Great Gray Owl

Great Gray Owl - Our Largest and Rarest Owl

Great Gray Owl

The Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) is our largest and rarest owl species.  It is only seen in New Brunswick rarely and always in winter.  The range of this northern owl is from Alaska across the northern parts of the prairie provinces to northern Ontario.  Its range extends south of the Canada/US border in the Rocky Mountains. During winters occasionally some individuals move south of the range to spend the winter months in the southern prairie provinces, south of the Great Lakes and into New England, southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.  Usually this southern movement brings a few individuals into the southern areas but in some years when northern food sources are scarce, irruptions will occur.  

Great Gray Owl

In former times this species was listed as a 'casual winter resident' of New Brunswick.  I don't think that would be accurate now.  We have had very few reports over  recent years.  The photos shown in this post were taken by me from a winter visitor to the Cambellton area in March, 2005.  We have had other sightings over the past 25 years.  In 1996 one was seen by many at Hopewell Cape.  There was another at Bushville that year.  A few specimens were taken in the early 1900s, one from Fredericton in March, 1906, others from 1862 and 1903.  A notable incursion occurred in 1978-1979 to a small island near Kingston, Ontario (Amherst Island).  Thirty-four individuals were counted on that island at that time.  During another irruption (in 2004-2005), 1700 individuals were recorded in northern Minnesota.

Great Gray Owl

 The Great Gray Owl is our largest owl by length (but not by weight).  The Snowy Owl is our largest owl by weight.  The Great Gray Owl is 69 cm/27 inches long with a very wide wingspan (140 cm/55 in).  When perched it looks very 'fluffed up', which is probably a strategy to keep warm as it perches for long periods on tree stubs or fence posts watching for prey.  It eats mainly small rodents and other mammals.  Its keen eyesight and hearing can spot prey even when it is under the snow.  It can take its prey by plunge-diving either feet- or head-first.  Its flight is described as heron-like with long slow wing beats.  

Great Gray Owl

The Great Gray Owl is mainly gray with brown markings.  Its head appears disproportionately large.  It is hornless with very large facial discs.  The eyes are yellow and the tail is long.  The only other owl one might mistake it for is the Barred Owl which is smaller, mainly brown, and has dark eyes. The large facial discs of the Great Gray show five concentric rings.  These make the eyes appear small.  There is  a black-and-white bowtie marking below the mouth which is not always visible.  Sibley's The Sibley Guide to Birds shows this bowtie well on page 273.  

Great Gray Owls nest in abandoned hawk or crow nests in either coniferous or deciduous trees.  Two to five dull white eggs are laid and incubated for 28-29 days by the female.  The adults are fierce around their nests.  They have been known to drive off predators as large as bears.  The courtship call of this species is heard only at night even though this is a diurnal owl.  The male makes a muffled deep whoo sound which is repeated 5-10 times.  The female answers with a whoop sound.  

The Great Gray Owl is a holarctic species, breeding also in Europe and Asia.  It was first described as a species in 1772 by Johann Reinhold Forster.  It has been known by many names over the years and over its large geographical range.  It has been called Phantom of the North, Spectral Owl, Lapland Owl, Spruce Owl, Bearded Owl and Sooty Owl.  That indicates it has had a long history of interactions with humans!

Northern Hawk Owl

Northern Hawk Owl Visits New Brunswick

Northern Hawk Owl

A Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) was observed in the Gagetown area recently.  This species is a rare winter visitor from the north.  Please see a previous post on this blog for information on this species.  This post will exhibit more photos and additional information.

Northern Hawk Owl

The Northern Hawk Owl is a diurnal species (active during daylight) and is non-migratory.  Its normal range is Canada's north from Newfoundland and Labrador west to British Columbia and Yukon and most of Alaska.  During the winter it is not uncommon for a few birds to move south beyond the normal range to the northern US, New England and the Maritime provinces.  In most winters we get reports of a handful here. 

Northern Hawk Owl

The Northern Hawk Owl is a circumpolar species.  In earlier times the Eurasian race and the Siberian race were considered separate species.  The races differ slightly in colouration.  This species is called 'Hawk Owl' because of its similarity to a hawk.  It sits on the top of trees and poles sometimes inclined forward like a hawk and other times straight up like an owl.  Its long tail and flight manner are also much like that of a hawk.  Its tail, small pointed wings, shallow wing beats and its propensity to hover reminds birders of a kestrel (Sparrowhawk in Europe).  Its flight is swift and graceful like most hawks.  It also 'hawks' for food, sitting on a high perch and flying down for a vole, mouse, lemming or small bird just like a hawk.  When a Northern Hawk Owl swoops down it flies straight down from the perch and then levels out to fly horizontally close to the ground.  I saw our visitor do this as it was searching for small mammals in a field.  It will sometimes wag its tail up and down or sometimes it holds it up at an angle.  The recent bird was showing this behaviour.

