N.Y.S Niagara County BOS March 7th 2010 Owl Prowl

March 7th BOS Owl Prowl with leader Chuck Rosenburg turned out great with several great observations trying for the Barred Owl at our first stop which we heard at a distance but never observed the Owl. The sun was shinning and the warmer temperature made our day long search for Owls comfortable and enjoyable.

Our second stop we observed a Great Horned Owl which is the largest and best known of the common owls which was on its nest which trilling all observers who snapped photos and observed through spotting scopes.


We stopped at several sites one where we observed a Eastern Screech Owl which inhabits all of North America (Gray & Red phased) roosting in a broke off dead tree who seemed comfortable & relaxed who was probably wandering what was so interesting to us, we took photos and observe it through spotting scopes for a short time.

We then headed for the Wilson/Tuscarora State Park on Rt 18 to look for Owls in the pine tree through out the park which turned out no owls but the exercise from the walk felt good. I took this photo of a Red Tailed Hawk flying over Rt 18 on our way to the State Park.

When we finished looking through most of the pine trees at the Wilson/Tuscarora State Parks we headed toward the Town of Wilson for a quick supper. We then headed for the town of Somerset to observe the Snowy Owl who has been seen frequently over the last several month in a plowed field off Rt 18. The 2 photos below were taken taken several weeks ago but i included them on this blog for views to see the large Northern American owl who is just visiting for a short time from Canada's Northern Territories.



We then proceeded to the Niagara County Short Eared Owl study area in Hartland to see if we could observe any Short Eared Owls that frequent the area where 2 Short Eared Owls have been captured one SEO had a backpack type Satellite Transmitter attached, the 2nd SEO had a backpack type Radio Transmitter attached so they can be tracked for the studies research to watch their migrating and roosting travels. We didn't have luck observing any Short Eared Owls foraging but Chuck Rosenburg located the SEO with the Radio Transmitter at a good distance from the road but flew in the opposite direction when it left the roost site. I have attached the next 4 photos of previously captured Short Eared Owls for you pleasure and for educational purposes which will conclude this blog of the 2010 Niagara County Owl Prowl.

2008-2009 Short Eared Owl of New York Study.

New York State DEC Short Eared Owl Study 2008 - 2009

2/18/2009

This years the Short Eared Owl study is off to a good start, we have captures 7 Short Eared Owls to date, banding and collecting scientific data of the owls.

3 of the Short Eared Owls were captured in the Town of Hartland which were banded and scientific data collected which then the owls were then release back into their area from which is was captured.

4 more Short Eared Owls were caputered in the Town of Wheatfield.

2 of the Short Eared Owls were fitted with Satellite Transmitter which will send the owls location so it can be monitored and tracked through outs it's travels.

The other 5 Short Eared Owls were fitted with Radio Transmitters to be monitored in the area in which it was captured and released in.

Chuck Rosenburg is a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Biologist who is in charge of Region 9s Short Eared Owl Study. Chuck spend countless afternoon and evening hours with many volunteers who use Bal-Chatri, Carpet Noose and a Bow Net trap to capture the owls which starts as early as 2pm and could last til 9pm into the night.

Short Eared Owls are a State listed Endangered species, at several sites in western NY.

One objective of the study is to document short eared owl wintering locations in western NY. The information will be used to establish a long-term population monitoring program. Another objective of the study is to monitor short eared owl movement to identify important foraging habits and roost sites.

The findings of the study will ultimately be applied toward developing a conservation plan for this endangered species.

My name is Tom Poczciwinski and I volunteer at the study areas taken many photos of the Short Eared Owls while they are being processed for scientific data. There are several photos of the volunteers who have dedicated countless hours observing and tracking the owls through the evening hours.

These photos that I'm sharing with you will show several of the Short Eared Owls that were capture and released during the study and several of the volunteers who attended the study sessions.

Saw Whet Owl on the BOS Owl Prowl trip.

Here are some photos from this weekends B.O.S Owl Prowl trip with our leader Chuck Rosenberg. This year the owl prowl was in Niagara County starting & ending at the Summit Park Mall. The group saw a Great Horned, 2 Barred, Short Eared, 2 Eastern Screech & a Saw Whet Owl. Other birds of prey that was sighted during the trip was a Bald Eagle, Turkey Vultures, American Kestrels, Red Tailed & Rough Legged Hawks, The trip was great, stopping at several locations & walking to owl sighting areas using spotting scopes and binoculars to view the owls while several people enjoyed taking photos.

Great Horned Owl on it's nest. Not a great photo but it shows

how the owl blends into it's enviroment so well.
Here are 2 Ring Billed Gulls watching the group of Owl seekers
trudging through the snow.

Saw Whet Owl at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
Almost invisable to most walking through the area,
roosting low in a pine tree covered by dense needle covered branches.

You can take Professional photos right in your own backyard or by traveling to local areas not far from your own home. Many people think you have to travel to far reaches of the world to take great photos. I structured this blog showing several of my photos which were taking in my backyard and other that were less than 40 miles from our home. While taking photos at a Zoo or Aquarium use your backgrounds to your advantage and use a zoom lens for those close-up shots. With digital cameras you can take several photos of one subject changing setting and delete what you don't want. I enjoy using a macro lens getting that close up look, letting everybody see things in a different prospective.

Here a Gray Squirrel is sitting patiently, pondering

why the dog is not trying to chase it.

Rose Mallow-Macro

A boat leaving the Olcott Harbor,

with the Toronto shore line in the back ground.

This photo was taken at the Niagara Falls Aquarium

this past summer, putting the flash strobe right against the tank glass.

Garden Spider spinning Water Bug into Silken Sac

which was hanging from our pools edge.

This photo is the boat launch area at Golden Hill State Park.

I do a lot of my photography work is this area

which is not far from where I live.

I took this photo of this Red Breasted Merganser which was trapped

in the Golden Hill State Park boat launch bay in a 15 foot open area

for close to a week. The shore line ice went out about 300 yards

which prevented it from flying out of the bay area.

Hummingbird Moth while I was working in one of our backyard gardens.

Lake shore Walrus Ice form taken while photographing

30 Mile Lighthouse and shore line during the winter.

Barn Owl at one of our Iroquois Observation weekend programs.

Tony Wagner was our program presenter with birds of prey.

Pied Billed-Grebe getting a running start.

Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park.

A pair of Mallard ducks in flight at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

while walking down Feeder Rd.

This is a Scenic photo taken at Lake Ontario at the 30 mile Lighthouse site.

A Brown Bear at the Buffalo Zoo looking content.

Sucker fish in our home aquarium.

Oldsquaw duck at Golden Hill State Park
near the boat launch bay.

White Tailed Deer - behind by parents house

which is part of the Hartland swamp area.

Pileated Woodpecker - Hartland Swamps

Common Idia Moth at our hummingbird feeder using a Macro Lens.