File:Birds of Massachusetts and other New England states (1925) (20358916066).jpg

Title: Birds of Massachusetts and other New England states
Identifier: birdsofmassachus02forb (find matches)
Year: 1925 (1920s)
Authors: Forbush, Edward Howe, 1858-1929; Massachusetts. Dept. of Agriculture
Subjects: Birds; Birds
Publisher: (Norwood, Ma. : Printed by Berwick and Smith Company)
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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200 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS Chase of Nantucket watched one kill a field mouse "which," said Mr. Chase, "he made sure of by finally breaking the whole length of the backbone (with his beak) and then put it under a tuft of grass, apparently for future use." In winter when snow is deep on the ground, this owl is likely to betake itself to some thick evergreen tree to roost, and it seeks shelter in stumps of such trees during storms. Commonly, however, it alights on the ground, where it probably always nests. It is not altogether confined to a treeless country nor even to lowlands, as it has been known to breed not only among shrubs but also among scattering trees and even on mountains. It hunts silently for the most part, and much of its vociferousness occurs during the mating season and while breeding, especially when its young are approached or disturbed by an intruder. If one is suddenly startled from the ground during its daylight slumber, it flaps uncertainly away near the surface for some distance, and then drops quickly down and hides in the grass or undergrowth. This owl migrates both regularly and irregularly; regularly in autumn it moves out of the northern part of its range toward the south ; irregularly it re- mains for two or three years where it finds abundant food ; at least it is believed that the same individuals remain without migration. Eventually the verity of this belief may be established by banding the birds. Few of the species winter in New England, but in spring the number increases, usually in the latter part of March or in April, as the migrants move northward. I have visited no breeding- places in Massachusetts, outside of the Islands of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket, but there are others. The bird is somewhat gregarious where food is plentiful, as it nests sometimes in small colonies, and also occurs in small flocks in migration. While courting or mating the male chases the female about, uttering his tooting call. Mr. A. D. Dubois gives in the Auk a very interesting series of observations on what he designates as the "song-flight" of this species.^ Doubtless this is a manifestation of the mating period. The bird was flying at a great height with flapping wings and some soar- ing. The "song" was made up of 16 to 20 toots, given at a rate of three to the second. The most interesting part of its behavior consisted of an occasional short, slanting dive, terminated by an "upward swoop" and accompanied by a peculiar fluttering noise. When the bird began its dive, its wings were brought together beneath its body, the bird stretching them backward and striking them together with short clapping strokes. This produced a sound, which, heard from that great altitude, sounded like "the flutter of a small flag in a very strong wind." As Mr. Dubois well says, the bird really seemed to be "applauding his own aerial performance." Those familiar with this sound may hear
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The Short-eared Owl as an Animated Mouse-trap. After El Hornero I Auk, Vol. XLI, 1924, pp. 262-263. (See also another interesting article by Mr. Duboia on "The Short-eared Owl as a Foster-mother," Auk, Vol. XL, 1923, pp. 383-393.)

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