Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 10:10:09 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Huy, Steve" Subject: Snowy Owl MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Had a great look at the snowy owl on New Design Road last night. I stopped in the area where it had been reported and scanned with no success. I then decided to try scanning from Greenfield Road to see behind the hill. When I turned around I noticed the owl on the top of a utility pole, right where I had been parked. I guess I forgot to look up when I arrived. I am attempting to band northern raptor species this winter in an attempt to learn a bit more about their movements. I dropped two traps for this owl, but they were designed for a red-tail and didn't catch him. The owl tried to catch the lures for a while, but its large feathered feet and preference for trying to catch the lures by biting prevented its capture. The owl was not bothered by human activity, cars or the traps. At one point a red-tailed hawk tried to drive off the owl. I stepped out of my car so the hawk was scared off and the owl didn't even bother to watch me closely. The owl flew off to the southwest and out of sight at dusk. I tried to locate it again this morning but with no luck. I assume by its half-hearted attempt to go after my lures that it is well fed. It also coughed up a large pellet which I collected for examination. There have been reports of snowy owls moving down the coast in good numbers. Colleagues in Canada and the northern U.S. have also reported good numbers of northern owl species. One had commented that they had a great lemming population leading to lots of young snowy owls this summer. Now many of those owls are turning up at rehab centers due to starvation. Expect many more opportunities to see them this season! J. Steven Huy Risk Management Dept. 52/924.36 Phone: 301-380-4450 Fax: 301-380-4814 Steve.Huy@Marriott.com This message may contain confidential and/or privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any review, use, distribution or disclosure by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete all copies of this message. ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================