BULLETIN OF Flyer THE ONTARIO BARN RECOVERY Spring 2004 Volume 4 TEAM

American Badger and Recovery Updates Ron Gould, Species-at-Risk Biologist, Ministry of Natural Resources Did You Know? Another year of monitoring efforts Minnesota may provide a working confirm the persistence of badgers Southern Ontario and by the American Badger and Barn example of what habitat standards and/or potential habitats. Report- the Fraser Valley in Owl Recovery Teams has further need to be attained to retain badg- ing efforts from the general public B.C. are the northern highlighted the many challenges ers on this side of the border. The continue to be the most valuable facing fauna in Ontario’s expansion of monitoring and re- fringes of North sources of confirmed sightings in fragmented landscape. These sig- covery efforts into northwest On- the province, proving outreach American Barn Owl nature species of both natural and tario is an important compliment to efforts to date have made a differ- habitat. agricultural grasslands, which once ongoing work in the heavily devel- ence and will need to be main- dominated many areas of the prov- oped southwest. tained. ince, have appeared to be on the brink of extirpation over the past Updated Recovery Strategy: Barn Owl Research and Monitor- few decades The fact that a few ing Efforts: Inside this still continue to remain brings Funding was secured in 2003-04 to hope to the many partners working revise the draft American Badger The Ontario Barn Owl Recovery issue: together as part of provincial Recovery Strategy, which has Team has been working in partner- monitoring and recovery pro- detailed approaches for research, ship with Studies Canada in grams. Perhaps the biggest chal- monitoring and stewardship efforts 2003-04 to conduct grassland indi- American Badger 1 lenge, however, is how to regain across the province. Applying this cator species surveys that are being and Barn Owl sizable habitats in a region where ‘how to’ recovery document will used to identify concentrations of Recovery Update competition with other land uses is help to fill sizable knowledge gaps potential habitat in the Long Point that will further enhance our Small Scale Con- 2 a limiting factor toward sustain- Region. With the occurrence of able populations Both the Badger knowledge of this rare, nomadic Barn so rare in the province, servation on the Recovery Team and Barn Owl grassland and define surveys of similar over-wintering Farm Recovery Team have been work- areas of ‘critical habitat’ to support raptors such as Short-eared Owls valuable planning and protection Protecting Farm 3 ing diligently to develop ap- and a variety of grassland breeding initiatives. The American Badger have become valuable tools Streams proaches that will help ensure both species have the best chance to Recovery Strategy will be submit- to outline important outreach and ted for provincial and federal re- The Third Season 4 survive across their historical monitoring focus areas for the range, by combining scientific view in spring 2004, but many Barn Owl project. There were a of Song techniques and local outreach ef- approaches are already being im- small number of Barn Owl sight- forts to produce progressive recov- plemented and are proving to be ing reports received by the recov- Agro-Economics 6 ery strategies for both of these very successful. ery team in 2003, including one of Tallgrass grassland predators. confirmed record near the Badger Sightings Reports in 2003: Pickering Nuclear Generating Surveying 6 American Badger Recovery Team Station in late fall. Outreach and monitoring efforts Short-eared Owls formed: led to three confirmed sighting A number of museums have pre- Ontario’s American Badger Re- reports in 2003. Unfortunately served Barn Owls in their collec- Monitoring Barn 7 covery Team had its first meeting two individuals were found road- tions from the 19th and early 20th Owl Nest Boxes in October 2003, expanding valu- killed along Highway 3 in Norfolk century. These specimens are able partnerships that will help to County, and another badger was valuable to the Recovery Team as Barn Owl Nest 8 spread the story of the badger observed alive and well in a field they may be able to provide valu- Box Monitoring across the province. Although along the Brant-Waterloo County able baseline genetic information Log nearly all historical badger records line. The trend of road-killed ob- about Barn Owls that lived here have come from the southwest, servations is a concern to the Re- during early

little research has been done in the covery Team, but does confirm the For more information settlement. Fort Francis area of Ontario where persistence of the species in some contact us at some badgers have been seen in areas. More detailed badger sur- (Continued on [email protected] or recent years. The apparent secu- veys will be conducted in areas of next page) visit us at www.bsc-eoc.org/ rity of the species in neighboring recent sightings in an effort to regional/barnowl/html Page 2 Grasslands Flyer

