[NatureNS] RE: Snowy Owl - Kennetcook

From: "Wayne P. Neily" <neilyornis@hotmail.com>
To: NatureNS List <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:29:56 -0400
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   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
_________________________________________________________________


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&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B In recent discussions on Qu=E9becOiseaux&nbsp=3Bthere has =
been some debate about the cause of these southward movements of Snowy Owls=
 (Harfangs des neiges).&nbsp=3B The&nbsp=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.&nbsp=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.&nbsp=3B It is especially important not to disturb th=
em at this time of year=2C when they need to regain their strength.&nbsp=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>
&nbsp=3B<BR>
&nbsp=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>&gt=3B Date: Tue=2C 18 Nov 2008 14:02:59 -0500<BR>&gt=
=3B From: lance.laviolette@lmco.com<BR>&gt=3B Subject: [NatureNS] RE: Snowy=
 Owl - Kennetcook<BR>&gt=3B To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>&gt=3B <BR>&gt=
=3B Rolland McCormick wrote:<BR>&gt=3B <BR>&gt=3B &gt=3B Has anyone kept a =
record of the number of snowy owls seen <BR>&gt=3B &gt=3B this fall? It see=
ms to me we have had a lot more reported <BR>&gt=3B &gt=3B than usual. A fe=
w years ago they were rather rare - this year <BR>&gt=3B &gt=3B they seem t=
o be more plentiful. <BR>&gt=3B <BR>&gt=3B There are almost always some sig=
htings of Snowy Owls in southern Canada<BR>&gt=3B in winter but there is no=
 question that there is a major southerly<BR>&gt=3B movement of Snowy Owls =
this year. In addition to several individuals<BR>&gt=3B being reported arou=
nd Nova Scotia and Liz's report of large numbers<BR>&gt=3B being seen at Ca=
pe Race in Newfoundland=2C there are reports of<BR>&gt=3B concentrations in=
 Quebec along the St. Lawrence River east of Quebec<BR>&gt=3B City=2C of bi=
rds in Ontario as far south as Lake Erie and I believe there<BR>&gt=3B are =
also large numbers in southern Saskatchewan. <BR>&gt=3B <BR>&gt=3B These so=
uthern 'pushes' of northern owl species=2C in this case Snowy<BR>&gt=3B Owl=
s=2C are generally the result of too many owls for too few small<BR>&gt=3B =
mammals in the northern areas that they normally stay in in winter. <BR>&gt=
=3B <BR>&gt=3B All the best=2C<BR>&gt=3B <BR>&gt=3B Lance<BR>&gt=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>&gt=3B Lance Laviolette<BR>&gt=3B Glen Robertson=2C Ontario<BR>&gt=3B l=
ance.laviolette@lmco.com<BR>&gt=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>&gt=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