Sure is tempting to show up to Snowy sightings with a pocket full of pet store mice!
On Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 5:43 PM, Ann Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: >>>Perhaps this is a naïve question on my part - but how can an owl die of > starvation this early in the winter? I would have thought that fields and > woodlands would be full of rodents. > > When northern owls come this far south in invasive numbers like they have > this year, it is pretty much a sign that the food source up north is not > sufficient to sustain the population. Chances are most birds are already > pretty weak when they get here so even though there are plenty of rodents > still running around, who knows how much energy they have to hunt them. > Some will probably re-energize while others are probably just too far gone > to make it. Steve had a dead one delivered to him last week I believe. I > guess the good thing is that word generally gets out when these guys are > seen and it may be a little easier to track on what's happening. > > Ann Johnson > Norwalk, IA > > > > > > > --- > Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members > make it! > --- > Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: > Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 > --- > This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership > available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. > ----- > You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected] --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
