Probably not great. In 1996 we had some 40+ GREAT GRAY OWLS on Amherst Island. A lot stayed around until late April, including one very obvious pair that were constantly together which gave rise to speculation as to whether they would stay, but they too moved off finally in late April. The latest record that year was one on April 29th.
There was one occasion however following a similar invasion where one or two were found for the next year or so. I believe it was on the Main Duck Island in Lake Ontario if memory serves me correctly. Alex. Scott [EMAIL PROTECTED] fromont wrote: > Two Great Gray Owls were seen late today on Kilmaurs Side Road just off > Dunrobin. The first owl was perched on a post by the road near house number > 1192 on Kilmaur. It was already there by the time I arrived at around > 7:10-7:20pm It was actively listening for prey. It gradually flew from post > to post further into the property at 1192 Kilmaur. One of the occupants of > the house came out to take pictures of it. > > After this I spotted another Great Gray Owl perched on another post by the > side of the road. There is a line of posts that divide the property between > 1180 and 1192 and this is where the owl was perched. Didn't take long for it > to start flying from post to post closer to house number 1192 Kilmaur. There > is a sloped ditch in front of the property and at one point I was amazed to > see this Great Gray Owl dive from its perch right into the side of the ditch > (lots of dry grass) closest to the road. I heard a big thud! It was amazing > to see. It did not catch anything but obviously must have heard something > there. It gradually moved from post to post southward along Kilmaur near > 1192 Kilmaur. It was still there by the time I left (was starting to getting > dark). > > On the way back home I turned off on Thomas A. Dolan and headed up to > Greenland. I turned left onto Greenland and I couldn't believe what I > saw....a Great Gray Owl perched right by the road. It was dark by now (close > to 8pm) but I could still see the owl. There was a Great Gray Owl located in > this very spot during the winter so this could be the same owl. On the way > back up to Thomas A. Dolan I took a quick look at the Osprey platform and it > seems to be still empty. > > I continue to be amazed to see Great Gray Owls still in the outlying Ottawa > area this late. What are the chances some of the lingering owls might breed > here? > > Directions to Dunrobin/Kilmaur from the east. Take the 417 westbound and get > off at the March Road exit and head direction North. Continue on March Road > past klondike and eventually you'll come to Dunrobin. Turn right on Dunrobin > and continue past Woodlawn. Continue on Dunrobin going past the Constance > Bay turnoff and up a hill. The next intersection you see is Kilmaur. Turn > left on Kilmaur and house 1192 is not far down the road on the left side. > > Directions to Thomas A. Dolan from the east. Take the 417 westbound and get > off at the March Road exit and head direction North. Continue on March Road > past Klondike and eventually you'll come to Dunrobin. Turn right on Dunrobin > and continue until you see Thomas A. Dolan (there is a small store and gas > station at the corner of Dunrobin and Thomas A. Dolan. Turn right on Thomas > A. Dolan and continue past the creek to Greenland. Turn left on Greenland > and the owl was perched on the left side not far from this intersection. > > G. Gray. > Ottawa, Ontario. > _______________________________________________ > ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial > birding organization. > Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] > For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit > http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm > ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
