This from Auglaize/Mercer Counties: We have also observed fewer numbers of Redtail Hawks; NO roughlegged (one spent the winter at the MWA a couple of years ago) and NO GHO nests. However, in our area, Kestrel numbers remain fair - NOT great - just fair. Just another opinion prior to vacating Ohio's weather for the southern warmer climate. You-all enjoy the rest of the winter. I'll bring back some sunshine - "whenever" we return! ;-) Jill -------------------------------------------------- From: "Nicholas Fensler" <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 7:54 AM To: <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] poor raptor winter in Ohio > 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] > ______________________________________________________________________ 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]