[NatureNS] Owl Survey, Tangier

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Hello Pat et al.

   You raise an interesting question about the relationship between Saw-whe=
t Owls and clear-cutting.  Certainly it is possible that regeneration areas=
 are better for them=2C although to prove or disprove that=2C we would like=
ly need better records  of habitat change along the routes than our existin=
g protocols provide.  I suspect that the number of Saw-whets may also vary =
with the date of the survey=2C as it is a migratory species whose phenology=
 in Nova Scotia is not too well known.  For example=2C it may be that early=
 in the period=2C we are hearing migrants still on their way north=2C or bi=
rds attempting to establish territories or attract mates=2C while later we =
hear only those with established territories.  I recall one survey that Den=
nis Fast and I did in Manitoba where we had about 25-30 - five times the ma=
ximum Saw-whets that we had before or after.  I can only assume that we mus=
t have hit a migration wave that year.  Over the six-week survey period=2C =
many factors change=2C and I would encourage Greg to do a week-by-week anal=
ysis of the total numbers per species to see to what extent that is a facto=
r in the results.



Wayne P. Neily
Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia

=20

"Hast thou named all the birds without a gun?=20
Loved the wood-rose=2C and left it on its stalk?" - Ralph Waldo Emerson=2C =
1847 [Poems: Forbearance]=20

=20


> Date: Sun=2C 8 Apr 2012 16:36:00 -0300
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> From: plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca
> Subject: [NatureNS] Owl Survey=2C Tangier
>=20
>=20
> Friday night=2C with Suzanne Borkowski's help=2C I surveyed my Nocturnal=
=20
> Owl route on the Tangier to Mooseland / Moose River Gold Mines Road=2C=20
> on the Eastern Shore. We had been watching the weather and Good=20
> Friday looked like the only possible chance for this weekend. We saw=20
> very few birds on the drive down in the afternoon=2C either on land or=20
> on the water. We had hoped to see our first Great Blue Heron or=20
> Osprey of the year=2C but didn't find either. However we didn't have=20
> the time to do much searching so probably overlooked some. When we=20
> got to Tangier we were pleased to see a lot of birds in Pope's=20
> Harbour=3B a flock of about 10 Horned Grebes=2C in patchy breeding=20
> plumage=2C was a treat. There was a lively group of about 20=20
> Red-breasted Mergansers chasing one another around=2C and a pair of=20
> Surf Scoters. Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles were calling nearby.
>=20
> The route goes inland through largely coniferous forests with lots=20
> of rocky lakes and black spruce/tamarack bogs. Northern Fibre's=20
> woodchip plant is in Sheet Harbour=2C and there is a lot of active=20
> forestry here=2C including biomass harvesting. Every year we notice=20
> new clearcuts. After scouting out our route we had supper in Sheet=20
> Harbour and returned to Tangier to begin the survey half an hour=20
> after sunset. The winds had dropped to less than 10k=2C as predicted=2C=20
> and it was clear and dry. American Woodcock were peenting and=20
> winnowing overhead at our first stop=2C and panicky Robins were=20
> calling. A little while later the moon rose full. Late in the=20
> evening=2C when it was absolutely still=2C we heard a pair of Loons=20
> duetting from Bear Lake. Nonetheless I was struck by how quiet it=20
> was for most of our stops=3B most of the ditches were dry and there was=20
> no sound of running water. Perhaps because it was drier than usual=2C=20
> or perhaps it was just a bit too cool (+2/+3)=2C no Spring Peepers or=20
> Wood Frogs were calling. I have yet to hear either this year.
>=20
> However some owls were certainly announcing their presence. At the=20
> first stop we heard two Northern Saw-whets calling as soon as we got=20
> out of the car=2C and we found seven more in the course of the=20
> evening. There was at least one NSWO at eight of the ten stops=2C for=20
> nine in all. We also heard two Great Horned Owls. Most unusually=2C=20
> we did not hear a single Barred Owl. This is the tenth year that=20
> Suzanne and I have run this route=2C and during that time we have had a=20
> low of three owls=2C and a high of 16. Our ten-year average is 8.6=2C so=
=20
> this year's 11 was on the high side. This is the third year in a row=20
> that we have had a large number of Northern Saw-whets=2C in fact more=20
> of them than any other owl. I can see that in some ways=2C=20
> clear-cutting produces habitat more favourable to them than to the=20
> larger owls. Comments=2C anyone?
>=20
> Patricia L. Chalmers
> Halifax
>=20
>  		 	   		  =

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Hello Pat <EM>et al.<BR></EM><BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B You raise an interesting question about the relationship b=
etween Saw-whet Owls and clear-cutting.&nbsp=3B Certainly it is possible th=
at regeneration areas are better for them=2C although to prove or disprove =
that=2C&nbsp=3Bwe would likely need better records&nbsp=3B of habitat chang=
e along the routes than our existing protocols provide.&nbsp=3B I suspect t=
hat the number of Saw-whets may also vary with the date of the survey=2C as=
 it is a migratory species whose phenology in Nova Scotia is not too well k=
nown.&nbsp=3B For example=2C it may be that early in the period=2C we are h=
earing migrants still on their way north=2C or birds attempting to establis=
h territories or attract mates=2C while later we hear only those with estab=
lished territories.&nbsp=3B I recall one survey that Dennis Fast and I did =
in Manitoba where we had about 25-30 -&nbsp=3Bfive times the maximum Saw-wh=
ets that we had before or after.&nbsp=3B I can only assume that we must hav=
e hit a migration wave that year.&nbsp=3B Over the six-week survey period=
=2C many factors change=2C and I would encourage Greg to do a week-by-week =
analysis of the total&nbsp=3Bnumbers per species to see to what extent that=
 is a factor in the results.<BR><BR>
<P class=3DecxecxecxMsoNormal>
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man"><STRONG><FONT size=3D5></FONT