November on the Marsh
November on the marsh signals the start of a new season, the end of the
growing season and the gateway to winter, challenging temperatures may occur and
possibly even snowfall. Migration has allowed the insect eating birds to seek warmer
climates, while predators and seed eaters persist on the landscape. For some northern
species, this is their southernmost range and others simply stay put and use the
adaptations that nature has designed for them to help them thrive through adverse
conditions. Mammals have developed fat layers and warm winter coats, reptiles and
amphibians are hidden away in wintering locations beneath the land or water areas. To
someone just passing through, the landscape may seem lifeless for a while, but when
the first frosting of snow occurs the evidence is in the footprints and trails that animals
are still active although often unseen. Our seasonal changes offer us unique
opportunities to see and experience nature in so many ways because of constantly
changing conditions.
It is common to hear great horned owls, barred owls and screech owls calling
from wooded areas at night throughout the year but there is a unique owl that winters in
our area that you may not be familiar with, the short-eared owl. These medium sized
owls occasionally show up at Collins Marsh but are more often seen at the nearby
Killsnake Wildlife Area.
Short- eared owls hunt over grasslands, prairies and marshes in search of mice
and voles. Unlike most other owls, they hunt and may be seen in the daylight hours,
usually around dawn or dusk. The short-eared owl is a beautiful bird with mottled brown
feathers above and white to cream colored below, a very rounded face, piercing yellow
eyes and black beak. It glides effortlessly over the grassland and drops unexpectedly to
the ground to capture prey. Its brown coloration helps it disappear in the grassland and
even if visible during the daylight, it may blend so well into its surroundings that they are
often easily overlooked. Like most of Wisconsin’s grassland bird species, habitat loss
may be their biggest threat. Unlike other owls they nest on the ground so predators
would be another threat to their population.
It is always exciting to watch short-eared owls appear in the late afternoon and fly
over the grassland, occasionally sparing with each other midair or even landing on the
ground, often using a dead tree snag or road sign for a perch. We are lucky to live in an
area which offers this kind of display. People drive across the state to see the short-
eared owls hunt the grasslands at the Killsnake Wildlife Area.
Join us at Neustadter Nature Center on Saturday, November 7 th at 1PM for our
next educational event. WDNR Wildlife Biologist, Stephen Easterly, will be speaking
about the Furbearers of Wisconsin. Admission is free and all are welcome. Collins
Marsh is a great place to visit any time of the year. What a wonderful opportunity to
learn more about the animals that call it home.