Northern Hawk Owl

The Northern Hawk Owl appears quite tame.  It seems not bothered by human activity.  That is often the case of the northern owls where they rarely encounter human activity.  That is an unfortunate

 characteristic.  It makes them easy prey to the unscrupulous person who wants to 'collect' this species.  This is a protected species and all injury, killing or interference with their activities is illegal!  Because they are vulnerable, they should not be closely approached.  As an example of their vulnerability, during an incursion into New England in 1884, a taxidermist in Bangor, Me. received 28 fresh carcasses in a period of a few days.  I am happy the species is now protected!

This owl is very ferocious around its nest.  There are many reports of attacks on approaching humans.  Many people have had their hat removed by a fast swooping angry owl.  Some have had serious lacerations to the scalp.  One adult is usually guarding the nest while the other is incubating the eggs or searching for food for the young.  

Northern Hawk Owl

If you see more than one owl together, that is usually a family group.  The family stays together until the next spring, the young learning to fend for themselves during that time.  These owls eat voles, mice, lemmings,  ground squirrels, weasels, insects and birds.  They will take birds as big as ptarmigans and grouse.

The Northern Hawk Owl is a versatile vocalist.  It makes a loud raspy screechy sound, a short repetitive sound like most birders are familiar with on their bird calls, and other calls.  The bird I saw recently was vocalizing.  Its sound was low volume and kind of a chittery sound.  If I hadn't seen it making the sound I would have missed it.  

This species was, of course, more common many years ago.  A report from Camrose, Alberta, in 1896-97 mentions an abundance after a few years of scarcity.  They reported seeing 30 birds while on a day's drive.  That obviously was an incursion year.

The Northern Hawk Owl is also known colloquially as the 'Canadian Owl' and the 'Hudsonian Hawk Owl'.  I can report from experience that this is a very beautiful creature.  The light gray, dark gray, black, rufous brown, brown umber and white colours are artistically applied.  The light yellow eyes are penetrating and beautiful.  It is too bad this species is so tame.  It makes it too vulnerable.  I have been truly blessed to be able to see and describe this owl.

Much of the information given in this post was taken from Arthur Cleveland Bent's, Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey.

Bird Population Decline?

Are Our Bird Populations Declining?

Greater Yellowlegs, a Shorebird

I often get asked whether I think bird numbers are declining.  That is not an easy question to answer.  The short answer is YES.  The long answer is, Well, it depends.  You see, some families of birds are increasing, some are staying about the same and some are declining.  Some are severely declining!

Let's look at the overall picture.  This winter we are seeing fewer birds for a number of reasons.  There is a lot of natural food available this winter which has the effect of decreasing the number of visits to bird feeders and flocks moving around the area.  The fruit trees and shrubs are laden still with fruit; crabs, cherries, sumac, and berries of various varieties.  The cone crop is heavy providing a lot of food for seed eaters.  The weather has not been too severe this winter making it easier for birds to feed in the wild.

Other reasons related to fewer sightings this winter are related to bird flock movement.  In some winters many birds move from up north to our area.  That has not happened in any significant way this year so we are seeing far fewer birds like redpolls, pine grosbeaks, crossbills, siskins, Bohemian waxwings, etc.  We are seeing a few Pine Siskins and a few Red and White-winged Crossbills in some parts of the province but very few in the Fredericton area.  This might change as the winter advances but it would depend on continuing food supplies further north.

Tree Swallow, an Aerial Insectivore

Birds Canda publication, Birdwatch Canada, in a recent article, addresses the issue of bird population changes in the last 50 years.  In that article they are referring to an article by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Canada (NABCI-Canada) entitled, State of Canada's Birds 2019.  The following information comes from that article.

In the 20th century many species of waterfowl and birds of prey had declined so badly some were nearly extinct.  The causes were the use of the pesticide DDT and habitat loss.  These were addressed and corrected with the result that waterfowl numbers are now up 150% and birds of prey are up 110%.  Here in New Brunswick we are all aware of the wonderful recovery of Bald Eagle numbers.

The studies showed little change in the populations of sea birds, wetland birds and forest birds.  The numbers are a bit misleading because they represent averages and so reflect numbers that are both somewhat increased or decreased.

Now we move to the populations showing severe declines.  Urgent conservation action is needed for the recovery of these species.  Shorebirds have declined by 40% in the last 50 years; Grassland birds (from prairie and other grassland habitats) are down 57%; aerial insectivores (birds that feed on insects on the wing) are down 59%.  The situation is so dire that in the last 10 years 80% of the bird populations that have been assessed as endangered or threatened are aerial insectivores or grassland birds.  Ten species of shorebirds are on the top of the list for new assessment.

