Birders might want to start checking for early signs of the return flight of Snowy Owls from the south, particularly along Lake Ontario and whenever the ice retreats from the north shore of Lake Erie. Inland areas of Southern Ontario where numerous birds were present in December may also do well by mid to late March. Activity dropped off significantly from the peak in late December up to mid-January with February being the low point and it is not all due to fewer birders reporting.
In the past week, we have come upon two individuals, both adult males (smaller, mostly white) between Ingleside and Winchester in Eastern Ontario. These birds were not present previously. This is roughly the time when we expected to begin seeing owls heading north with more expected in a couple of weeks. The initial stage of the movement from the Arctic in November and early December was dominated by birds that seemed to be males including many apparently older birds. Most of these owls departed later in December and early January, some of which were possibly pushed out by a flight of females that showed up and established winter territory. Also of note was that heavily barred birds, suggesting juvenile females, only appeared in numbers after mid- December. Based on last winter's massive flight with this year being a significant follow through, there should be Snowy Owls present in increasing numbers from now into early April with a peak likely coming in a few weeks. Many of these birds could be adult males. Unlike Snowy Owls on winter territory, it is not uncommon to see several migrants in close range of each other. Brian Morin Cornwall _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
