I do not think GHOW numbers have much affect on wintering SEOW numbers. In
some years when SEOW numbers are high are GHOW numbers low? SEOW are not a
common prey item for GHOW.



Jeff Hays

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Whan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Poor raptor winter in Ohio


>I agree with Rick Counts's estimation of the raptor numbers, at least in
> that part of the state. I have not seen a rough-legged hawk at Killdeer,
> this year and several veteran Killdeer observers have reported likewise.
> On Sat, six of us spent close to two hours there (including pre-dawn
> vigil at a usually productive spot) and heard and saw no short-eared
> owls. The great horneds were doing well, as we heard males and females
> to the north and the south of that spot....which may explain the dearth
> of short-ears. I recall Rick's reporting a GHO devastating the
> short-eared population at the Hardin wetland a couple of years back,
> too. So this could be a combination of good rodent populations to our
> north, and a spike in horned-owl populations here.
> Bill Whan
> Columbus
>
> Richard Counts wrote:
>> A trip last night to the Hardin Co. wetlands turned out a very low
>> numbers of raptors. Only a single Red-Tailed Hawk, 2 Harriers, and
>> for the first time in 6 years no Short-Eared Owls. I believe there is
>> a real scarcity of rodents in this part of Ohio this winter.
>>
>> Rick Counts Wyandot Co.
>
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