This is a sad and urgent call to action.  What can we do to reverse this trend?  Here is what the NABCI-Canada is advocating.
1. Vote with your fork and waste less: reduce food waste, buy from local, sustainably run farms, choose bird-friendly products like coffee, range-fed beef, certified, sustainable seafood
2.  Protect and improve bird habitat:  protect and restore critical lands and waters, manage our work landscapes more sustainably
3.  Remove plastics and contaminants from nature:  seek innovative alternatives to pesticide use, ban single-use plastics
4.  Reduce carbon emissions:  Given that Canada's climate is warming at more than twice the global rate, demand action on the causes; change our industrial practices and our daily lives,
5.  Make windows safe for birds:  make windows on homes, businesses, skyscrapers more visible to birds
6.  Prevent cats from roaming free:  this would save tens of millions of birds each year
7.  Eliminate invasive species:  rats on island, other invasives that prey on seabirds and other ground-nesting birds

LeConte's Sparrow - a Grassland Bird

I would add one more thing you can do - get involved in citizen science.  66% of the bird population trends reported here came from data collected by skilled volunteer citizen scientists.  These thousands of people are the 'backbone of bird conservation'.

There are many such citizen scientists in New Brunswick and you can become one, too.  They do Christmas Bird Counts, Breeding Bird Surveys, Nocturnal Owl Surveys, Seawatch Counts, etc.  All groups are seeking new volunteers.  You would be assisted with training and your assistance would be welcomed.  Action is needed now to save our bird species!

Common Murre

Common Murre - A Pelagic Bird

Common Murre in Breeding Plumage

With reports of sightings of Thick-billed Murres seen in the last two weeks, it is time to post about our Common Murre.  There is a post on the Thick-billed Murre elsewhere on this blog.  (Use the search engine on the blog to find it).

Murres are Alcids (family Alcidae).  Of the 22 species in this family in North America we have 6.  Alcids are football-shaped oceanic birds generally black and white in colour.  The only time they come to land is for nesting.  They nest in colonies and the juveniles leave the nest before fully developed, maturing at sea.  All members of this family pursue food by diving usually deep into the ocean.  They propel themselves under water with their wings and the feet are used only for steering.  Their wings are relatively small making air-flying cumbersome.  Takeoff is difficult and some cannot take off from land.  

The Common Murre has clean black and white plumage.  When out of the water they walk upright putting their weight on their horizontal tarsi, looking somewhat like a penguin.  In breeding plumage they are brownish black above and white below with sparse dark streaking on the flanks.  The head profile is nearly a straight line.  The bill is long and dagger-like.  The trailing edge of the inner wing is white giving a single wing bar.  The neck is slender and is contracted in flight.  The underwing is white with much brown mottling.  The legs, feet and bill are black.  The shape of the black line around the neck makes a smooth U-shape in front.  This is a distinguishing feature.  (Note the Thick-billed Murre has an upside-down V-shape here.)  The eyes of the Common Murre are dark brown.  Occasionally in breeding plumage there is a bridled adult morph with a prominent white spectacle as seen in the photo below.

Common Murre Bridled Morph

The winter plumage is similar to the breeding plumage except that its throat, sides of neck, nape and face are white with a dark streak extending from the back of the eye to the nape.  See photo below for a winter plumage adult.

Common Murre in Winter Plumage [Internet Photo]

The Common Murre breeds along the Arctic coast of Alaska south to California and in the east from Labrador south to Massachusetts.  It is a permanent resident in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and winters in the Bay of Fundy.  

Common Murres nest on rocky ledges.  Using no nesting material,  they lay one white, green, blue or brown speckled egg.  Each egg is unique and the differences are used by the adults to identify their own egg.    Incubation takes 28 to 33 days and is carried out by both adults.  Courtship displays include bowing, billing and preening.  Murres vocalize a lot on the breeding grounds, purring softly.  They also croak, growl and moan.  Displaying males point their heads vertically and make these croaking and growling sounds.  The breeding colony at Cape St. Mary's, NL, can be heard a long distance away with all the sea birds vocalizing.

Murres feed on fish, marine worms, amphipods, shrimp and mollusks.  They forage by diving deep, remaining underwater up to a minute.  They often go 30 metres/100 feet deep and have been recorded to dive 150 metres/500 feet.

Common Murre (left); Thick-billed Murre (right) [Internet Photo]

For the bird watcher the Common Murre needs to be distinguished from the Thick-billed Murre.  The Thick-billed is blacker, has a thicker bill, shows a white line behind the bill and has an upside-down V on the white on the neck line, it being a smooth U on the Common Murre.  They are nearly the same size; Common - 46 cm/18 in; Thick-billed - 43 cm/17 in.

A group of murres is sometimes called a 'fragrance of murres'.  Judging by the smell of the murre/seabird colony at Cape St. Mary's, that is a very good descriptive term!  I smelled it a kilometre away.