[NatureNS] Owl Survey, May 8, Earltown

From: Susann Myers <myerss@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Thu, 08 May 2014 11:04:28 -0300
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I ran my annual owl survey near Earltown last night, located between =
Truro and Tatamagouche, with Pat McKay providing excellent company and =
another pair of ears. Listening conditions were very good at most stops, =
although running water noise and/or peepers interfered at a couple.  I =
chose last night because it promised to meet most of the conditions I =
aim for: a bright moon in the sky throughout the night (occurs the week =
before the full moon, on relatively cloudless nights), and light winds =
under 10 kph  (wind was virtually absent last night except a breeze of =
about 5 kph at one stop).  I prefer to go on nights when the winds have =
been light all afternoon, so that the owls have had ample opportunity to =
hunt during the afternoon and evening, which did not occur yesterday and =
may have reduced the number of owls calling.  Otherwise, conditions were =
near-perfect.

We heard 15 owls on the route, with owls at 7 of the 10 stops.  Most =
were close enough for the calls to be very clear.  We had 3 Northern =
Saw-whets, 7 Great-horneds and 5 Barred Owls, one of which flew in to a =
branch directly above our heads and called.  We also heard 6 woodcock =
and one snipe, and had a Ruffed Grouse drumming in the bright moonlight =
at midnight.  Also, a group of Long-tailed Ducks flew over us at about =
10:30, calling.

There have been counts of over 25 owls on this route in some years, so =
15 could still be seen as a low number for this route, which runs =
through excellent habitat and has very little traffic or other =
disturbance.=20

Pat is often unavailable to come with me, so I'd like to develop a list =
of names of people who would be interested in coming along in other =
years.  I run this survey in May.  I can take up to 2 people with me on =
the survey, and anyone with reasonable hearing and an interest is =
suitable.  Owling is a wonderful experience on a good night, and I enjoy =
sharing it with others.  So if you're interested in the possibility of =
coming next year, let me know!

Cheers,
Susann Myers
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<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>I ran my annual owl survey near Earltown last =
night,=20
located between Truro and Tatamagouche, with Pat McKay providing =
excellent=20
company and another pair of ears. Listening conditions were very good at =
most=20
stops, although running water noise and/or peepers interfered at a =
couple.&nbsp;=20
I chose last night because it&nbsp;promised to meet&nbsp;most of the =
conditions=20
I aim for: a bright moon in the sky throughout the night (occurs the =
week before=20
the full moon, on relatively cloudless nights), and&nbsp;light winds =
under 10=20
kph&nbsp; (wind was virtually absent last night except a breeze of about =
5 kph=20
at one stop).&nbsp; I prefer to go on nights when the winds have been =
light all=20
afternoon, so that the owls have had ample opportunity to hunt during =
the=20
afternoon and evening, which did not occur yesterday and may have =
reduced the=20
number of owls calling.&nbsp; Otherwise, conditions were=20
near-perfect.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>We heard&nbsp;15 owls on the route, with owls =
at 7 of=20
the 10 stops.&nbsp; Most were close enough for the calls to be very =
clear.&nbsp;=20
We had 3 Northern Saw-whets, 7 Great-horneds and 5 Barred Owls, one of =
which=20
flew in to a branch directly above our heads and called.&nbsp; We also =
heard 6=20
woodcock and one snipe, and had a Ruffed Grouse drumming in the bright =
moonlight=20
at midnight.&nbsp; Also, a&nbsp;group of Long-tailed Ducks flew over us =
at about=20
10:30, calling.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>There have been counts of over 25 owls on this =
route in=20
some years, so&nbsp;15 could still be seen as a low number for this =
route, which=20
runs&nbsp;through&nbsp;excellent habitat and has very little traffic or =
other=20
disturbance.&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Pat is often unavailable to come with =
me,&nbsp;so I'd=20
like to develop a list of names of people who would be interested in =
coming=20
along in other years.&nbsp; I run this survey in May.&nbsp; I can take =
up to 2=20
people with me on the survey, and anyone with&nbsp;reasonable hearing =
and an=20
interest is suitable.&nbsp; Owling is a wonderful experience on a good =
night,=20
and I enjoy sharing it with others.&nbsp; So if you're interested in the =

possibility of coming next year, let me know!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Cheers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>Susann Myers</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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