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Novmb~r 2? 1*~1 ~ J From A round Ho-me The movement is southward While many of the homosapiens Snowbirds have or are preparing to mnove soumhward for the winter much the same is also taking place in the avian world. As a result last week tumnet out to be a bumper week for some of mhose northern visitors (birds) which come about on generally a four year cycle. In the bird world il is ail a matter of food supply for when the lenmmings and other rodents reach rock-bottom in ninnbers in the north such birds as Snowy and Great Grey Owls along wim mte Hawk Owl make a more southem climate home for the winter. You can also add to these birds the Rough-Legged Hawk. We understand that rodents are low in numbers in mhe norili mis year but mhe smal rodents are at the top of their cycle in southern Ontario so there is a good food source for the birds of prey during this coming winter. To stat off with the northiem visitors 1 received a caîl from Bill Tamblyn that a Snowy Owl was percheti atop a fence post soumh of the ban. Upon tripping off to the Tamblyn's there it was in ail its spiendor placently perched atop the fence post. As ail Snowies it was strikingly white with markings of black and brown and those yellow eyes and seemed impervious to what was going on around it. The visit to the Tamblyns was most rewarding as far as birds were concerned for as 1 was getting out of lte car a Sharp Shinned Hawk was on attack in mhe barnyard on what were lilcely sparrows which were out of sight. It was ramher surprising to flnd a Sharp Shinned in mhe bamnyard as mhey are birds of woodland and wood edges. It is a resident of mhese areas during mhe summer but does migrate soumh for the witer. Thtis bird, mhe smallest of mhe accipter hawks is some larger mhan a blue jay, did make its appearance once more as it took a swooping pass at the Snowy OwI, no0 doubt endeavouring to discourage il to hang around in its feeding grounds. 'Me Sharp Shinned was not the only hawk mhat was upset over mhe presence of the Snowy for as we were viewing the Snowy a MarsIt Hawk, another summer dweller made a similar pass at the northern visitor. It was al quite interesting and a lot of bird activity packed into a short period of time. As to the I-awk Owl it showed up back of the printing office as Chris and 1 were trying to absorb mhe last few elements of heat front mhe outdoors on a coffe break. Chris drew attention to tIis bird percheti aîop a clothesline pole. There is no0 doubt mhe bird was a Hawk Owl due to its markings and its gliding retreat into the valley from mhe pole perch. The Hawk Owl, you may remember, was the subject of much attention some four years ago east of Orono on the flfth liue road. Hundreds upon Itundreds visited the area from many miles away just to get a sighting of mhe bird. Again tIis bird is fromt the north up to the tree line and as the Snowy is moving south tIis winter due to the decline in its rodent food source in the north. The Hawk Owl movement is affected by the four-year cycle of the northern food supply. Just after tIis sighting Dick Rutherford phoned in that a large Owl was being sighted at the ski hlui, that it was brown in colour. This report madle for a Saturday aftemoon visit and 1 was hoping thnt perhaps it would be another of the northern owls making tracks south, the Oreat Grey Owl, the iargest of the pack. After combing- through the eastern section of the property we were unable to come un with 11cbh a sighting but did sight a Roughed Leg Hawk, in a dark phase of colouring, blackish-brown. This hawk is affected with food suppiy as is the Snowy andi the H-awk Owl and is an often visitor south in search for winter fooPd. The Roughed Leg is a large Buteo hawk being larger tdm the common Red Tail that is seen across the country in ihe summer. When the Roughed i-eg hawk is south it can often be seen hovering over fieldP somewhat less than a hundred feet in the air. in ail last week was a great week for birding in tIis area and with very little effort On my part. One other aspect of the week was the reading of ýome of the bush mosses that exiýt and that Of one specie that waits until November to spring Into life. Thtis moss is dormant al tue rest Of the year. On Sunday we did come across the moss and IL, at this time does dispiay its growth, which Ôrôno stone1 home featured Century Homes magazine magazine with Canada-wide cir- culation, published out of Port Hope, has as its Christmas edi- tion a front cover story about the stone country home of Bill appears as miniature cedar seedlings and somne as miniature pine seedlings. Within the month of November the plant lives out its life-cycie through the growth of the plant, flowerîng and producing spores to be scattered about by the wind for regeneration. In some cases it takes the moss 20 years to develop to the point that it can complete this life-cycie within the short period of time. So much for this week and it lias been an interesting on1e, e *DD1010C Double Canett YOUR $47 GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES IN CANADA Orono area. It's country living in their home which dates back 140 years. The article, well written and descriptive, is accomm- panied by beautiful exterior and interior pictures noting the dated artifacts back well into the 1800s. One picture features a life- size Indian cigar store statue carved by Ron Barber of the Orono area. The magazine came to the Orono Times office by way of the managing editor, Donna (Fairey) Carter. The magazine is available at most magazine outlets. Pick-up a copy il makes for interesting reading and viewing. PURCHASE ANY SHARP STEREO PKG. AND RECEIVEA FREE $ STEREO BLASTER VIA 11mq ........... ................. - ..........