December 20, 2025: Short-eared Owl Prowl

Perhaps the most mysterious and captivating species of birds, owls have inspired a sense of wonder and wisdom upon those fortunate to catch a glimpse. Lucky for us, Short-eared Owls are more frequently seen during the daytime than other owls, especially around dawn and dusk, when they lazily fly over open fields.

What better time to witness these fascinating owls than Winter Solstice? A time for contemplation, inner stillness, and reflection, this owl prowl encouraged us to be still, to pause, look, and listen to our surroundings in contemplation. What better way to ring in a new year?

Short-eared Owl at Oswalt Family Farms on December 19, 2021.

A group of 14 curious birders gathered around for a pre-trip briefing, sipping on mugs of herbal chai. I made homemade chai with cinnamon, clove, anise, pepper, ginger, tulsi, and lemon verbena. It was a huge hit, and kept us warm as we learned a little bit about these owls.

I spoke a little bit about the Short-eared Owl so that folks could get to know them a little better. We talked about traits such as size and shape, color pattern, behavior, and habitat. For example did you know that Short-eared Owls sometimes vocalize when hunting at dusk? Their call is referred to as a “bark”, as they sound like a small dog barking. Check out this vocalization by clicking “listen” here.

Before participants arrived, I also placed a decoy Short-eared Owl nearby so folks could practice observation and identification skills on-site before we carpooled to the location.

After a 25-minute drive, we arrived at Oswalt Family Farms, a cattle and sheep farm located in rural Vicksburg, MI, where Short-eared Owls have been known to hunt for the past couple of years. We stood for quite some time, often in silence, as we observed the environment around us. The air was milder than it has been lately, near 40 degrees, and winds were not terribly gusty, which made for a pleasant experience.

Our view at Oswalt Family Farms.

And so we waited patiently. During this time we witnessed many Mallards flying to and from the nearby fields. Mixed in with them were some American Black Ducks. We also spotted a Red-tailed Hawk, Sandhill Cranes, and heard some American Tree Sparrows. For the full eBird checklist, click here.

Just as the daylight waned, we were able to spot one Short-eared Owl, far off in the distance, perched on a fence post. What a treat this was to witness! Veiled by dusk, we only were able to observe for a few short moments before he took back off again to hunt the fields in darkness.

I am so grateful for the time we spent together in nature, observing the natural world around us. Until next time, happy birding!