Anyone who has information on Barn Owl Barn Owl Recovery Strategy: deserved recognition to the plight of these rare sightings or preserved specimens is encour- grassland predators, and should highlight the aged to contact the Ontario Barn Owl Recov- Input from the provincial review process has species to potential funders of research, moni- ery Team using the information provided be- introduced some potential efficiencies to the toring and habitat stewardship work. low. variety of recovery approaches developed for Barn Owls and their habitat. Consultation will Although there is much to be done on On- be initiated in 2004 with other grassland based tario’s landscape to bring Badgers and Barn recovery teams in an effort to develop and Owls back to healthy levels in the province, nurture common tools to enhance funding and early efforts have shown that the public does research capacities among recovery teams care about preserving these aspects of our with common goals. The revision of the On- grassland heritage. Working to monitor the tario Barn Owl Recovery Strategy and devel- status of such rare and secretive species will Barn Owl Nest Box Program: opment of a Recovery Action Plan will be continue to be a challenge in the coming conducted in 2004 with funding from the years, and so continued development of part- The recovery team has been working with OMNR Species at Risk Program. nerships with organizations, volunteers and landowners and other partners to build and landowners will be critical to our success. install hundreds of Barn Owl nest boxes Badgers and Barn Owls given “Endangered” Hopefully the recovery strategies for both throughout their historical range in Ontario. status in Ontario: species will help research, monitoring, out- Although no Barn Owls have been confirmed reach and habitat stewardship efforts function to be using these boxes yet, regular monitoring In an effort to provide planning protection and in harmony with each other and most impor- has been difficult. The Recovery Team will increased funding recognition to a growing tantly, achieve results. be working with landowners in 2004 to moni- number of species in Ontario, including tor existing nest boxes, and will provide boxes American Badgers and Barn Owls, the Minis- Anyone with recent or historical information as well as installation and monitoring instruc- try of Natural Resources has proposed a new on Badgers or Barn Owls in Ontario is encour- tion to those interested in getting nest boxes “Species at Risk List” which has defined both aged to contact Ron Gould, chair of American for their properties. More information on species as “Endangered, not regulated” in Badger and Barn Owl recovery teams, at (519) Barn Owls and nest boxes can be found at 2004. Although these species are not pro- 773-4745. www.bsc-eoc.org/regional/barnowl.html tected under the provincial Endangered Spe- cies Act, the “uplisting” will provide well Thanks for your efforts! Small Scale Conservation Practices on The Farm Bernt Solymar, EarthTramper Consulting Inc.

Implementing conservation practices on your planted between cropping cycles not only re- produce bountiful crops. A healthy soil requires farm has many positive results. Better soils and duce wind erosion but provide additional or- good water holding capacity, structure, poros- water quality are just 2 benefits. The benefits of ganic matter for the soil when ploughed under. ity, tilth, organic matter, soil microorganisms, conservation practices are usually additive – for Healthier soils lead to higher yields and higher and a balanced pH. Increasing organic matter example, cropland protected by contouring is returns. Windbreaks or shelter breaks reduce in soils is paramount to soil health. Techniques even better protected if crop residues, or wind erosion by disrupting the wind flow and include cover cropping, no-till, leaving crop mulches, are left on the soil surface. Below are slowing the wind down. One or more rows of residues on the field, adding composted ma- some basic conservation practices, which are trees/shrubs planted in a row perpendicular to nure, and mulching. applicable to you as a farmer. prevailing winds also help prevent crop desic- cation in hot, dry summers. Stabilizing streambanks – streambank erosion 1. Stopping sheet and rill erosion – leaving occurs when protective vegetation along the stream bank is lost. Manage livestock access to cover on the land when not being cropped halts 4. Managing nutrients– excess nutrients streams and provide off-stream watering, in- sheet and rill erosion from heavy rainfall events applied in fertilizer can actually harm crop stall water crossings, place rock riprap on the and rapid snow melts. A good crop residue plants by encouraging too much vegetative stream bank where long term durability is re- program provides cover for the soil at critical growth and limit other micronutrient uptake. quired, and plant grass filter strips. times of the year, improves soil tilth, adds or- Excess nitrate in ground water can cause health ganic matter and will save you time, money and problems, promotes algal growth and is toxic to

