Wednesday, December 28, 2011
An Irruption of Owls
This story from Charley Burwick of GOAS* and Master Naturalists fame.
“Irruption,” yech! - sounds like something you would hear from your doctor. However, in the birder’s world that is a word that really grabs attention. An irruption, in the avian world, specifically means some bird, or group of bird species from the tundra, or northern boreal forest moving much farther south than the norm during the winter months. While it includes many songbird species, the one that really grabs our attention and excitement is when raptors, and more to the point owls, are the ones coming far into the lower 48 states.
A few years ago, the Great Gray Owls, and Northern Hawk Owls came flowing south into the lower 48 northern tier of states. Both of these species can be seen in Minnesota from time to time, but this particular year, they were down in huge numbers. The numbers were much, much higher than ever recorded, or noted in history. On a visit to Minnesota during this event, my friends and I saw a few of the Hawk Owls (hence my license plate HWK-OWL), and on one day spotted over 70 Great Gray Owls. Because these birds are not typically around humans, they have no fear of us. You can stand within just a few yards of them, and they pretty much ignore you. We observed one, just a few feet from us, fly from a stump, and dive into the deep snow, and come up with a rodent to eat. What an exhilarating experience.
What caused this irruption? It is believed there had been an explosive number in the population of rodents, and consequently, a very successful fledging rate of Great Gray Owls. The sad part of this event is that many of the Great Gray Owls, which were mostly immature birds, starved, and a significant number ended up being road kill. Once again, not being around metal animals, they would just sit in the middle of a road, and watch a vehicle as it would run them over. In response, special teams organized to catch and relocate the birds. To what level of success, we don’t know.
Now, this year, we are experiencing another irruption of owls. Only this year the species is the Snowy Owl. It is not unusual for a Snowy Owl or two, to show up in the very northern counties of Missouri during the winter months. One may stick around in one area long enough for one of us crazy people to make a run to the north to spot one. I have been so fortunate twice in past years. However, this year, we are experiencing, once again, an irruption of numbers of a historical magnitude. At first, two, and then three Snowy Owls were hanging around Smithville Lake, just north of Kansas City. I had to make the run to see this owl species once again. They really are a magnificent bird to see, and it is not just the same as viewing them on TV, or a picture on a calendar. Fortunately, my friends and I spotted three that cool morning. Remarkable- I never, in my wildest dreams, ever expected to see three Snowy Owls in one morning within a mile of each other in our state.
The story for this year is not over yet. Just this past week, five Snowy Owls were spotted around Smithville Lake and another one was spotted in Columbia, next to a Holiday Inn, along I 70. On at least two Christmas Bird Counts, a Snowy Owl was noted on the counts, including one at the Squaw Creek refuge, northwest of St. Joseph. Yet, the numbers are still going up, as at least another 6-8 have been noted across other northern counties in the state this past week. Several have been reported in Kansas, from Topeka, to Wichita, and Hutchinson area, and as far south as Oklahoma, northwest of Tulsa.
The next chapter is already being played out. Several Snowy Owls in the state have been reported found dead, thought to be from starvation. And, yes, the metal monster has already harvested a few. As we can note, the numbers are still increasing every day. When will the numbers slow down? Who knows? What has caused this irruption? Right now, who knows? The major tool being used to track this activity is eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird), a citizen science reporting system sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and National Audubon Society. Take a look at the eBird web page; learn more about the Snowy Owl, and what is going on during this irruption. eBird is an outstanding tool, not just for Snowy Owls, but all birds, even the ones in your backyard. Watch out, you may get hooked.
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| Click to enlarge- Greg Swick, GOAS |
A few years ago, the Great Gray Owls, and Northern Hawk Owls came flowing south into the lower 48 northern tier of states. Both of these species can be seen in Minnesota from time to time, but this particular year, they were down in huge numbers. The numbers were much, much higher than ever recorded, or noted in history. On a visit to Minnesota during this event, my friends and I saw a few of the Hawk Owls (hence my license plate HWK-OWL), and on one day spotted over 70 Great Gray Owls. Because these birds are not typically around humans, they have no fear of us. You can stand within just a few yards of them, and they pretty much ignore you. We observed one, just a few feet from us, fly from a stump, and dive into the deep snow, and come up with a rodent to eat. What an exhilarating experience.
