. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. Observations on Nesting Hawk Owls at the Mer Bleue, near Ottawa, Canada' Donald A. Smith Museum of Zoology, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa 1, Ontario Abstract. After a spectacular incursion of Hawk Owls (Surnia ulida) near Ottawa, Ontario in the fall and winter of 1962-63, one pair remained and nested near the Mer Bleue Peat Bog, a boreal 'island' 10 miles SE of Ottawa. This nesting is the first definite breeding record for Southern Ontario and extends the known breeding range in the province 300 miles southeast. The hunting
. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. Observations on Nesting Hawk Owls at the Mer Bleue, near Ottawa, Canada' Donald A. Smith Museum of Zoology, Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa 1, Ontario Abstract. After a spectacular incursion of Hawk Owls (Surnia ulida) near Ottawa, Ontario in the fall and winter of 1962-63, one pair remained and nested near the Mer Bleue Peat Bog, a boreal 'island' 10 miles SE of Ottawa. This nesting is the first definite breeding record for Southern Ontario and extends the known breeding range in the province 300 miles southeast. The hunting behaviour, small mammal prey, nest site, diverse vocal repertoire, and behaviour near the nest are described. One of the highlights of the 1962-63 fall and winter seasons in the Ottawa region, as in other parts of southern Ontario and Quebec, was a spectacular incursion of Hawk Owls, Surnia ulula (L,), which coincided with high local populations of meadow voles, Microtus penn- sylvanicus (Ord). The first 1962 fall report of a Hawk Owl in the district was a single bird seen by Rowley Frith of Ottawa at Woodlawn, Torbolton Township, Carleton County on 2 November 1962. Another single bird was seen in Nepean Township near the western outskirts of Ottawa on 3 and 5 November 1962 by Dr. C. Frankton. Further observations of single birds at many localities within the Ottawa area were numerous during November and Decem- ber but became less frequent in the early part of 1963. The latest Ottawa area record of which I am aware for this winter for a Hawk Owl other than the individuals treated below was one bird seen on 3 February by Mr. and Mrs. H. N. MacKenzie near where Highway 17 crosses the Mississippi River in Fitzroy Township, Carleton County, Ontario. As Hawk Owls could often be seen repeated- ly at the same stations for several weeks or more, it seems likely that the same birds took up residence where suitable high perches were located in adequate hunting grounds. One of the 'Contr
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