Wayne Neily <BR>Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia <BR><BR>"In nature= 's infinite book of secrecy <BR>A little I can read." - William Shakespeare= =2C 1607. <BR><BR><BR>>=3B Date: Tue=2C 18 Nov 2008 14:02:59 -0500<BR>>= =3B From: lance.laviolette@lmco.com<BR>>=3B Subject: [NatureNS] RE: Snowy= Owl - Kennetcook<BR>>=3B To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>>=3B <BR>>= =3B Rolland McCormick wrote:<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B >=3B Has anyone kept a = record of the number of snowy owls seen <BR>>=3B >=3B this fall? It see= ms to me we have had a lot more reported <BR>>=3B >=3B than usual. A fe= w years ago they were rather rare - this year <BR>>=3B >=3B they seem t= o be more plentiful. <BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B There are almost always some sig= htings of Snowy Owls in southern Canada<BR>>=3B in winter but there is no= question that there is a major southerly<BR>>=3B movement of Snowy Owls = this year. In addition to several individuals<BR>>=3B being reported arou= nd Nova Scotia and Liz's report of large numbers<BR>>=3B being seen at Ca= pe Race in Newfoundland=2C there are reports of<BR>>=3B concentrations in= Quebec along the St. Lawrence River east of Quebec<BR>>=3B City=2C of bi= rds in Ontario as far south as Lake Erie and I believe there<BR>>=3B are = also large numbers in southern Saskatchewan. <BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B These so= uthern 'pushes' of northern owl species=2C in this case Snowy<BR>>=3B Owl= s=2C are generally the result of too many owls for too few small<BR>>=3B = mammals in the northern areas that they normally stay in in winter. <BR>>= =3B <BR>>=3B All the best=2C<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B Lance<BR>>=3B =3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= <BR>>=3B Lance Laviolette<BR>>=3B Glen Robertson=2C Ontario<BR>>=3B l= ance.laviolette@lmco.com<BR>>=3B =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>>=3B <BR></DIV><br /><hr />= Turn email contacts into buddies=2C and you could win. <a href=3D'http://ww= w.messengerbuddies.ca/?ocid=3DBUDDYOMATICENCA22' target=3D'_new'>Enter tod