Looking for short-eared owls

Folks around the county are getting a great opportunity to get a good look at an avian visitor that's only seasonally spotted in the skies over Hancock County. This year, the bird's presence was discovered by members of the Hancock County Naturalists and that initial sighting has drawn a lot of interests of many bird aficionados. This winter transient is the day-hunting short-eared owl. It has been several years since I spotted short-ears hunting the Conservation Reserve fields around my home. I remember first confusing the bird with another day hunting bird, the northern harrier, also known as a marsh hawk. The two birds share hunting habits and habitats and appear similar at first glance. That's why you always give birds that second glance! The differences then become much more obvious. Did I say that the short-eared owl is a day hunter? While it's true that most owls are active during the night, hunting prey with their enhanced vision and silently launching their deadly surprise attacks from the darkened sky; short-ears have a different approach. They prefer hunting the twilight evening hours but will often begin their food search during daylight. Their hunting strategies are also different than their night-hunting cousins. The short-ear's tactics are tied to its favorite prey, the meadow vole. Voles look like overfed field mice and predators from foxes to felines and red-tails to Kestrels view them as fuzzy sausages. Voles are active both day and night and their populations have been estimated in excess of 200 per acre when the habitat favors them. This makes them the perfect meal for sky-hunters. The short-ear flies low and what sometimes appears to be at a leisurely pace. Don't let that fool you, the birds are ready to drop on any vole panicked by its sudden overhead appearance. The short-ear's reflexes are so quick that the vole has little chance for evasive maneuvers. There are recent reports coming from across Ohio that indicate that short-eared owls are definitely on the prowl across the Buckeye State. Of course, there are many potential owl watching opportunities around Ohio's wildlife areas and parks. The key is open space and standing grasses, not manicured lawns or golf courses — they'll leave those to wintering Canada geese. While short-eared owls are sometimes seen hunting target rich environments in what appear to be flocks, that isn't the case. They're solitary birds which are extremely territorial towards others of their kind. They're just drawn to quality feeding areas. Whenever two owls' paths cross, they'll let loose with a barking chatter and strafe each other like fighter planes. Recently, local photographer and birder Scott Bechtel even caught a short-ear and harrier involved in a territorial spat. Short-eared owls are also one of the most cosmopolitan of birds, inhabiting at least seasonally nearly all of North America, South America, much of Europe and Eurasia, and can even be found on the Galapagos, Hawaiian and Caribbean Islands. If you're new to the birding game, what are you looking for to identify that gliding short-eared owl? First of all, they're fairly large birds about the size of a common crow or Coopers Hawk. Their deep-reaching wingbeats are often compared to a giant moth and appear effortless yet powerful. While they do have ear tufts, don't expect to spot them — really, they are called short-eared owls. The bird has a tawny-brown coloration, a white face, and dark eye patches. To look into their eyes is to see a fierce wildness personified. They will sometimes land to rest in the area that they're hunting and if you're lucky, you'll have a camera ready — that is if you can spot them once they've landed and taken advantage of their feathered camouflage. According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the short-eared owl is a species of special interest. "Short-eared owls are primarily a migrant and winter visitor to Ohio … Breeding pairs of short-ear owls have never been common in Ohio as it is at the extreme southern periphery of their range. The best strategy for observing these fascinating owls is to visit one of their traditional wintering areas, such as Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in Wyandot County or The Wilds in Muskingum County." You can learn more about Ohio's owls by downloading the free Owls of Ohio Field Guide, published by the Division of Wildlife. You can do a computer search or visit wildohio.gov. The owls are best spotted towards the end of the day. Cruise roads adjacent to large open grassy expanses, marshes, and even the edges of airports. Nearby areas that are worth checking also include Andreoff Wildlife Area in Hardin County near Patterson, Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve south of Kenton, and the conservation fields across from Hancock Park District's Litzenberg Memorial Woods, west of Findlay. "An owl sound wandered along the road with me. I didn't hear it--I breathed it into my ears." — William Stafford Along the way The Division of Wildlife wants you to know that winter is an excellent time to watch for bald eagles. Bald eagles begin courtship and nest-building activity in January and February, making now one of the best times to view them. Ohio's bald eagle population has increased dramatically in recent years, with an estimated 910 nesting pairs statewide in 2023. Look for eagles near their preferred aquatic habitats such as rivers, wetlands, and lakes. The absence of foliage makes winter a great time to spot eagles improving their large nests along waterways. Ohio eagles typically lay eggs and incubate in February and March, nesting in large trees such as sycamores, oaks, and cottonwoods. Meanwhile, frozen lakes and rivers force the birds to expand their hunting grounds in search of fish and carrion, their foods of choice. Winter provides viewing opportunities for immature bald eagles as well as adults. The white head and tail of the adult bird contrasts sharply with its dark body, a distinctive feature used to identify the species. An immature bird is more difficult to identify and has a mottled brown and white plumage for four or five years before attaining the recognizable field marks of an adult. A good pair of binoculars or even a spotting scope is recommended to spot birds at long distances. Lake Erie and other large waterbodies host the highest number of eagles because of easy access to food resources. Excellent viewing opportunities can be found at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (Lucas and Ottawa counties), Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area (Sandusky County), Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Lucas and Ottawa counties), Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area (Trumbull County), and Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Wyandot and Marion counties). In southern Ohio, look near major rivers such as the Muskingum, Hocking, Scioto, and Great Miami. As with many of Ohio's native wildlife species, bald eagles require specific habitat conditions to thrive. Bald eagle habitat protection and research is funded by the sale of bald eagle conservation license plates, income tax check-off donations to the Endangered Species and Wildlife Diversity Fund, and sales of the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp. Similarly, revenue derived from hunting and fishing license sales helps the Division of Wildlife expand wildlife areas and manage habitats for eagles and other wildlife. Step outside • Do you have a favorite four-legged hunting buddy? If so, how would you like a chance to capture a memory and see it appear in the Division of Wildlife's 2024/2025 Ohio Hunting Regulations Digest? The division is holding a photo contest to give you just that chance. The photo contest is open now and submissions may be made through Wednesday, January 31, 2024. You will need to fill out this form, https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/wildlife/general/Hunting+Dog+Photo+Contest+Entry+Form.pdf, attach your photos, and send it to wildlifephotos@dnr.ohio.gov. Good luck! • Tomorrow: 50-Bird Trap Shoot, Fostoria United Sportsmen, 1324 N. U.S. 23 Fostoria. Practice traps open at 11 a.m., program at noon. Contact Danny Bryant: 567-278-1956. • Thursday: Trap and Skeet Practice, open to the public. 4 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. • Jan. 20: Strengthening the Dad/Daughter Relationship 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A workshop for male caregivers and their girls in grades 6-8. Join Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) for a fun and empowering event for girl dads and their daughters to strengthen connection and communication. Adults learn simple strategies for empowering and communicating with their girls while they get to meet others of their own age and interests. ROX, 1335 Dublin Road, Suite 18A, Columbus. Cost of event: $50. Visit: www.rulingourexperiences.com. Contact sarah.schott@dnr.ohio.gov for pre-registration/information. • Jan. 21: 50-Bird Trap Shoot, practice opens 11:30 a.m., program begins 12:30 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. Public welcome. Contact: Sandy Thomas, sandthm@aol.com Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com