mtaudubon.org/html/science_MBRC.Statelist.htm Shields, M. 2002. Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), The of online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/ Sullivan, P.T. 1998. Field notes: eastern , fall 1997. Oregon Birds 24:57-62. Wahl, T.R., B. Tweit, and S.G. Mlodinow, eds. 2005. Birds of : status and distribution. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR. 436 pp.

About the Author Janice lives in Nelson with her husband and two children. One of her interests is tracking the migration of waterbirds along the West Arm of Kootenay Lake. While finding a rarity provides special excitement for any birder, Janice also enjoys discovering patterns in the movements of common species.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A NORTHERN PYGMY- AND ITS PREY IN COASTAL Figure 1. Northern Pygmy-Owl holding a recently John Treen captured Mouse. Powell River, BC. 8 December 2002 (John Treen). BC Photo 3552. 3353 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 2G7

On 8 December 2002, while surveying waterbirds overcast with cloud and intermittent light rain and a between 1600 and 1700 hrs along the Westview light northwest wind. waterfront near Powell River, British Columbia, During this time the owl dove down to the ground Heather Harbord, Blake Fougere, and myself spotted (about three metres away) and reappeared with a a small owl. It was perching in the bare branches small mammal in its talons (Figure 1). The prey was of a red () tree between the road very much alive at this point and was struggling to and the beach, about 200 m south of the viewpoint escape. The owl just sat there until the mammal was on Marine Avenue. We quickly identified it as a still, then it began to fly from tree to tree through the Northern (Glaucidium gnoma) because brambles back the way it had come. These were short of its diminutive size. hops as it was struggling to fly with the weight of its The owl moved ahead of us as we walked prey (Figure 2). By this time it was getting dark so we north on the sea walk to a position opposite the ceased our observations. Several photographs were viewpoint. It perched in the branches of a tree at taken of the owl and its prey using a Pentax K1000 eye level about five metres out from the observation camera mounted to a Kowa TSN-822 Spotting Scope point. It seemed to be going to stay put for a using 400 ASA film. while so cameras were set up. The weather was Later photographs were sent to Wayne Campbell

4:2 December 2007 264 The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 24 pp. Nagorsen, D.W. 2005. Rodents & Lagomorphs of British Columbia. Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC. 410 pp.

About the Author John was born, raised, and attended public schools in the Comox valley and later graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B. Ed. (Secondary) Teaching degree in the early 1960s. He moved to Powell River in 1964 and taught school for 35 years until he retired in 1999. John spent most of his spare time as a youth in the Boy Scout organization and as an adult with the Sea Cadets. He has always been interested in the outdoors and nature and in 1998, when the Powell River Naturalist group was formed, became a member. The nature club evolved to become the Malaspina Naturalists to better reflect the whole area of the upper Sunshine Coast. John and his wife became co-presidents for Figure 2. Northern Pygmy-Owl moving through two years and still remain active participants in the dense brambles clutching its prey. Powell River, BC. Birding Section. 8 December 2002 (John Treen). BC Photo 3552.

who identified the prey as a Deer Mouse ( maniculatus), a common small mammal in coastal NOTEWORTHY BREEDING RECORDS OF forests and woodlands. The white belly, bicoloured THE NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL IN tail, and white dorsal surface of the hind feet are CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA characteristic (see Nagorsen 2005). Observations of successful hunting of the Vanessa Johnson Northern Pygmy-Owl anywhere in its North to Central American range are rare (Holt and Petersen 2643 5th Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 2T7 2000). The same authors also mention that the diet of the Northern Pygmy-Owl consists mainly of small The Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) birds, mammals, insects and infrequently amphibians is not an uncommon in British Columbia although and reptiles. The Deer Mouse is one of the small it is not often seen due to its small size and nocturnal mammals commonly reported as a prey item. What lifestyle. It breeds mainly along the coast, including is noteworthy is that the mouse weighs on average larger offshore islands, locally in the southern Peace about 22 g (Nagorsen 2005), or about 35 % of the River region, and south of Prince George throughout body mass of the owl. the interior of the province (Campbell et al. 1990). Although the species is present year-round in the Literature Cited West Kootenay area active nest sites are difficult to Holt, D.W., and J.L. Petersen. 2000. Northern find, and none had been documented in the vicinity Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma). In The Birds of of Castlegar. North America, No. 494 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). On the evening of 26 May 2006, at 2100 hrs, I

265 Wildlife Afield