Self-Appointed “Bird Nerd” Spots Rare Gathering Of Short-Eared Owls

Short-eared owls are daylight hunters that prefer open, grassy areas. When James David Saul spotted several circling over a field, he felt compelled to film the almost ritualistic circling. James is a self-described “bird nerd,” and it is easy to see why he was mesmerized by the sight.

Videos by InspireMore

The short-eared owls are all over the northern United States and Canada. They prefer open grassland areas for hunting, perching in low trees, or resting on the ground. They have extremely tiny ears, but they have easy-to-spot rounded wings. Their stiff-winged flight pattern makes them look almost like large moths in flight.

Frequently out during daylight hours, you can identify the short-eared owl by its black-rimmed, yellow eyes. They hunt primarily at dawn and dusk, using their excellent hearing ability to hunt small prey. You can find this species happily hunting near marshes, cleared fields, airports, and clear-cut areas. They fly low when hunting, sometimes crisscrossing an area in a circular pattern. James caught several short-eared owls circling their hunting grounds. The sight is very captivating.

Short-eared owls are migratory. The birds follow rodents from the northernmost reaches of Canada and Alaska to many southern states in the U.S. They are visible throughout the year in several states in the Pacific Northwest, as far east as the Dakotas.

The female does not leave the nest during incubation. Both partners will protect the nest. Hatchlings can walk around on the ground within a few weeks of birth. They’ll fly around one month to five weeks of age. They are about the size of a typical seagull or mallard. The group James spotted may be a family.

We hope you enjoyed learning about nature’s “most seen” owls.

Please share.

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.