[mou] Burrowing Owls at Glacial Ridge, Polk County
Tom_Will@fws.gov
Tom_Will@fws.gov
Sat, 29 Apr 2006 08:11:55 -0500
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On Thursday, 27 April, there were at least two, and possibly three,
Burrowing Owls present at Glacial Ridge NWR in Polk County. One of the=
owls was seen sitting beside a pocket gopher mound for a half-hour or s=
o
before flying off and engaging a second owl. What I believe was a thir=
d
owl appeared briefly during the altercation, but the owls were several
hundred meters in the distance at this point. The identification of th=
e
third owl is based on a brief observation of flight pattern and very
distant silhouette. The first two owls were well observed. So the goo=
d
news is that at least two Burrowing Owls are present, and their behavio=
r
suggests an interest in sticking around.
The bad news is that the owls are not particularly accessible. At this=
time, large portions of what will eventually become Glacial Ridge Natio=
nal
Wildlife Refuge are undergoing wetland restoration, are being burned, o=
r
are being seeded to native grass by Nature Conservancy restoration
ecologists. The owls were on a portion of Nature Conservancy property =
that
will shortly be prepared for seeding as short grass prairie. The
restoration might displace the owls temporarily, but the area is vast, =
and
one would expect that the owls will move around and return.
Perhaps the best way to see the Burrowing Owls would be to respond to
Jeanie Joppru's 4/28 email requesting survey help at Glacial Ridge.
Otherwise, to look for the owls, you will probably need to do some
cross-country walking... water-resistant footwear is recommended.
Drive west on County Road 45 from where it leaves US 2 in Mentor. Afte=
r
crossing State Route 32, drive 3.3 miles. The owls were about a mile t=
o a
mile-half north of the railroad tracks that parallel CR 45. The first =
owl
had been perched on an area of higher ground beyond the visible large p=
iles
of rocks in the area )which are on lower, previosly tilled ground). Th=
e
area of higher ground is one of the "ridges" in the system, but these
differences can be subtle when seen across the entire landscape. One c=
ould
try scanning for the owls from the railroad grade (be careful, there ar=
e
trains--long ones), but probably one would need to start walking north
(with just a slight westerly component) to find them. Make sure you ar=
e
west of the large ditch that runs north about 3.1 miles plus from the R=
oute
32 intersection (this ditch is also not necessarily easy to spot from t=
he
road unless you are right on top of it).
Also present on Thursday was a flock of 500+ Lapland Longspurs, largely=
males in full breeding plumage. And there were lots of Prairie Chicken=
s,
Marbled Godwits, Wilson's Snipe (no phalaropes that day), waterfowl,
cranes, Northern Harriers, and a Peregrine Falcon. This is going to be=
one
spectacular area when restorations are complete!
=
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<p>On Thursday, 27 April, there were at least two, and possibly three, =
Burrowing Owls present at Glacial Ridge NWR in Polk County. One of the=
owls was seen sitting beside a pocket gopher mound for a half-hour or =
so before flying off and engaging a second owl. What I believe was a t=
hird owl appeared briefly during the altercation, but the owls were sev=
eral hundred meters in the distance at this point. The identification =
of the third owl is based on a brief observation of flight pattern and =
very distant silhouette. The first two owls were well observed. So th=
e good news is that at least two Burrowing Owls are present, and their =
behavior suggests an interest in sticking around.<br>
<br>
The bad news is that the owls are not particularly accessible. At this=
time, large portions of what will eventually become Glacial Ridge Nati=
onal Wildlife Refuge are undergoing wetland restoration, are being burn=
ed, or are being seeded to native grass by Nature Conservancy restorati=
on ecologists. The owls were on a portion of Nature Conservancy proper=
ty that will shortly be prepared for seeding as short grass prairie. T=
he restoration might displace the owls temporarily, but the area is vas=
t, and one would expect that the owls will move around and return.<br>
<br>
Perhaps the best way to see the Burrowing Owls would be to respond to J=
eanie Joppru's 4/28 email requesting survey help at Glacial Ridge.<br>
<br>
Otherwise, to look for the owls, you will probably need to do some cros=
s-country walking... water-resistant footwear is recommended.<br>
<br>
Drive west on County Road 45 from where it leaves US 2 in Mentor. Afte=
r crossing State Route 32, drive 3.3 miles. The owls were about a mile=
to a mile-half north of the railroad tracks that parallel CR 45. The =
first owl had been perched on an area of higher ground beyond the visib=
le large piles of rocks in the area )which are on lower, previosly till=
ed ground). The area of higher ground is one of the "ridges"=
in the system, but these differences can be subtle when seen across th=
e entire landscape. One could try scanning for the owls from the railr=
oad grade (be careful, there are trains--long ones), but probably one w=
ould need to start walking north (with just a slight westerly component=
) to find them. Make sure you are west of the large ditch that runs no=
rth about 3.1 miles plus from the Route 32 intersection (this ditch is =
also not necessarily easy to spot from the road unless you are right on=
top of it).<br>
<br>
Also present on Thursday was a flock of 500+ Lapland Longspurs, largely=
males in full breeding plumage. And there were lots of Prairie Chicke=
ns, Marbled Godwits, Wilson's Snipe (no phalaropes that day), waterfowl=
, cranes, Northern Harriers, and a Peregrine Falcon. This is going to =
be one spectacular area when restorations are complete!<br>
<br>
</body></html>=
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