labour. some aquatic life. Managing the amount, place- ment, timing, and handling of nutrients is a The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food common-sense strategy that will help the envi- 2. Stopping small gullies – gully erosion (OMAF), together with Agriculture and Agri- ronment and your pocket book.. along and across steep roads and field margins Food Canada, has published a series of Best are a common problem for landowners. A vari- Management Practices booklets including: ety of grade stabilization structures can be built 5. Managing pests – are toxic to Water Management, Soil Management, Nutri- within gullies to control erosion. They act to the applicator, to wildlife and can be detrimen- ent Management, Integrated Pest Management, reduce the grade, or slope of the gully channel, tal to food webs. Judicious use of least-toxic No Till:Making it Work, and Fish and Wildlife to slow water. Examples include chute spill- pesticides under integrated pest management Habitat Management. This publications can be ways, drop structures, and grassed waterways. programs helps ensure they are applied only obtained through local OMAf and government when really required. Understanding pest biol- information centres or by ordering from OMAF 3. Reducing impacts of wind – crop residues ogy, monitoring population trends, and the use on-line at: of economic thresholds saves money too. http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/prod left on the soil after harvest and over the winter ucts/product.html months will substantially reduce soil erosion by wind, especially on lighter soils. Cover crops, 6. Improving soil quality – healthy soils Volume 4 Page 3

Protecting Farm Streams Todd Leuty, Agro-forestry Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Providing vegetative buffers for streams is ample orchard trees should not be used as that can be used for decorative purposes. equally important for all types of agricul- stream buffer vegetation where pest- Foods of wild berries or wild edible herbs ture. Vegetative stream buffers help protect controlling sprays, fertilizers and herbicides can be collected for personal use. There is water resources. They provide shade to are going to be applied. Best management nothing wrong with utilizing stream buffers moderate stream temperatures and pro- practices for horticultural crops are not the in innovative or profitable ways on private mote healthy aquatic ecosystems. same as BMPs of protective stream buffers. land as long as water quality and protection of the aquatic ecosystem is given a high Stream buffers should be as naturalized as Having a protective buffer established will priority. possible. A naturally vegetated width of create a separation distance and a barrier three metres to the water's edge can provide between agricultural activities and natural Native vegetation for stream buffers an effective buffering distance. In fact, the waterways. Mature vegetated buffers can Nutrient Management Regulations require also act as windbreaks to protect developing Unprotected streams usually need a bit of a permanent vegetated buffer at least three crops from turbulent wind to boost crop help to get new buffers established and will metres wide on any farm that is required to yields and reduce wind erosion of exposed require planting. It is ideal to have a diverse complete a nutrient management plan. soils. Orchard situations may require taller selection of native plant species in vege- Once established, buffer plants are typically and thicker vegetation along stream buffers tated stream buffers. Eastern white cedar, self-sustaining native species that require than vegetable crop situations due to the black spruce and white spruce are good little maintenance. Widening vegetative difference in the types of sprayers used to stream buffer conifers that will provide a buffers beyond 3 metres to the water will apply pest control products. barrier of evergreen foliage. Buffers may provide additional protection of water re- also include species like red osier dogwood, sources and increase the amount of diverse Vegetation within stream buffers however, highbush cranberry, willows, speckled al- naturalized area. should not be so thick that air movement is der, silver maple and other tree and shrub blocked. Too little air movement can lead to species that associate naturally along Catching crop nutrients formation of frost pockets and freezing streams and ditches. injury to sensitive adjacent crops during Preventing unintended movement of agri- spring. Good air drainage will lead to faster In wild settings, herbaceous species include cultural nutrients can be difficult where drying of horticultural crops after rains to northern bugleweed, common skullcap, excessive rain or random heavy downpours reduce crop disease problems. Excessively purple-stemmed aster, lance-leaved aster, can wash nutrients out of the rooting zone thick vegetation can be thinned as neces- spotted joe-pye weed and many more. of crops. At the soil surface, rainwater can sary to promote better airflow through Grasses, sedges, aquatic plants, horsetails, carry valuable soil and nutrients by over- natural vegetation of stream buffers. clubmosses, ferns, bryophytes (liverworts land flow. Trees, shrubs and grasses and mosses) also contribute to create highly planted along streams as buffers will act to diverse interactive plant ecosystems within catch eroding sediments and can effectively stream buffers. absorb nutrients that may be escaping from the field. Farm windbreaks and shelterbelts Conservation Authorities and local MNR

