The slump in the owl populations appears to be continuing. There are now 38 nest boxes available, and of these, three had squirrel nests (two reds, one unidentified), one had an American Kestrel and one in Jim Campbells Barrens had a Northern Saw-whet Owl. Two more boxes have been put up, with another 10 left to go.
 

Thanks to Barry, Sean, Jody and Don for the companionship, help and tolerance to the rain!

Twenty-seven nest boxes were available for owls this spring; one was stolen, one was shot. One box had a Red Squirrel nest, two others had unidentified squirrel nests. The winter was a tough one, way too much snow cover (rodents loved it though) so the owls had trouble finding prey. Dead Saw-whets were turning up around the province. One nest boxer on the mainland reports his second lowest number of nests ever (two - only beating 2000 when only one nest was found). Even squirrels seemed low in my boxes this year. I'll be putting up more boxes before the next breeding season starts.
 
 

However, of the 23 nest boxes in suitable Boreal Owl habitat, one box this year hosted Northern Saw-whet Owls Aegolius acadicus. More boxes will be put up next spring when I to to check the current ones; more will also be put up at various times next summer. I'll need volunteers for those trips. Drop me a note if you're interested.
 

Habitat Shot from the Meat Cove trail:
 

R.F. Lauff Department of Biology St. Francis Xavier University Antigonish, NS Canada B2G 2W5