Short-eared owls spice up birding Maine among their winter haunts

Winter is biting down hard. The temperature hovers in the single digits, and the wind chill drives it still lower, making any exposed skin go numb within seconds. And here I am, out looking for an owl.

It is still light, with about an hour until nightfall. I’m not waiting for full darkness, for the owl I seek is one of crepuscular habit. In fact, it may also be active during full daylight, depending upon weather conditions, time of year, and the bird’s own hunger. This owl – the short-eared owl – appears to see well during daylight, although hearing, as well, plays a major role.

By the way, the owl’s name is a little misleading: the “ears” are tufts of feathers; the actual auditory openings are hidden beneath the owl’s facial feathers. It would be more correct to call it the “short-tufted” owl. Good day vision plus excellent hearing is by no means a guarantee of an easy meal, however. The owl, spotted by Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists in Bangor, was observed making repeated dives into the snow of an open, grassy field. Its intended prey – probably a small mammal such as a vole – eluded capture every time, and the owl went away empty-beaked.

I had all this in mind as I waited for the owl to appear. It had been spotted in the same general area at least twice, and I hoped it hadn’t moved on. I wanted to observe it hunting, and film the activity if at all possible. Even a distant view would be welcomed; either way, it would be a first for me.

As I sat waiting in my car (yes, I was a wimp and didn’t dare the cold), I saw two more people drive up in their car. They were there to see the owl, as well, only their plan involved skiing out onto the field to secure a good vantage point from which to observe the bird! However, as the sun sank toward the horizon and the wind picked up, they discarded that for the warmth of their vehicle. Not that I blamed them one bit!

Winter offers the best chance to see short-eared owls in Maine; many may leave their breeding grounds in the north, wandering in search of food and suitable habitat. Ideal locales are open fields, marshes, or coastal grasslands that support their favorite small mammal prey. Although they do breed in northern Maine, they are not common; their numbers have declined, especially in the northeastern United States. Habitat destruction and degradation are the causes.

However, where unspoiled, intact environments still exist, short-eared owls can be common. They choose open habitats for breeding as well, and share this preference with marsh hawks – where you see one, you may very well see the other. Nests are on the ground, constructed with vegetation and lined with grasses and downy feathers.

An endearing aspect of this lovely owl is its courtship ritual. A male attracts a mate by performing a breathtaking sky dance: spiraling up to 180 feet, he remains suspended in the air for some seconds, wings spread and tail fanned; then he swoops down with exaggerated wing beats, actually clapping them together underneath his body. He repeats this performance while the female perches on the ground, watching. Would that I live to see such a sight!

In the end, I did not see the nomad that evening, but I will continue to watch for this owl in its favorite winter haunts.

Chris Corio, a volunteer at Fields Pond Nature Center in Holden, can be reached at fieldspond@juno.com