Winter Food of the Short-eared Owl in Central New York

Abstract

A group of short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) has occupied a small suburban park near East Syracuse, New York, for a number of winters. Residents living at the edge of the park reported seeing as many as 32 at one time. The writer first learned of this group in March 1953 and at that time there were about 14 owls in the area. In 1954 still fewer owls were present; the number was estimated at seven. The park is irregular in shape and covers about 10 acres. It was planted with a row of spruce trees around the margin and small groups of spruce and cedars through the central part. These trees average about 20 feet in height and are crowded where they have not been thinned. The area is divided into two nearly equal parts by a highway. There are about a dozen homes adjacent to the park. The park and homes are completely surrounded with open fields that have been abandoned for agriculture for a number of years and are now covered with a heavy growth of grasses and weeds. There are a few scattered bushes in these fields and an occasional small tree. On March 19, 1954, a large part of these fields had been burned over and a quick reconnaissance revealed many signs of mice. Runways were close together and many nests and nest sites were in evidence. Therefore well stocked hunting grounds were available within a short distance on all sides of the park. Approximately 1000 pellets were collected from the roosting area in late winter of 1953 and 1954. When the first collection was made, in March 1953, only fresh or well-formed pellets were kept. During the period of this study the area was visited repeatedly and on no occasion was any other species of owl seen. The uniformity in shape, size, and structure of pellets also indicates only short-eared owls in the area. Interested residents were questioned and reported they had seen only one kind' of owl.