What caused this irruption? It is believed there had been an explosive number in the population of rodents, and consequently, a very successful fledging rate of Great Gray Owls. The sad part of this event is that many of the Great Gray Owls, which were mostly immature birds, starved, and a significant number ended up being road kill. Once again, not being around metal animals, they would just sit in the middle of a road, and watch a vehicle as it would run them over. In response, special teams organized to catch and relocate the birds. To what level of success, we don’t know.
Now, this year, we are experiencing another irruption of owls. Only this year the species is the Snowy Owl. It is not unusual for a Snowy Owl or two, to show up in the very northern counties of Missouri during the winter months. One may stick around in one area long enough for one of us crazy people to make a run to the north to spot one. I have been so fortunate twice in past years. However, this year, we are experiencing, once again, an irruption of numbers of a historical magnitude. At first, two, and then three Snowy Owls were hanging around Smithville Lake, just north of Kansas City. I had to make the run to see this owl species once again. They really are a magnificent bird to see, and it is not just the same as viewing them on TV, or a picture on a calendar. Fortunately, my friends and I spotted three that cool morning. Remarkable- I never, in my wildest dreams, ever expected to see three Snowy Owls in one morning within a mile of each other in our state.
The story for this year is not over yet. Just this past week, five Snowy Owls were spotted around Smithville Lake and another one was spotted in Columbia, next to a Holiday Inn, along I 70. On at least two Christmas Bird Counts, a Snowy Owl was noted on the counts, including one at the Squaw Creek refuge, northwest of St. Joseph. Yet, the numbers are still going up, as at least another 6-8 have been noted across other northern counties in the state this past week. Several have been reported in Kansas, from Topeka, to Wichita, and Hutchinson area, and as far south as Oklahoma, northwest of Tulsa.
The next chapter is already being played out. Several Snowy Owls in the state have been reported found dead, thought to be from starvation. And, yes, the metal monster has already harvested a few. As we can note, the numbers are still increasing every day. When will the numbers slow down? Who knows? What has caused this irruption? Right now, who knows? The major tool being used to track this activity is eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird), a citizen science reporting system sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and National Audubon Society. Take a look at the eBird web page; learn more about the Snowy Owl, and what is going on during this irruption. eBird is an outstanding tool, not just for Snowy Owls, but all birds, even the ones in your backyard. Watch out, you may get hooked.
Springfield Capítulo Planalto do Missouri Naturalist ™ Master é uma comunidade educacional baseada em recursos naturais e programa de voluntariado. Sua finalidade é desenvolver um corpo de voluntários bem informados para fornecer educação, extensão e serviço dedicado à gestão benéfica dos recursos naturais e áreas naturais dentro de suas comunidades para o Estado do Missouri.Nature Blog NetworkQuarta-feira 28 dezembro, 2011Uma irrupção das corujasEsta história de Charley Burwick de Alagoas * e fama Naturalistas Master.
Clique para ampliar-Greg Swick, Alagoas"Irrupção", eca! - Soa como algo que você ouvir de seu médico. No entanto, no mundo dos birder de que é uma palavra que realmente chama a atenção. Uma irrupção, no mundo das aves, especificamente significa alguma ave, ou grupo de espécies de aves da tundra, florestas boreais do norte ou se movendo muito mais ao sul do que o normal durante os meses de inverno. Enquanto isso inclui muitas espécies songbird, a única que realmente agarra a nossa atenção e emoção é quando aves de rapina, e mais para as corujas ponto, são os que vêm agora em 48 estados mais baixos.
