Since early December, between 2-5 Short-eared Owls, or Shorties as they are more affectionately known as, can be observed hunting in the managed grasslands at the Sanctuary.  According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Fact Sheet, despite having a worldwide distribution, Shorties in Eastern Massachusetts are as rare as the open habitats they prefer.  Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont are the only states in the Northeast that maintain breeding pairs of Short-eared Owls.  According to the Natural Heritage Database from 1983-present, out of the four states, Massachusetts maintains the largest breeding population with 20-25 breeding pairs located in four regions on the Cape and Islands.  It also states that the greatest threat to this species is loss of habitat because the large, open, undisturbed areas of the state are under enormous threats for development.

Mass.Wildlife Fact Sheet

Based on the regular observations of the Short-eared Owls at the Sanctuary from 2015- present, our visiting Shorties seem to prefer roosting in the second year rotation grassland habitats or in locations that appear similar in character.  The Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Breeding Bird Atlas 1 Species Account describes Short-eared Owls as an open country species that winters in coastal regions of the state and often forms communal roosts on the ground.  This is remarkably similar to what we have observed at Bear Creek.   Typically when encountered at the Sanctuary, two or three owls will pop out of the grassland within a few hundred square feet of each other.   Once up and active, the owls continue to hunt across the entire grassland for an extended period of time.  Even more interesting is that often times, perhaps 30% or more, the excitement of the owls taking flight flushes 1-3 Eastern Meadowlarks, Sturnella magna, from the same area.  This seemingly coincidental association between the two species is just a little too common to ignore.  The MAS Breeding Bird Atlas 1 data collected from 1975-1979 indicates that Short-eared Owls can be found in only 1.3% of the state.  The MAS Breeding Bird Atlas 2 indicates that the Massachusetts population has continued to decline significantly.

MAS BBA 1

MAS BBA 2

Having a large and active population of Short-eared Owls at the Sanctuary this season has been a real treat.  According to Cornell University, the worldwide population of Short-eared Owls has remained stable for the last 50 years.  Partners in Flight estimates that of the global breeding population of 3 million, approximately 14% spend a portion of their time within the United States.  The Cornell website also agrees with Mass Wildlife’s findings that habitat loss appears to be the major cause for population declines.  “Short-eared Owls require large uninterrupted tracts of open grasslands, and appear to be particularly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation.” The site goes on to make note that grassland restoration efforts, similar to the ongoing grassland restoration efforts at the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, have shown some success in restoring suitable habitats for Short-eared Owls on private lands.

Cornell University All About Birds

Special thanks to the Mass Wildlife Natural Heritage Program, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and to Cornell University for not only maintaining such wonderful online resources free to the public, but also for the extraordinary efforts these organizations preform each and every day in the conservation and preservation of our natural resources.