[Birdtalk] Short-eared Owl Extravaganza

[Kristin Purdy]

Curlew Valley in north-central Box Elder County has produced a phenomenal number of Short-eared Owls this year. Thanks to Arnold and Linda Smith who originally tipped me off about these owls. Arnold and Linda counted 63 owls on an 18-mile or so stretch of road from Curlew Junction to Kelton on June 1. Another observer also saw 63 on June 17. Adults and juveniles can be seen on fenceposts, on the ground away from the road, and coursing over the road at dawn and presumably at dusk. 

On my visit last week I arrived at 5:30 am, a half-hour before sunrise. It took me 3 hours to drive the same route Arnold and Linda drove in 20 minutes. I saw 21 owls and the birds were petering out by the time I turned around to retrace my route at 8:30 am. In fact, I only saw 2 owls on the return. But I'm not complaining about ONLY seeing 21 Short-eared Owls in one morning. I stopped at EVERY BIRD, live or dead, and I'm sure the live ones had gone to roost by the time this slowpoke turned around.  

The highway is causing significant carnage on the owl population. Along with 21 live birds, I counted 14 carcasses, one of which was a Barn Owl. Those numbers don't include carcasses that might have been on the grassy shoulders; I only looked for carcasses on pavement. SR-30 is the main thoroughfare across extreme Northern Utah and highway speeds are typical. Linda told me she had to do a lot of gentle swerving to avoid hitting owls that were coursing low over the road. Another observer told me he saw a juvenile feeding on a roadkilled skunk in the road. 

The owls that perch on fenceposts are extremely skittish and most don't allow a close approach. Be prepared with scopes on window mounts and long lenses. 

If you visit the area and arrive before dawn or leave after dusk, please be aware that both Short-eared and Barn Owls are aerial hunters and use the first 10 feet of elevation to find their prey. Birders are likely to drive more slowly and to stop in the attempt to see these birds, but when we decide home is calling, perhaps we resume highway speeds and could hit an owl as easily as the cattle trucks do that use the road. 

To reach this area, take I-84 to exit 5, Snowville. Turn west on SR-30 and drive approximately 15 miles to Curlew Junction. You may start seeing owls along this stretch; I didn't begin to see them until I reached Curlew Junction. Bear southwest on SR-30 at Curlew Junction when SR-42 continues west and watch for owls on fenceposts on the south side of the road. About 10 miles west you'll see the brown sign to Kelton, a left (south) turn. The road to Kelton is a dirt surface and open range; you should see more owls along this stretch. I didn't see any carcasses on the road to Kelton, but I did see adults landing on the road and juveniles out on the range. This stretch is 6-8 miles long. You could also continue south past Kelton, bear left when the road splits and then follow the signs toward the Old Railroad Grade for more birdwatching.

Other birds worth watching in the area include phenomenal numbers of Swainson's Hawks anywhere there's irrigated farmland, Burrowing Owls, Barn Owls, and families of noisy adult Long-billed Curlews with fluffy chicks. 

Kris
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