Há alguns anos, as corujas Grande Gray, e corujas Falcão do Norte veio fluindo para o sul para o norte do menor nível de 48 estados. Ambas as espécies podem ser vistas em Minnesota, de tempos em tempos, mas este ano em particular, eles caíram em grande número. Os números foram muito, muito maior do que alguma vez registado, ou observado na história. Em uma visita a Minnesota durante este evento, meus amigos e vi algumas das corujas Hawk (daí a minha placa HWK-OWL), e um dia viu mais de 70 grandes corujas Gray. Porque estas aves não são normalmente em torno de seres humanos, eles não têm medo de nós. Você pode estar dentro de apenas alguns metros deles, e eles praticamente ignorá-lo. Observou-se uma, a poucos metros de nós, voar a partir de um toco, e mergulhar na neve profunda, e chegar a um roedor para comer. O que uma experiência emocionante.
O que causou esta irrupção? Acredita-se que houve um número explosivo da população de roedores e, conseqüentemente, uma taxa muito bem sucedido da Grã fledging Owls Gray. A parte triste deste evento é que muitas das corujas Grande Gray, que foram principalmente aves imaturas, fome, e um número significativo acabou sendo atropelado. Mais uma vez, não sendo em torno de animais metal, eles simplesmente sentar no meio de uma estrada, e assistir a um dos veículos como seria atropelá-los. Em resposta, equipes especiais organizadas para capturar e transferir as aves. A que nível de sucesso, não sabemos.
Agora, este ano, estamos vivenciando uma outra irrupção de corujas. Só este ano a espécie é a coruja nevado. Não é incomum para uma coruja nevado ou dois, para mostrar-se muito nos municípios do norte do Missouri durante os meses de inverno. Pode-se ficar por aqui em uma área suficiente para um de nós pessoas loucas para fazer uma corrida para o norte para um ponto. Eu tenho tanta sorte duas vezes no ano passado. No entanto, este ano, estamos vivenciando, mais uma vez, uma irrupção de números de uma magnitude histórica. No primeiro, dois e depois três corujas Snowy foram penduradas em torno Smithville Lake, ao norte de Kansas City. Eu tive que fazer a corrida para ver esta espécie de coruja, mais uma vez. Eles realmente são um pássaro magnífico de se ver, e não é exatamente o mesmo que vê-las na TV, ou uma imagem em um calendário. Felizmente, meus amigos e vi três da manhã que legal. Notável, eu nunca, em meus sonhos mais loucos, jamais esperava ver três corujas de neve em uma manhã dentro de uma milha um do outro em nosso estado.
A história para este ano ainda não acabou. Apenas na semana passada, cinco corujas Snowy foram vistos ao redor de Smithville Lago e outro foi flagrado em Columbia, ao lado de um Holiday Inn, ao longo de I 70. Em pelo menos duas contagens de aves de Natal, uma coruja nevado foi anotado na conta, incluindo um no refúgio Squaw Creek, a noroeste de St. Joseph. No entanto, os números ainda estão subindo, como pelo menos outros 6-8 têm sido observados em outros condados do norte do estado na semana passada. Vários têm sido relatados em Kansas, de Topeka, para Wichita, e área de Hutchinson, e até o sul de Oklahoma, a noroeste de Tulsa.
O próximo capítulo já está sendo jogado fora. Várias corujas nevado no estado foram relatados encontrado morto, pensado para ser de fome. E, sim, o monstro de metal já colhidos alguns. Como podemos observar, os números continuam a aumentar todos os dias. Quando é que os números mais devagar? Quem sabe? O que causou essa irrupção? Agora, quem sabe? A ferramenta principal que é usado para rastrear essa atividade é eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird), um cidadão sistema de comunicação científica patrocinada pelo Laboratório Cornell de Ornitologia, e National Audubon Society. Dê uma olhada na página web eBird; aprender mais sobre a coruja nevado, eo que está acontecendo durante essa irrupção. eBird é uma excelente ferramenta, não só para corujas nevado, mas todas as aves, mesmo as em seu quintal. Cuidado, você pode ficar viciado.
* Alagoas-Maior Ozarks Audubon SocietyPostado por Bob e Barb em 08:110 comentários:
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