I did a survey of Snowy Owls in north York Region in the afternoon of Jan.3rd and Jan.4th, 2020. Total kms covered was approx.40kms. Very little snow on ground making it very easy to pinpoint owls on the ground in fields. Weather was just above freezing and overcast. Without getting into the specifics as to locations I was able to confirm in total 19 different individuals. Almost all individuals were heavily streaked adult females or juveniles. 2 were adult males. At 3 different locations/or occasions I was able to scope 4/5 Snowies from the same viewing point simultaneously. Review with a couple of other birders/photographers that I bumped into indicated the probability of at least 4 other different individuals.
**Reminders to both Birders and Photographers to respect private property (stay off the fields) and avoid coming to close to the owls (to avoid putting stress on them or causing them to be hit by a vehicle). I say this because I had to ask a couple of Photographers to remove their vehicle that they parked on private property without permission. I spoke to the female land owner who was a little upset/concerned. Thank you and good birding, Sigi (Siegmar) Bodach, Aurora, On. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