not associated with stream buffers will also Stewardship Councils can provide a wealth help to purify ground water by taking up of knowledge and experience and they are nutrients from soil moisture. always eager to share ideas. Ask a few ex- perienced farmers for some well-rounded Within the soil, nutrient-laden water can insight into the benefits of having healthy

enter tile drains or flow horizontally along stream buff Conservation Authorities and slopes of compacted soil layers or bedrock Figure 1. Fruit trees are planted right to the edge of this local MNR Stewardship Councils can pro- that may underlie the crop-root zone. Tile stream bank, compromising the protection of the waterway. A vide a wealth of knowledge and experience wider buffer plus addition of conifers and taller shrubs would drains flowing underneath vegetated improve protection for this stream from nutrient applications and they are always eager to share ideas. stream buffers to the outlet should consist and orchard spray drift. All spray applications should be Ask a few experienced farmers for some

of continuous non-perforated pipe to pre- directed away from protective stream buffers. well-rounded insight into the benefits of vent plugging by roots. Nutrients that enter Buffers can grow useful products having healthy stream buffers. watercourses from tile drains can be effec- tively cleaned by the presence of natural Stream buffers can be utilized in unique vegetation growing along the stream and by ways to provide useful products. For exam- aquatic plants that inhabit healthy streams. ple, eastern white cedar can be grown and harvested for posts and rails in a sustain- Spray drift and wind management able fashion. Other hardwoods that are tolerant of wet soil or prefer drained low Efforts should be made to prevent spray lands such as black maple or in southern drift of fungicides and insecticides from regions, tulip-tree and black walnut, can contacting vegetation in natural stream also be grown long term for specific wood buffers. Drift of herbicide can kill or burn markets. naturalized vegetation in buffers and should Figure 2. Five years since planting, a vegetative stream buffer be prevented. Horticultural plants, for ex- with diverse species of eastern white cedar, spruce, grasses, Stream buffers can provide plant cuttings shrubs and hardwood trees. Volume 4 Page 4

The Third Season of Song Mary Gartshore, Biologist and Naturalist, Pterophylla Native Plants, Norfolk Co.

