What's Owl the Fuss?

Since moving to Dane County in 2017 it seems most Dane birders have gone to Brooklyn SWA to get their annual Short-eared Owl tic on their county lists. It is what I had done on New Year's Day the past few years birding with my pal, Kyle. 

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

Each January 1st, as twilight approached we sped 30 minutes at the end of our big birding day to get Short-eared owl for the year. That first eve of the year usually drew a small crowd.

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

I never gave much thought to looking for Short-eared Owl closer to home even as I became more and more focused on my 7.5 mile radius birding patch which Brooklyn Wildlife Area is well out of range. I mostly did not care because a) I had already seen the species on January 1st and b) I was either well in the lead for the WI Local Patch Challenge or I did not care about my standing. 

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

That changed in 2020. As the year neared its close I had stiff competition in the WI Local Patch Challenge. I was in second place for much of the second half of the year, behind by several species. Unlike many birders who had extra time on their hands due to the pandemic, my time was (gratefully) consumed working on the COVID frontlines, hummingbird banding, gardening and completing other yard enhancements.

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

But in the two months prior to the close of 2020, I developed a renewed sense of competition. I scoured my Wisconsin bird species checklist strategizing how I could close the gap and or take the lead in the WI Local Patch Challenge. Short-eared Owl rose to the top as a species I could still encounter in my patch. Perhaps near Waunakee Marsh or the Middleton airport? The airport seemed less likely with its expansive banks of solar panels. So I turned my attention to Waunakee Marsh. The most northern reaches of my patch boundary overlooks Waunakee Marsh to the north. Somewhere in the cobwebs of my brain I vaguely recollected lore of this species being present there despite virtually no eBird records for the specific hotspot and only three records from the Waunakee area dating 1962, 2007 and 2010.

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

I staked out a spot that appeared promising and checked a couple times in December before striking gold mere days before 2020's end. Hurray! This and an unexpected Snowy Owl I found a few days later propelled me into a tie at first place for the Wisconsin Local Patch Challenge at 238 species. This was my best year of the three birding my current local patch. 

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

Then January 1st, 2021 rolled around and all the eBird lists reset to zero! And I was back at it anew. Even though I did not embark on my usual January 1st "big day," I did bird much of the day closing it out with an owl quest. I intended to check my December spot for a FOY patch Short-eared Owl. We never made it to that spot because within a mile or two of that location Peter spotted a larger bird in a winter wheat field. It was a Short-eared Owl feasting on what I believe is a Meadow Vole. Shortly after spotting the owl it cooperatively perched on a low post with its prey. Since I was experimenting with my new mirrorless Canon camera that day, I missed the photo before it was spooked by a car, leaving the post and dropping its prey. 

Meadow Vole dropped by Short-eared Owl after being spooked by a nearby car

Shortly after, two additional owls joined the hunt flying around us at remarkably close range. It was an exhilarating end to a low pace birding day. 

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

Selfishly, I wanted to guard this location for my own enjoyment, let the other birders robotically flock to the same Short-eared Owl spot they have been visiting for years at Brooklyn Wildlife Area while I relished these beauties for myself. My hope was to return in the future and capture respectable images of this species unfettered by the crowds of birders that comes with owl stakeouts. However because I had eBirded a single owl in this area in December, the location of this stakeout gained popularity rather quickly. It has been a convenient magnet this month for those flocking to see the Short-eared Owl aerial show.

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

Spread the bliss I suppose. Why not? As long as the birders and photogs can act ethically, I feel at peace with others appreciating these impressive ambassadors of birding. 

Having returned a few times since discovering these owls, most observers appear to be handling the situation reasonably well. However I have noted how the excitement of seeing the owls can supersede common sense actions like parking vehicles on the SAME side of the road, pulling your vehicle ENTIRELY off the busy roads and not speeding in your car to chase the owls up and down the two roads where the owls are regularly crossing.

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 as a helicopter flies over

The discovery of these Short-eared Owls tickles me. Who knew this location would be this good?! 

I have to say, I absolutely appreciate how patch birding has challenged me to scour under-birded areas for target species. It certainly has yielded some welcome discoveries. Imagine how much more diverse our records of species distribution would be if more people subscribed to patch birding instead of being focused on twitching the same birds at the same locations visited by so many other birders.

I challenge readers to "bird outside the box." Bird your patch. The satisfaction of finding an unreported Long-eared, Short-eared or Snowy Owl is quite gratifying, especially when they are close to home. Plus the sense of discovery and pure magic revealed in exploring under-birded pockets of nature is pretty spectacular even when it doesn't yield one of the majestic ambassadors.

Long-eared Owl, January 2021

If you live in a patch abundant with birders as I do, even the more heavily-birded natural areas have hidden secrets yet to be discovered. Nature has proven this to me time and again. 

Sure I still chase, Wisconsin lifers, county lifers. But the gratification of finding my own birds is unmatched. Plus dipping SUCKS. It is such a defeating experience that stands in nearly complete opposition to achieving any sort of mindful experience of my surroundings.

Short-eared Owl, Waunakee Area, Dane Co, WI 26Jan21 

So back to the moment at hand, the bliss and celebratory spirit I feel after revisiting the Short-eared Owls tonight. To my great fortune the owls were up flying well before sunset! Light for photography! And no crowds. I wondered if the owls were stirred by the many snowmobiles coursing through their hunting grounds following the substantial snow fall last night and through today. On the other hand, it could be the case that their hunt was cut short last night by the snow and therefore they began looking for food earlier today. That was the premise that motivated me to venture out. This evening was by far one of the most incredible owl connections I have had in recent memory. 

Overall I feel fairly lucky this season with owls. In the interest of the welfare of the owls, I did try to conceal locations, but apparently not so cleverly... C'est la vie. Some figured it out and provided precise locations on eBird. The result has mostly been positive as far as I am aware despite the drama some would like to create. Winter, owls and populated areas equals scuttlebutt. Tsk tsk. I am done going down that controvertible road. 

I find it rather peculiar the critics of my eBirding habits are out enjoying these same "owls of contention." 

Continuing Snowy Owl 22Jan21, Dane Co, WI. 

I first found this owl Dec 30 to tie first place at 238 species in the 2020 WI Local Patch Challenge

I for one could not be happier with the remains of this day.