What can we look forward
to?
According to the annual predictions of Ron
Pittaway (of the Ontario Field Naturalists): The widespread abundance
of seeds, berries, nuts and fruits (mast) is providing a huge food supply for
small mammals such as voles, so their numbers should be increasing. Most boreal forest owls
(Northern Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, Boreal Owl) likely will stay close to
breeding territories this winter. Increasing numbers of small
mammals will increase owl breeding success next spring and summer.
BUT will they come south??
In the eternally optimistic view of Scott
Weidensaul:
his observation regarding vole populations
bodes very, very well for next year, especially considering the large number of young
saw-whets
being reported at northern banding stations this season. A well-provisioned female
saw-whet may lay up to 11 eggs, which means 2007 may be the kind
of major invasion year we haven't seen since 1995 and '99. We'll
keep our fingers crossed...