After reporting the possible sighting of Short-eared owls in Ramsey Cty, I received a number of helpful responses and inquiries. Steve Weston stopped by the store late last night before his frog survey and we pulled up a map of the location on the web. It was then that Steve informed me that it was Ramsey township, in Anoka Cty that we were looking at. Much better habitat, but not good enough... Steve enlisted a fellow birder who lives in the area to follow up on the report. Erika Sitz and her husband went to the property last night and had a few looks at the bird in question. The owl was found sitting on a large tree limb, and photos were taken. The lighting was poor as it was getting on to dusk. Flight/hunting behavior was not observed that evening, nor did it vocalize. The photos were blurry. A positive ID could not be made, though initial physical impressions allowed for the possibility of S-e. Erika played various owl calls from a Stokes audio field guide for the home owners. They ID'ed the S-e as what they had been hearing. A return visit this morning yielded better observation of the bird. Unfortunately hopes of a record S-e owl have been dashed. Hunting behavior (hugging the wooded edges) and better lighting revealed a juvenile Great Horned owl. Maybe the vocalizations that were heard by the home owners were made by the young owls begging. Even so, a family of GHO in your back yard isn't exactly "chopped liver" as Erika pointed out. Steve reminded us that GHO have been hit especially hard by West Nile. We need to keep an eye on our local populations and appreciate their presence regardless of how common and wide spread the species is. Thank you to everyone who entertained the possibility and to those who suffer my improbabilities with candor.
Kelly Larson Feathered Friend Wild Bird Store 3rd Annual Great River Birding Festival 2nd Annual Great River Morel Festival 2nd Annual Great River Eagle Spot Festival Red Wing, MN 651-267-1001 Visit Our Website http://www.thefeatheredfriend.com
