The species diversity of raptors increases substantially during migrational periods. During the winter, occasional observations of snowy owls, short-eared owls, golden eagles, and rough-legged hawks are recorded. Great horned owls are common winter residents. Northern harriers, American kestrels, and short-eared owls typically are the first spring arrivals. They are usually followed closely by bald eagles. As spring gains a hold of weather patterns, a host of returning species, including Swainson’s, red-tailed, and the less common ferruginous hawks wing their way across portions of the Refuge, with resident pairs commonly distributing themselves in preferred nesting habitats. As spring turns to summer and pastures green up, short grazed pastures occasionally attract burrowing owls which can provide hours of birding entertainment. Throughout the summer months, pairs of the more common nesting raptors are observed working the prairies for a meal and to feed their young. Late summer characteristically reveals a host of young raptors in immature plumage canvassing the horizons, learning to fly and make their living on the abundance of the prairie landscape. As the chill of late fall and early winter sets a course for rapid departure from the prairie, migration brings a new array of raptors which feed and urgently move onward to more hospitable climates. The birds which utilized the area as home for the spring and summer period are lost in the mix of departing and migrating raptors. Winter excludes all but the hardy, and the prairie becomes a quiet provider for only those few avian predators capable of ranging far and wide, living on only what a very un-yielding prairie environment is willing to give
............................................................................................................................................. Northern harrier © Patsy Renz

Staff make general notes on raptor observations through the year. Two owl species highlight 2002 sightings. Beginning with a November 9, 2001 sighting and continuing through the winter and early spring, an amazing number of snowy owls were recorded throughout the WMD. The last sighting in the spring of 2002 was on April 12th. Additionally, multiple pairs of breeding burrowing owls were observed west of Strasburg in Emmons County. Young-of -the-year were observed on multiple occasions in the month of July. Below is a list of spring arrival dates and winter resident species observations for the 15 raptor species observed District-wide in 2002 and 2003.

Northern harrier

Please direct questions and comments to:

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
12000 353rd St. SE
Moffit, North Dakota 58560-9704
Phone: 701-387-4397
E-mail: longlake@fws.gov