Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-11-23
sHoRr-EARED owl.
fBy william butcher. Published BY the
National Association Of Audubon So
cietiea.1

above, black and ochraoeous mixed, each
feather having = dark center with an edging
sveqssins sbsn sss
males. both the black ard ochraceous being
more intense. Wings and tail dark brown,
shades. he undsr su9isce Of both ssinss
markedly lighter In color. Undesparts vary
ing from almost white In the male TO deep
breast, and narrowly ON abdomen and Hanks,
with dark brown. Face with . large white or
very pale bun ruiz and large black rings
about eyes; bill and claws almost black; toes
bright yellow In color.
Stxe-varies from IS 80 to 1915 inches from
Nest-Is always ON the ground, hidden in q
tall bunch Of grass or weeds. in slight hol-
low not over two inches in depth. The lining
OF the nest is few feathers and > small
Eggs -Usualiy from four to seven in num-
Der, white In color. usually with Q faint
creamy tint {Bendire)
The distribution OF the short cared owl
Is 80 extended that 1t may properly be
considered one Of the most cosmopolitan
OF all species Of birds. 1t is found in
nearly sll parts OF the western hem
isphere except portions of the West
Indies, and it also inhabits the eastern
AscuA1PuSAC3 cACcRt AubJkAllos III tue
United States 1t breeds northward from
about latitude thirty nine degrees. This
species is more migratory in its habits
than most OF the other owls; sometimes
being found in quite large bodies, espe-
cially on the southwark migration after
the breeding season is over.
II all birds were named from some
prominent Characteristic, this species OF
owl might properly be called the marsh
owl, a. it shuns the wooded districts and
Is found almost exclusively In the open
country - marshes, meadows, savannas
| and beaches along the coast. While these
| owls commonly hunt for food ut night,
yet they are very much more diurnal in
their habits than most OF the other species
OF owls, and ii is no uncommon occur
| renee to see short-eared owls coursing
over meadow in the daytime, especially
| II it is somewhat cloudy or dark or is
early or late in the day. When not hunt
ing, they remain hidden in the tall grass
or weeds, from which they will not flush
very easily.
Economically, the short-eared owl is Of
the utmost value and deserves the most
rigid protection. ALI Of the evidence OBJ
tainable regarding this species indicates
that its food consists, almost exclusively,
Of noxious animals, with some insects
Referring to bulletin No. 8, United States
department Of agriculture, it is stated:
4 Fully rs per cent. Of the stomachs examined
contain mice. The remains OF as many as six
OF these little mammals were found In one
| stomach, and several contained three or four
| each. OF the other mammals which this owl
| feeds upon may be mentioned shrews
| gophers, and sometimes small rabbits. In
one specimen pellet ready for reorganization
contained ten nearly perfect skulls of shrews
The same character OF testimony comes
from both Europe and Asia, for in
| Yarrell's British Birds" it is stated, that
when plaques Of mice occur, owls throng
to the spot, rendering the greatest service
in extirpating the pests"
Undoubtedly the short-eared owls prev
to a very limited extent upon small birds;
but the percentage OF harm is so small,
when compared with good the owls do,
that it should not be taken into account.
Their regular and principa food is noxious
mammals, with some beetles, locusts and
| other insects, and an occasional bird. It
is very well-authenticated fact that in
large game preserves, where hawks and
| owls are shot to the point OF extermina-
ton, the inevitable result is an abnormal
| increase in rats and mice, even to the ex-
tent ofa plague.
On one occasion the writer kept short
cared owl in captivity for about a month
in order to study its habits. 1t was con-
fined in large box with wire front, at
first in the open air and, subsequently, in
light cellar. Every effort was made to
tame its wildness by handling it with the
greatest gentleness and never approaching
1t abruptly. No measure of success at
tended the effort; on the contrary, the
owl seemed to grow wilder and more ex-
citable when approached.
A visitor was always saluted with q
series Of violent Kisses, accompanied by q
ruffiing OF the feathers over the whole
body. The Kisses were often followed by
violent swapping OF the mandibles.
which was continued for some time. es-
pecially il food were not given. II the
visit were in the daytime, the exhibitions
of fear or temper were much more violent
than at night. This may be accounted for
from the fact that at night the owl was
dazzled by bright light being held
within q few inches OF the cage. II the
light were moved from end to end OF the
cage, the eyes OF the owl always followed
it, thus showing that the light was
much stronger attraction than the visitor;
however, the light was by no means 80 alb
sorbing that it prevented the owl from
selling food when presented, il hungry;
il not hungry, no attention would be paid
to anything but the flame. II food were
seized it was merely held by the claws
until the light was removed. 1t was
also one Of the owls habits to hold sur