86 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 73 



long-eared owls were found in the McKenzie Creek Wildlife Area (T. 37 N., 

 R. 16 W.) and the SterUng Pine Barrens (T. 36 N., R. 20 W.) during 1972-74. 

 In Burnett County, nests have been found in jack pine habitat west of 

 Grantsburg. Although breeding records are lacking for other counties in the 

 Valley, nesting is expected in suitable habitat. 



Winter: Rare winter resident in the Western Upland, casual north of this 

 area. 



Habitat: Nesting long-eared owls are usually associated with pine forests 

 and Pine Plantations. The St. Croix County pair was found in a small valley 

 of Southern Deciduous Forest. Wintering long-eared owls are usually asso- 

 ciated with Pine Plantations and young pine forests. 



Short-eared Owl {Asio flammeus) 



Status: Regular migrant, casual summer and rare winter resident, one nest 

 record. 



Migration: Rare migrant throughout the Valley. Spring migrants arrive 

 about 15 March and are most commonly observed 15-30 April. Most 

 have departed by 10 May. FaU migrants arrive about 25 September. Peak 

 numbers occur 30 October to 1 December and most depart by 15 December. 



Nesting Season Distribution: C. R. Elliott observed a short-eared owl nest 

 with three young in St. Croix County on 15 June 1978. This nest was located 

 in a Managed Grassland on the Oakridge Waterfowl Production Area near 

 New Richmond (Sec. 17, T. 31 N., R 17 W.). This represents the only known 

 nest record for the Valley. The presence of additional midsummer records 

 from Crex Meadows, Burnett County (1968-74), Polk County (1974), and St. 

 Croix County (1976) suggest that this species nests sparingly throughout 

 the Valley in suitable habitat. There are no known summer records for the 

 Minnesota counties. 



Winter: Rare winter resident in St. Croix, Washington, and Burnett 

 counties. Although most records are from the CBC, two mid-January 

 records exist for Crex Meadows. 



Habitat: All breeding season records of this species have been made from 

 Northern Sedge Meadow and retired grassland habitats. Wintering short- 

 eared owls occur in sedge meadows and grassy fields. 



Snowy Owl {Nyctea scandiaca) 



Status: Regular migrant and winter resident. 



Migration: Rare spring and fall migrant throughout the Valley. Yearly abun- 

 dance varies considerably and migrating and wintering populations appear 

 to be regulated by a 4-year cycle of small mammal populations on this 

 species' tundra breeding areas. Fall migrants arrive in mid-November (ear- 

 liest— 14 October 1918, Pine County; 2 November 1963, Crex Meadows) and 

 during "invasion" years, reach peak abundance 15 December to 1 January. 



