Boreal Owl - Ross Feldner “Boreal” means northern and north is where this secretive small owl lives, breeding in dense boreal, subalpine forest as well as mixed woodland. Its preferred habitats are old-growth forests as they provide shelter from avian predators and an abundance of prey. They spend their days roosting, well camouflaged in dense cover, and their nights hunting small mammals like voles and shrews, as well as squirrels, bats, gophers and occasionally birds and insects. Breeding begins with a lengthy courtship process where males sing for up to 102 days, starting from mid-February to mid-April, depending on environmental factors like prey availability and weather. The nest is usually a hole in a tree often made by a woodpecker, but the birds also readily use nest-boxes. During breeding season, females lay one egg every two days, and eggs hatch in the order in which they were laid. Talk about birth order! Logging activities especially for use to make tissue products have had a negative impact on prey availability, foraging efficiency and suitable nesting sites and agricultural pesticide use contributes to damaging the species’ health. The preservation of old-growth forest is critical to the Boreal Owl’s success. | |
