Date: 12/17/24 10:36 am From: DAVID PARHAM <000004014062b2df-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Short-eared Owl habitat
I agree with Patty. Airports are definitely the best place to see them. The only ones I have seen were at the Stuttgart airport, while I was on a birding trip with the Central Audubon group. These were seen mid-morning.
David Parham
Sent from my iPad
> On Dec 17, 2024, at 9:46 AM, Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> Great question, Brian. Short-eared Owls tend to hunt low over open fields (grasslands, agri fields, prairies) but roost on the ground in scrubby thicket or thick, tall grasses. The easiest way to decide where to look for them is to follow the Northern Harriers. They use the same habitat for hunting and roosting. Another option is around the lights at dusk or predawn at an airport if adequate roost habitat is available in the area. They eat moths and other large flying insects (especially those attracted to the lights) but their prominent diet consists of voles and other small mammals.
>
> Good luck. They're such cool birds to see.
>
> Patty McLean
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...>
> Date: 12/16/24 6:04 PM (GMT-06:00)
> To: <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Short-eared Owl habitat
>
> I live in Altus and would like to try to find some short eared owls around here but am not sure where to look. My understanding is that they spend most of the day roosting in a field and then then hunt over fields.
>
> My question is what kind of field should I be looking for? How tall and thick is the cover that they like to spend the day in?
>
> I would think that for hunting purposes they would use fields that don't have cover that is too tall or thick because they wouldn't be able to see the mice and holes.
>
> Thanks for any guidance, Brian
>
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