Recent Birds

Things are picking up around Peace Region. I went out on Friday and came across 2 adult Gyrfalcons. I wasn't able to trap them because they both had full crops but when I went back on Saturday I was setting up for a Snowy Owl and this juvy Gyr came in and I managed to catch it with my bownet.

Snowy Owls have arrived again this year in decent numbers and now they seem to be hungry. I've caught 7 so far and they are all juvy birds. Looks like they had another decent breeding year in the arctic.

Hungry Hawks

Winter arrived 2 weeks early along with Snowy Owls. The first Snowy I found was on Oct.28th and all I can say is that they aren't reacting to my bait like they did last year. I've tried for 12 different Snowies and haven't had any interest.


With the first winter dump of snow a week and a half ago I was very lucky in catching 7 Rough-legged Hawks and 2 Harlan's Hawks. Here are some photos showing the difference in plumage in Roughies. These birds were in terrible shape being very much underweight, I had 3 RLHA's and 1 HRLH on my trap at once. I managed to catch 2 of the 4.

SY Harlan's Hawk



SY Harlan's Hawk



Harlan's Hawk Tail

AHY Male Rough-legged Hawk



SY Rough-legged Hawk







ASY Male Rough-legged Hawk



HY Rough-legged Hawk





Hawk Fight



Roughie Tail