The months August through October I pean Katydid (Metrioptera roeselii) that lar familiar chirping. Several ground now call the third season of song, as all begins to sing in late June. These crickets sing a variety of buzzes and trills, the singing insects fill the day and night are brown with an inverse yellow horse- including Eunomobius carolinus, Al- with their wonderful sound diversity. At shoe on the thorax. They have a long soft lonemobius griseus, A. fasciatus, A. al- one time I just tuned out song in buzz and sing in thick grass. lardi, Neonemobius palustris. Say's favour of birds and . All that Bush (Anaxipha exigua) is a busy changed when a friend gave me a copy of Just as dusk falls you will hear the little cricket found in wetlands on Silky a 1957 LP that identified singing insects. “coneheads” start up in the long grass Dogwood and Fowl Manna Grass. It is Now I had a new challenge. Armed with and weeds. The Sword-bearing Cone- brown with antennae more than five various insect guides, including the head (Neoconocephalus ensiger) is com- times longer than its body. It runs up rather hefty The Grasshoppers, Crickets, mon. It is a large elongate green katydid and down stems and across and under- and Related Insects of Canada and Adja- with a pointed head. The female has a neath leaf surfaces. Its song is an irritat- cent Regions, I attempted to put names very long ovipositor that gives this spe- ingly high tinkling ring. It sometimes and faces to all those sounds. I have not cies its name. Their chorus sounds like turns up at lights at night. It is rare in completely succeeded but solving the maracas rapidly, but softly, shaking. Two Norfolk and becomes progressively more mystery of just one sound inspired the other little coneheads live in grassy common towards Windsor. name of our farm "Pterophylla". The meadows - the short-winged Conocepha- Northern True Katydid or Pterophylla lus brevipennis and the longer-winged The tree crickets are one of my favourite camellifolia is North America's loudest Conocephalus fasciatus. Both are green groups. These little jewels sing with their singing katydid (Fig.1). It ranges into with darker stripes. The songs are a very wings held vertically above the body (Fig southwestern Ontario to as far east as soft dry ticking or lisping. 3). Females approach a singing male, Turkey Point and north to Regional Road climb onto the male's back and drink #1. It is a tree-dwelling stationary beast In the heat of the day the Common nectar from two little glands under the whose wings form a sounding chamber. Meadow Grasshopper (Orchelimum vul- male's wings. This extra food is thought The raucous call sounds like "rant-rant- gare) sounds like a windup toy - a dis- to enhance the production of eggs. The rant", described locally as a treefrog or tinct 'tic-tic-tic-tic bzzzzzzip'. These pair then may mate, but not always, she backache bug. In hot years adults mature grasshoppers are very wary and as you may steal his nectar and fly off before quickly and start singing at dusk around approach they hide behind their song coupling. The speed of insect song is August 1st but in cold years (e.g. 1992) perch. related to temperature - the higher the they start later such as Sept 1st. temperature the faster the song. None is Several large green katydids inhabit more predictable than the Temperature Singing insects in Ontario can be divided bushes and trees. These include the Ob- Cricket. Groups often sing in unison, so into two major taxonomic groups: (1) long-winged Katydid (Amblycorypha once you can hear the rhythm try this fun Cicadas (Homoptera), and (2) crickets, oblongifolia) whose song can be ren- experiment: Count the number of pulses grasshoppers and katydids (). dered 'squeeezit' or 'katydid'. The fork- in 15 seconds and add this to 40 and you Only one cicada is common, the Dogday tailed katydids (Scudderia spp.) sing only will have an accurate temperature read- Cicada (Tibicen canicularis) here. How- occasionally just at dusk with 'sheeef, ing in degrees Fahrenheit. ever, due perhaps to hotter summers, a sheeef, sheef ' sounds. They are difficult second larger cicada (Tibicen linnei) is to locate and even harder to identify but Now when I quaff a beer in my back yard becoming more common, once occurring at least six species are expected here. I can hear five tree cricket species singing only along the Lake Erie coast at Turkey Though most katydids are green, at least at once. It was not always so. By creat- Point, Rondeau, and Pelee Island, but one exceptionally rare katydid, the Davis' ing diverse natural habitat in your garden has moved significantly inland in recent Shield-bearer (Atlanticus monticola), is you can enjoy insect music on those years. The first has a song that starts low gray and lives in oak savannas. Its soft warm August nights. If you create con- and rises into a high-pitched whine be- trill at dusk gives away its hiding place. venient pathways through your natural fore tailing off abruptly. T linnei has a The is flightless but can adminis- area you can quietly locate the singers in monotonous rattle that tails off slowly. ter a fierce bite if roughly handled (Fig. the foliage. It helps to have two people 2). with flashlights. Position yourselves at The order of Orthoptera includes a large two different locations and shine a beam number of grasshoppers, crickets, and The large black crickets that often insinu- where you think each of you hear the katydids. Many sing loudly, others ate themselves into houses are Field sound - the insect will be located near stridulate softly during courtship. I will Crickets. There are two species, one ac- where the beams cross. mainly deal with the loud singers. The tive in the Spring (Gryllus veletis) and very first of the year, other than the one in the Fall (Gryllus pennsylvanicus). spring singing Field Cricket, is the Euro- Both are very similar and sing an irregu- Table 1. Below are some helpful characteristics for finding and identifying tree-crickets.

Common Latin Diagnostics Habitat Song

Temperature Oecanthus ful- green with broad shrubs and small continuous low Cricket toni whitish wings trees along edges drer-drer- drer .... (nightfall in Disney mov- ies) Snowy Tree Oecanthus green with narrow shrubs trees, in single low Cricket niveus wings and a ' J' on forest, edge drirrrrrr first antennal seg-

Pine Tree Oecanthus pini green with rufous pines Clear continuous Cricket on thorax unpulsed ringing Black-horned Oecanthus nic- green with black tall weeds and Bell-like long, tree Cricket ricornis antenna and legs shrubs in fields pulsed trilling Four-spotted Oecanthus green, four spots on tall weeds bell-like long Tree Cricket quadripunc- first two antennal trilling softer tatus segments than above Captured males crickets and katydids can be held temporarily in a terrarium so you can become more familiar with the animal and its song. Handle gently or avoid direct contact to prevent injury to the animal. Be sure to provide food, perches and mist for water.

