Vermont news articles in recent winters have spotlighted the exotic mid-winter visits of snowy owls to our state – often juvenile birds pushed from overcrowded northern territories when the lemmings are lacking. If you look out your window this March, however, you’re more likely to spot a Vermont native owl species – barred owl – perched near your bird feeder. This sort of special appearance has been even more common than usual this spring due to deep snow conditions that have made it more difficult for owls to catch their rodent prey. Owl rehabilitators at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) have also seen a notable spike in injured or sick barred owl “patients” this winter, which they attribute to a number of factors including the difficult winter conditions and a high owl population; due to very successful breeding season last year.
While it would make sense to feel sympathy for the chickadees, redpolls, and other songbirds when a well-taloned barred owl shows up at the feeder, the more likely targets for the owl are the squirrels and smaller rodents that the fallen bird seeds attract to the surface of the snow. Also, an owl driven to perch repeatedly in an exposed place near houses, pets, pestering blue jays and crow (and its greatest nemesis – the great horned owl) while it waits for prey, is likely a very hungry owl.
March, in addition to being quite winter-like in Vermont, is also the height of the barred owl courtship and breeding season – further taxing energy reserves. Barred owls are also the most common and widespread of the seven resident owl species in Vermont (how many of the other six do you know?), and are more diurnal (daytime active) than some other owls, increasing the likelihood of them being seen at feeders. Barred owls also have fairly small territories, less than 4 square miles, so there’s a good chance that the owl at your feeder is the same one that you hear in the neighborhood at other times of the year making its classic “who cooks for you…who cooks for you-allll” (listen here) call, or its maniacal monkey sounding territorial calls (listen here).
So the next time that you are filling your feeder, take comfort in the knowledge that you may be making life just a tad bit easier for owls as well as the songbirds. Do remember, though, to take down that feeder before April, or a hungry black bear that just woke up on the wrong side of the den might join your list of daily visitors. By that time, more foods are also becoming available in our forests, lessening the need for feeder support.