Good Dutch short-eared owl news

This video is called An Introduction to the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus).

Translated from BirdLife in the Netherlands:

Critically endangered short-eared owl nests at exceptionally many places

Post published by BirdLife Netherlands on Tuesday, June 3, 2014

In some meadow bird areas in Friesland, Overijssel and Utrecht provinces, recently there are surprisingly many short-eared owls’ nests. This is unique, because the species breeds only in the Netherlands on the Wadden islands, annually between 22 and 27 nesting couples. The short-eared owl, being critically endangered, is on the Red List. The very large number of mice this year is probably the explanation for the large number of nests.

In Friesland, in the Eempolder (Utrecht province) and in the Polder Mastenbroek (Overijssel) recently several nesting short-eared owls have been observed. That is rather special: in the Polder Mastenbroek, for example, 1983 was the last time a short-eared owl hatched. Now there is evidence there for some five nests. It is a late-nesting species, which are still sitting on eggs or owlets by now. This makes them very vulnerable to mowing. So, be alert to short-eared owls nesting in your neighborhood and warn the local Agricultural Nature Society if you have evidence of a breeding pair.

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