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Boreal Owls may be moving southward this winter

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by OntPhoto on Fri Oct 25, 2024 4:51 am

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There are indications at some banding stations in Ontario and Quebec, that this fall has seen more than the usual number of boreal owls being banded. The southward movement of this species is linked to a decline in the population of the red-backed vole. One banding station thinks this winter will see an irruption of boreal owls in Quebec and perhaps some places in the US as well. I assume for esatern Ontario too.

Another sign of this is someone found a dead female boreal owl in the York region of Ontario which had very little fat reserves.

What else is dependent on red-backed voles? Great gray owls feed on them as well in the boreal forest. This species typically irrupts in our region every four years and sometimes five. Winter 2024 - 2025 will be year 4. Only time will tell.

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by wdg on Mon Nov 04, 2024 2:26 pm

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Northern Minnesota is reporting large numbers of Boreal as well (30+)
Hope Great Grays and Northern Hawk owls are coming down as well
Outlook for Snowys tho don’t seem as good - no nests in Alaska research area. Not sure how northern areas fared

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by Mrmickey on Sat Nov 09, 2024 4:42 am

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It’s fascinating to hear about the potential irruption of boreal owls this winter! It seems the decline in red-backed voles is driving these owls further south, which could mean some interesting sightings across Quebec, Eastern Ontario, and perhaps parts of the U.S. As you mentioned, great gray owls also rely heavily on these voles, and with the four-year cycle in mind, we might see an increase in their activity, too. If you're looking to gear up for some winter birdwatching, I found some great deals on equipment here: https://www.dealsandstealstoday.com/. Keep an eye out this winter could be an exciting one for owl lovers!

Last edited by Mrmickey on Thu Nov 14, 2024 10:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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by OntPhoto on Mon Nov 11, 2024 11:15 am

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OntPhoto wrote: There are indications at some banding stations in Ontario and Quebec, that this fall has seen more than the usual number of boreal owls being banded. The southward movement of this species is linked to a decline in the population of the red-backed vole. One banding station thinks this winter will see an irruption of boreal owls in Quebec and perhaps some places in the US as well. I assume for esatern Ontario too.

Another sign of this is someone found a dead female boreal owl in the York region of Ontario which had very little fat reserves.

What else is dependent on red-backed voles? Great gray owls feed on them as well in the boreal forest. This species typically irrupts in our region every four years and sometimes five. Winter 2024 - 2025 will be year 4. Only time will tell.

Hi. Can I ask where you got that information? Sounds great. My info was from a banding station.

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by wdg on Mon Nov 11, 2024 2:28 pm

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OntPhoto wrote:
OntPhoto wrote: There are indications at some banding stations in Ontario and Quebec, that this fall has seen more than the usual number of boreal owls being banded. The southward movement of this species is linked to a decline in the population of the red-backed vole. One banding station thinks this winter will see an irruption of boreal owls in Quebec and perhaps some places in the US as well. I assume for esatern Ontario too.

Another sign of this is someone found a dead female boreal owl in the York region of Ontario which had very little fat reserves.

What else is dependent on red-backed voles? Great gray owls feed on them as well in the boreal forest. This species typically irrupts in our region every four years and sometimes five. Winter 2024 - 2025 will be year 4. Only time will tell.
Hi. Can I ask where you got that information? Sounds great. My info was from a banding station.

I hope I sent message to you with info
If not let me know

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by OntPhoto on Mon Nov 11, 2024 6:15 pm

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wdg wrote:
OntPhoto wrote:
OntPhoto wrote: There are indications at some banding stations in Ontario and Quebec, that this fall has seen more than the usual number of boreal owls being banded. The southward movement of this species is linked to a decline in the population of the red-backed vole. One banding station thinks this winter will see an irruption of boreal owls in Quebec and perhaps some places in the US as well. I assume for esatern Ontario too.

Another sign of this is someone found a dead female boreal owl in the York region of Ontario which had very little fat reserves.

What else is dependent on red-backed voles? Great gray owls feed on them as well in the boreal forest. This species typically irrupts in our region every four years and sometimes five. Winter 2024 - 2025 will be year 4. Only time will tell.
Hi. Can I ask where you got that information? Sounds great. My info was from a banding station.
I hope I sent message to you with info
If not let me know

Thanks. I did receive the message. It's a lot of boreal owls for sure but I always like to compare it to the previous 4 years to see how much of an anomaly it is.

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by OntPhoto on Mon Nov 11, 2024 6:34 pm

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Mike Hendrickson has just posted to the Sax Zim Bog facebook page saying this winter will be a Boreal Owl irruption year. He noted that so far, 100 plus Boreal Owls have been banded at several stations along the north shore of Lake Superior. Great Gray Owls are being reported away from known breeding areas and Northern Hawk Owls have already been rteported in North-East Minnesota.

For those who are familiar with that region will know if it is common to see either GGOW or NHOW in the fall. Maybe it's common but if it isn't, then perhaps there are signs that Great Grays will irrupt alongside Boreal Owls. In the not too distant past they used to irrupt at the same time.

(2) Sax-Zim Bog | Facebook

Last edited by OntPhoto on Tue Nov 12, 2024 3:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

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by wdg on Mon Nov 11, 2024 7:33 pm

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The last few years there have not been a lot of great grays in the area I frequent in northern Minnesota — but this is the time they would be showing up.
Looking forward to an irruption

Northern Hawk owls usually are there along with the great grays.

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by OntPhoto on Tue Nov 12, 2024 3:27 am

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For me, it's way too early to know if GGOW or NHOW will show up in our region, eastern Ontario to southwestern Quebec. For all I know we may only see a few. Typically GGOW show up in our area in mid-January as snow cover gets deeper further up north. I'll be content to see at least one. However, during an irruption year they have shown up earlier. These owls make it easier to endure the cold winters and the only reason I'll get out in the winter months and stand in an open field

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by wdg on Tue Nov 12, 2024 8:10 pm

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OntPhoto wrote: For me, it's way too early to know if GGOW or NHOW will show up in our region, eastern Ontario to southwestern Quebec. For all I know we may only see a few. Typically GGOW show up in our area in mid-January as snow cover gets deeper further up north. I'll be content to see at least one. However, during an irruption year they have shown up earlier. These owls make it easier to endure the cold winters and the only reason I'll get out in the winter months and stand in an open field

I agree - owls really make it easier to get out in sub-temp weather.
It’s not winter without Snowys in North Dakota but unfortunately the last few have been snowless and almost Snowy-less.
The Shorties have also disappeared in the area with the snow.
Hoping for better year

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by OntPhoto on Sat Nov 16, 2024 3:04 am

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Several snowy owls have been reported in Ottawa and even down into upper NY State and one in Vermont. Too early to say at this point but it seems to be better than last winter

Maybe just an average winter?

Last edited by OntPhoto on Tue Nov 19, 2024 8:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

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by OntPhoto on Sun Nov 17, 2024 12:28 pm

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False alarm. Sorry. Someone who has seen both boreal owl and saw-whet owl up close for a loooong time, mis-identified a saw-whet for a boreal. Lazy ID'ing.

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