The Pennsylvania Game Commission wants to know more about barn owl nest sites in Southwestern Pennsylvania and is asking sportsmen, birders and others to help provide information.
The commission runs what is known as the Barn Owl Conservation Initiative. It's an effort to reverse the population decline of the species. Barn owls -- medium-sized owls distinguished by their white face with a heart-shaped border -- are most typically found around open grasslands such as meadows, hayfields, and fallow croplands. That's where they can find the meadow voles that make up 70 percent of their diet.
As the amount of open space supporting voles has declined, so have the owls.
Barn owls commonly nest in structures such as barns, silos and abandoned buildings but will also make a home in natural cavities such as holes in trees, rock crevices and even burrows in riverbanks. Game Commission officials want to maintain what existing nests there are and distribute man-made nest boxes to landowners with suitable habitat elsewhere in an attempt to perpetuate the species. The initiative began last year in southeast and southcentral Pennsylvania and has now come here.
Tammy Colt, the commission's wildlife diversity biologist for Southwestern Pennsylvania, said she's particularly interested in information about barn owl activity in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington or Westmoreland counties.
Anyone with information on owls, or interested in supporting owl net boxes on their property, is asked to call the Game Commission's southwest region office at 724-238-9523 or write it at 4820 Route 711, Bolivar, PA 15923.
Creating habitat
The Ruffed Grouse Society has its first piece of forestry equipment and is using it to create wildlife habitat on Sproul State Forest.
The Caterpillar has a tree shear and a 72-inch mower attachment to help maintain and improve shrubby, brushy habitats for woodcock and other wildlife. The equipment was purchased with a grant from the R.K. Mellon Foundation.
The equipment may be used elsewhere, too. The Grouse Society and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have signed an agreement facilitating the use of the CAT on 2.1 million acres of state forests.
The Society is currently working on agreements with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the National Park Service at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to allow the CAT to be used to do work on their lands, as well.
Woodcock festival
Pennsylvania is hosting the American Woodcock Festival April 1 at Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County. It will start at 4 p.m. with exhibits, demonstrations, presentations, bird watching, food and kids' activities, then wind up with an evening woodcock walk that will showcase the aerial courtship display of the American woodcock. Professional biologists will serve as guides on the walk.
Biologists will attempt to capture a woodcock with mist nets during the courtship display so participants may take an up-close look at this bird.
The Festival and the woodcock display will proceed rain or shine. For more information, contact Mark Banker at 814-867-7946.
Lock to change
South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the clubhouse. Membership renewals and new member applications will be accepted starting at 7.
The club will change the lock on its gate after the meeting, so members who haven't renewed by then won't be able to get in.
Food will be served after Thursday's meeting and all members are urged to attend.
