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In recent discussions on Qu=E9becOiseaux there has been some debate abou=
t the cause of these southward movements of Snowy Owls (Harfangs des neiges=
). The current thinking is that this occurs in years of lemming abundance=
=2C when a pair of owls may raise up to 11-12 young instead of 2-3. If eno=
ugh survive there is not enough room for them in winter=2C when larger terr=
itories are needed=2C many young go south=2C often arriving in the fields o=
f southern Canada in an emaciated condition=2C as they are not adapted to h=
unting in the boreal forest that they must cross. It is especially importa=
nt not to disturb them at this time of year=2C when they need to regain the=
ir strength. It appears that this was a good year for lemmings=2C and the =
person studying them had predicted that it would be a good year for Snowies=
in the south.
=20
This is quite different from the irruptions of Boreal owl species=2C such=
as the Great Grey=2C which do seem to be the result of food scarcity.
Wayne Neily Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia "In nature's infinite book =
of secrecy A little I can read." - William Shakespeare=2C 1607. > Date: Tue=
=2C 18 Nov 2008 14:02:59 -0500> From: lance.laviolette@lmco.com> Subject: [=
NatureNS] RE: Snowy Owl - Kennetcook> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> > Rollan=
d McCormick wrote:> > > Has anyone kept a record of the number of snowy owl=
s seen > > this fall? It seems to me we have had a lot more reported > > th=
an usual. A few years ago they were rather rare - this year > > they seem t=
o be more plentiful. > > There are almost always some sightings of Snowy Ow=
ls in southern Canada> in winter but there is no question that there is a m=
ajor southerly> movement of Snowy Owls this year. In addition to several in=
dividuals> being reported around Nova Scotia and Liz's report of large numb=
ers> being seen at Cape Race in Newfoundland=2C there are reports of> conce=
ntrations in Quebec along the St. Lawrence River east of Quebec> City=2C of=
birds in Ontario as far south as Lake Erie and I believe there> are also l=
arge numbers in southern Saskatchewan. > > These southern 'pushes' of north=
ern owl species=2C in this case Snowy> Owls=2C are generally the result of =
too many owls for too few small> mammals in the northern areas that they no=
rmally stay in in winter. > > All the best=2C> > Lance> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D> Lance Lavi=
olette> Glen Robertson=2C Ontario> lance.laviolette@lmco.com> =3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D>=20
_________________________________________________________________
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 =3B =3B In recent discussions on Qu=E9becOiseaux =3Bthere has =
been some debate about the cause of these southward movements of Snowy Owls=
(Harfangs des neiges). =3B The =3Bcurrent thinking is that this oc=
curs in years of lemming abundance=2C when a pair of owls may raise up to 1=
1-12 young instead of 2-3. =3B If enough survive there is not enough ro=
om for them in winter=2C when larger territories are needed=2C many young&n=
bsp=3Bgo south=2C often arriving in the fields of southern Canada in an ema=
ciated condition=2C as they are not adapted to hunting in the boreal forest=
that they must cross. =3B It is especially important not to disturb th=
em at this time of year=2C when they need to regain their strength. =3B=
It appears that this was a good year for lemmings=2C and the person studyi=
ng them had predicted that it would be a good year for Snowies in the south=
.<BR>
 =3B<BR>
 =3B This is quite different from the irruptions of Boreal owl species=
=2C such as the Great Grey=2C which do seem to be the result of food scarci=
ty.<BR><BR><BR>
<DIV>Wayne Neily <BR>Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia <BR><BR>"In nature=
's infinite book of secrecy <BR>A little I can read." - William Shakespeare=
=2C 1607. <BR><BR><BR>>=3B Date: Tue=2C 18 Nov 2008 14:02:59 -0500<BR>>=
=3B From: lance.laviolette@lmco.com<BR>>=3B Subject: [NatureNS] RE: Snowy=
Owl - Kennetcook<BR>>=3B To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>>=3B <BR>>=
=3B Rolland McCormick wrote:<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B >=3B Has anyone kept a =
record of the number of snowy owls seen <BR>>=3B >=3B this fall? It see=
ms to me we have had a lot more reported <BR>>=3B >=3B than usual. A fe=
w years ago they were rather rare - this year <BR>>=3B >=3B they seem t=
o be more plentiful. <BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B There are almost always some sig=
htings of Snowy Owls in southern Canada<BR>>=3B in winter but there is no=
question that there is a major southerly<BR>>=3B movement of Snowy Owls =
this year. In addition to several individuals<BR>>=3B being reported arou=
nd Nova Scotia and Liz's report of large numbers<BR>>=3B being seen at Ca=
pe Race in Newfoundland=2C there are reports of<BR>>=3B concentrations in=
Quebec along the St. Lawrence River east of Quebec<BR>>=3B City=2C of bi=
rds in Ontario as far south as Lake Erie and I believe there<BR>>=3B are =
also large numbers in southern Saskatchewan. <BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B These so=
uthern 'pushes' of northern owl species=2C in this case Snowy<BR>>=3B Owl=
s=2C are generally the result of too many owls for too few small<BR>>=3B =
mammals in the northern areas that they normally stay in in winter. <BR>>=
=3B <BR>>=3B All the best=2C<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B Lance<BR>>=3B =3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
<BR>>=3B Lance Laviolette<BR>>=3B Glen Robertson=2C Ontario<BR>>=3B l=
ance.laviolette@lmco.com<BR>>=3B =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR>>=3B <BR></DIV><br /><hr />=
Turn email contacts into buddies=2C and you could win. <a href=3D'http://ww=
w.messengerbuddies.ca/?ocid=3DBUDDYOMATICENCA22' target=3D'_new'>Enter tod