Snowy, Long-eared, Screech Owl St. Clair county

[Russell Emmons]

The past few days has seen a lot of raptor activity here in our farm Twp.  2 days ago our son-in-law Mark Uppleger came upon a Snowy Owl right along side the road sitting next to an abandoned barn.  My wife Syl and I scoured the area  the past 2 days in vain trying to relocate this bird. While searching we came upon several notewothy raptors in the area!  Several Kestrels, several Red Tail Hawks, one probable Rough-legged, (too far out to ID for sure)  a beautiful male Harrier working a big fallow field, a beautiful Coopers Hawk raiding our feeders at home!  Also at home we now have our regular Eastern Screech Owl returned to roost in one of our Wood Duck boxes. He sticks his head out of the box during the day and intently watches our feeder birds.
   Yesterday our search was abandoned due to severe "white out flurries" that came up.  Today I don't think I will venture out in the brutal, dangerous wind chill!
     I didn't post the Snowy on mich-listers since I did not see it and haven't relocated it (yet!)   I have the utmost confidence in my son-in-laws ID tho. He is very knowledgable particulary with raptors and game birds and has seen many Snowys before. This bird as stated was only several feet off the road!  If anyone does wish to chase this bird, it was east of the city of Richmond, west of I94, south of St. Clair highway, specifically on Church Road. Look for an old abandoned farm barn on the west side of the road that says "Providence Farm". This is where the owl was first spotted. Get off I94 at Exit 257, head west on Division (32 mile Rd.) to Church Rd. turn south on Church Rd.  Or take Gratiot (M19) to 32 Mile Rd. head east to Church Rd. 

      The Long-eared Owl was found injured near Capac. Arrangements were made to transport it to a licensed rehabilitator but sadly it died before getting there.This bird was then brought to Michigan State University for pathology/research.
      A photo of this bird (while alive) can be seen at www.northbirding.com   "Sightings Forum"


Russ Emmons, Casco Twp. St. Clair county birdeland at pasty.net  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/mich-chat/attachments/20070203/6915ba9c/attachment.html