I've also noticed low raptor numbers, unfortunately it's in the same general area of the state as Rick Counts so it doesn't give a good cross-section of the state. I have noticed very low numbers of Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Harriers at Killdeer Plains. I've also noticed smaller (but not unusually smaller) numbers of Red-tailed Hawks. I have not observed any wintering owls either. This includes Short-eared, in suitable habitat in places other than Killdeer Plains where I have observed them in previous years (I think I remember a couple of reports from Killdeer and Big Island). Many of these individuals come down to Ohio in response to food shortages, so I'm wondering if maybe this could be higher food availability up north rather than food scarcity in Ohio's latitude (not saying that Rick's theory is wrong, just throwing out other ideas). However, I'm especially concerned about Northern Harriers...I usually see fair numbers of that species even when I don't see the irruptives, like Rough-legged Hawks. Hopefully we can get some other info from other parts of the state.

 

Nick Fensler
                                          
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/
______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]