The internet is a very useful source of materials for honing your identification skills. The fastest track to the species is to type the scientific name into your favourite search engine. I have provided these in brackets above. With some work you will be able to locate photographs, descriptions and sound recordings. From this you may be able to create a convenient electronic field guide. The following is one of the best web sites, containing maps, photographs and songs for North American species: http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/

Fig. 1. The Northern True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia) a truly Caro- Fig 3. Four-spotted Tree-cricket linian species which is seldom seen (Oecanthus quadripunctatus) sings though it is a very loud singing katydid with wings held vertically and usually (Michael Patrikeev). on a leaf that provides additional am- plification (Michael Patrikeev).

Fig. 2. Davis' Shield-bearer (Atlanticus monticola) a very rare savanna species known only from Turkey Point, Backus Woods, and St. Williams (Bob Hard- wood). Volume 4 Page 6 Agro-economic Applications of Tallgrass Prairie Species Bernt Solymar, EarthTramper Consulting Inc.

Prior to European settlement, it is estimated that southern Ontario supported as much as 2000 km² of tall- grass prairie, savannah and open woodland habitat; today less than 21 km² of this area remains. The main reason for the scarcity of tallgrass prairie is that it typically occurs on well-drained sandy soils that, historically, have been attractive to set- tling farmers and, more recently, to residential and commercial developers. In order to protect the last remnants of this rare ecosystem and encourage restoration of tallgrass habitats where possible, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and non-governmental organizations like Tallgrass Ontario are spearheading a variety of initiatives.

In 2001, Tallgrass Ontario, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of tallgrass prairie rem- nants in southern Ontario, released a report entitled, Agro-economic Applications of Tallgrass Prairie Species in Southern Ontario, a review of existing and potential uses for tallgrass species on agricultural lands in southern Ontario. The primary objective of this research was to scour the current literature, both in publications and on the internet, for feasible ways in which farmers (and other landowners) may be able to re-integrate some indigenous tallgrass species into either their arable or marginal lands, and possibly generate income at the same time. The review focus on species found exclusively in southern Ontario’s tallgrass prairie communities included in described in the current Ecological Land Classification manual from the OMNR and as listed in the Tallgrass Communities Recovery Plan. Emphasis is placed on applications that would be prag- matic for farmers (and possibly other landowners) in a southern Ontario context based on current scientific and technical literature. Discussed are economic as well as ecological opportunities and/or limitations of the various applications, informa- tion gaps and areas of future research, and comments on the agro-economic potential of the various applications. Agro- economic applications discussed include biomass production, using tallgrass prarie for foraging and grazing of livestock, tall- grass species for filter strips and erosion control, seed and honey production, and other uses, including cut and dried flower, plant derived oils, pharmaceuticals and herbal remedies, and seed floss from milkweed derived cellulosic fibre.

To read the complete document, or to learn more about Tallgrass Ontario, readers can go to the following: http://www.tallgrassontario.org

Surveying for Short-eared Owls Debbie Badzinski, Biologist, Bird Studies Canada

As the sun paints its last pink rays against a cold winter sky, three moth-like creatures silently slip out of hiding. They fly low over the fields and marshes, their flight patterns erratic and buoyant. As they skim the field, black wrist patches are visible on the underside of their long, narrow wings. One of the creatures begins to hover in midair as if listening to something that cannot be discerned by human ears, and then suddenly, and silently, it pounces into the long grass. It emerges victorious, clutching a meadow in its talons. Then, as silently as they arrived, the three giant ‘moths’ fly off into the fading light. Of course, these creatures are really Short-eared Owls, whose flapping buoyant flight is often likened to that of a moth.

Short-eared Owls have an almost worldwide distribution – they are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica, and are also found on several islands including Iceland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Galapa- gos. In Canada, the species is present in every province and territory, from the southern border to the low Arctic.

Unlike most owl species, which are generally associated with forests, Short-eared Owls prefer extensive stretches of open habitat, breeding in prairies, grasslands, marshes, and tundra. The Short-eared Owl builds its own nest, rather than using nests built by other species (as most owls do). And, unlike most other owls, which are usually active only at night, Short-eared Owls are often observed in late afternoon and at dawn and dusk.

