[NatureNS] Tangier Owl Survey - 9 April

Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:32:39 -0300
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
From: "P.L. Chalmers" <plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca>
Cc: "James Cameron" <jim.cameron@ns.sympatico.ca>
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Last Saturday night (9 April) Suzanne Borkowski and I surveyed my owl 
route which follows the road from Tangier north to beyond 
Mooseland.  This is the tenth year for the Nocturnal Owl Survey in 
mainland Nova Scotia, and Suzanne and I have done this route for 9 years now.

It was a beautiful day in Halifax, and the afternoon continued sunny 
and mild, with light winds.  Although rain was in the forecast we 
made the decision at about 1:30 to go for it.  We watched for spring 
arrivals as we drove from Halifax, but saw very few birds along the 
way.  No Osprey over the bays, few ducks in the coves.  A single 
Great Blue Heron in Spry Harbour was a first for the year.  After we 
scouted out my route, we went for a fish supper at the Fairwinds 
Motel in Sheet Harbour, as we usually do.  We found Jim Cameron 
waiting for us there, and as we sat down the waitress came up, and 
looking at us said "Oh, I remember you two ladies!  Turkey Vultures!" 
...(pause)... "Oh, wait, that doesn't sound so good, does it?"  as we 
all burst out laughing.   [Two years ago, the same waitress served 
us, and she had been intrigued by our excitement at seeing a Turkey 
Vulture fly across Sheet Harbour.]

At twilight, just as the three of us began the survey, it started to 
rain, much to our dismay, as we had gambled on the good weather 
continuing.  So the first stop was done in cold drizzle, and I 
worried that the "boom box", which was broadcasting the calls, was 
getting wet.  I was delighted to realize as we got out at our second 
stop that the rain had ceased, and the skies were clearing.  The moon 
was bright and the skies remained clear for the rest of the evening.

We usually do this route in early April, so this was a typical date 
for us.  However it has been a cold slow spring, and we wondered how 
this might affect the owls.  The first few stops were quiet, and 
Suzanne recalled Randy's report of his experience the evening before, 
when he did not hear any owls. However we soon began to have results, 
and went on to have a very good evening, with seven Northern 
Saw-whets and three Barred Owls in all.  There has been a lot of 
clearcutting along this route, leaving just a "beauty strip" along 
the road, and we found that many of the owls were distant.  Only two 
of the Saw-whets were very close.  We missed hearing Great Horned 
Owls, which we usually find beyond Mooseland, at the last few stops.

In addition to the owls, we heard Common Loons, and there were 
American Woodcock peenting and winnowing at four stops. Winter moths 
were frequent in the headlights.  With little rain in March and not 
much snow melt the ditches were dry, and there was rarely any sound 
of running water. A few Wood Frogs were calling at only one stop (the 
first I have heard this year). There were no Spring Peepers at all; 
one of the few times I have done an owl survey without their chorus 
as backdrop.

The night sky was beautiful.

Patricia L. Chalmers
Halifax



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