We found a raptor and owl bonanza today at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in Wyandot County and Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve in Hardin County. 7 Northern Harrier 1 Cooper's Hawk 7 Bald Eagle 11 Red-tailed Hawk 7 Rough-legged Hawk 2 Short-eared Owl 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 6 American Kestrel 1 Merlin We spent most of the day at Killdeer Plains -- raptors were everywhere. We found a Northern Saw-whet Owl high in a pine in the Owl Woods there. We had never visited Lawrence Woods in Hardin County. The Short-eared Owls came out about 5:00 pm. It was so interesting to watch them interact with a Northern Harrier and a Merlin. The Merlin flew in and challenged the owl for prey. We also got to watch 3 Eastern Bluebirds land in a small oak near the parking area and nestle together on a branch, roosting for the night. When they all got in place, it was very hard to distinguish them from the oak leaves left on the tree. Ken Ostermiller Westfield Center, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ 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]