Despite their wide distribution, the Short-eared Owl is a poorly understood species. It is relatively inconspicuous during the breeding season and does not tend to respond to tape playback. For these reasons, this species is not well represented by existing bird monitoring programs such as the Breeding Bird Survey and Nocturnal Owl Monitoring Program. Some Christmas Bird Counts in southern Canada and the United States record Short- eared Owls, but numbers are typically low and are heavily influenced by weather conditions and observer effort. Page 7 Grasslands Flyer

Although Short-eared Owls depart from most of Canada in the winter (they don’t like to hunt in the snow!), some parts of southwestern Ontario support high concentrations of wintering Short-eared Owls. In fact, the Fisherville Christmas Bird Count, near Lake Erie, often records the highest number of Short-eared Owls in North America (85 recorded during 2003/04 CBC).

Short-eared Owls are highly nomadic. They tend to settle opportunistically in areas where , their favourite prey, are abundant. Few banded Short-eared Owls have been recovered, but available data demonstrate this species’ tendency to disperse great distances. For example, one owl banded in Oklahoma was recovered in Sas- katchewan, 1891 km away. These nomadic tendencies make monitoring even more difficult.

Population trend data, as well as anecdotal evidence, suggest that Short-eared Owls are declining in most parts of their range. The Short-eared Owl is classified as a species of Special Concern in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and was also recently recognized as one of the "top 100 bird species of conservation concern" in the United States. Although nobody is certain of the causes of de- cline, habitat loss (i.e., loss of wetlands and grasslands) and intensification of agricultural practices are sus- pected.

The conservation of Short-eared Owls depends on protecting relatively large, open sites that support small ro- dents, and reducing disturbance to nesting birds. Nest sites are often found on farms, typically in active hay- fields or pastures where nests and young birds are in danger of being mowed or ploughed. Because Short- eared Owls nest on the ground, they are quite vulnerable to all types of predators, from gulls and to dogs, cats, and skunks. A further problem is that without habitat management, abandoned agricultural sites rapidly become unsuitable as they succeed to woodlands or are replaced by development.

Throughout North America, biologists are becoming increasingly concerned about the decline of Short-eared Owls. In response to this concern, Bird Studies Canada has partnered with the Ontario Barn Owl Recovery Project and the Migration Research Foundation, with funding from Mountain Equipment Co-op, to identify critical Short-eared Owl wintering and breeding sites. If you know of a wintering or nesting site, please report it to Bird Studies Canada at 888-448-2473 or e-mail [email protected].

Monitoring Your Barn Owl Nest Box

There are around 300 Barn Owl nest boxes installed in and on barns across Southern Ontario. If you are a landowner with a nest box we need your help in monitoring for presence for Barn Owls and other species.

Monitoring your nest box is easy - all you need to do is grab a lawn chair and a cool drink and quietly observe the entrance of your box for any signs of activity once a week for 20 to 30 minutes from late May through early July. The best time to ob- serve your box is at dusk and just after dark. Be sure to check the ground beneath your box and look for regurgitated pellets of bone and fur, and listen for screeching or hissing sounds coming from your box at night. After making your weekly observations, along with any other observations, please record them on the Barn Owl Nest Box Monitoring Sheet (last page of this newslet- ter) and return the form to us. All Nest Box Monitor participants who return their observation sheets will be entered in a draw to win a beautiful Barn Owl hand-painted decorative plate!

IMPORTANT:

Please do not disturb your nest boxes from May thru July. This type of intrusion may scare a nesting pair of Barn Owls, or other raptors, away from their eggs or young - often not to return. We recommend that you make your observations of your nest box from a minimum distance of 15 to 20 feet (5 to 7 metres). In the Fall it’s a good idea to clean your nest box of any straw, and debris. If you find pellets let us know!

2004 ONTARIO BARN OWL MONITORING LOG

Barn Owl Nest Box Monitor Information

Name: Mailing Address: 911 Address: Township, Lot & Concession: Phone #: E-mail Address:

Nest Box Location Information

Nest Box Number: Location of Nest Box (e.g. inside barn, on barn): Direction Nest Box Opening Faces: Approximate Height of Box off Ground: Faces Open Grassland/Meadow/Pasture: Yes_____ No_____

Observation Log

Date Time & Duration Activity Observed Additional Comments of Observation Around Nest Box Eg. June 20th 9 P.M. - 10 P.M. One Kestrel return- Heard squawking noises inside ing to box at 9:20 box when adult bird returned P.M.

Please return this form to: Bernie Solymár Ontario Barn Owl Recovery Project R.R.#3, Simcoe, ON, N3Y 4K2