University of Minnesota Raptor Center

USDA Forest Service                                                                                              1997
General Technical Report NC-190

Biology and Conservation of Owls of
the Northern Hemisphere

Second International Symposium

February 5-9, 1997
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Editors:

James R. Duncan, Zoologist
Manitoba Conservation Data Centre Wildlife Branch
Manitoba Department of Natural Resources
Box 24, 200 Saulteaux Crescent
Winnipeg, MB CANADA R3J 3W3
jduncan@nr.gov.mb.ca

David H. Johnson, Wildlife Ecologist
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA, USA 98501-1091
johnsdhj@dfw.wa.gov

Thomas H. Nicholls, retired
formerly Project Leader and Research Plant Pathologist and Wildlife Biologist
USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station
1992 Folwell Avenue
St. Paul, MN, USA 55108-6148
nicho002@tc.umn.edu

SPONSORS:
(Listing of all symposium and publication sponsors, e.g., those donating $$)

1987 International Owl Symposium Fund; Jack Israel Schrieber Memorial Trust c/o Zoological Society of Manitoba; Lady Grayl Fund; Manitoba Hydro; Manitoba Natural Resources; Manitoba Naturalists Society; Manitoba Critical Wildlife Habitat Program; Metro Propane Ltd.; Pine Falls Paper Company; Raptor Research Foundation; Raptor Education Group, Inc.; Raptor Research Center of Boise State University, Boise, Idaho; Repap Manitoba; Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada; USDI Bureau of Land Management; USDI Fish and Wildlife Service; USDA Forest Service, including the North Central Forest Experiment Station; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; The Wildlife Society - Washington Chapter; Wildlife Habitat Canada; Robert Bateman; Lawrence Blus; Nancy Claflin; Richard Clark; James Duncan; Bob Gehlert; Marge Gibson; Mary Houston; Stuart Houston; Edgar Jones; Katherine McKeever; Robert Nero; Glenn Proudfoot; Catherine Rich; Spencer Sealy; Mark Sobchuk; Tom Sproat; Peter Stacey; and Catherine Thexton.

IN-KIND SUPPORT:
(Donations of materials or services that helped raise funds or reduced costs)

Advance Electronics; Air Canada; Buteo Books; Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada; Delta Winnipeg Hotel; Don's Photo Ltd.; Forestry Branch, Manitoba Natural Resources; Holohil Systems Ltd.; Judy Tryon, Frame of Mind Gallery; Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation; Manitoba Model Forest Inc.; Manitoba Museum; Manitoba Critical Wildlife Habitat Program; Manitoba Model Forest; Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization; Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, Ducks Unlimited; Owls Magazine, Strix Publications; Ptarmigan Trading Company; Saskatchewan Natural History Society; Shapiro & Orlandini Books; The Birds of North America, (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.); The Academy of Natural Sciences; The Philadelphia and The American Ornithologists' Union; Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society; Wildlife Branch, Manitoba Natural Resources; Arthur Allen; Robert Bateman; Robert Gehlert; Meryl Goldin; Mike Grandmaison; Alan Hale; Gerry Jones; Rudolf Koes; Dalton Muir; Robert Nero; Maryann Peterson; Peter Sawatzky; Margaret Simon; Robert Taylor; Rosemary Trachsel; and Ed Zloty.

About our Logo:

The Great Gray Owl logo, first used at the 1987 Owl Symposium, is from a sketch by Rudolf Koes.

Rudolf was born and raised in The Netherlands, where he started birding and painting during childhood. He currently teaches in the Winnipeg School Division #1, but spends much of his spare time in the field or working on the forthcoming Birds of Manitoba book.

 Dedication:

This International Symposium on the "Biology and Conservation of Owls of the Northern Hemisphere" is dedicated to the memory of Don G. Follen, Sr.

Don is well remembered for his natural history research on owls, raptors, and other birds in Wisconsin. His active work with the media brought the Great Gray Owl to the attention of thousands. He never lost an opportunity to share his contagious enthusiasm for owls with children and adults from all walks of life.

Don was born 19 August 1939, in the town of Arpin, Wisconsin. He received a degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Don served in the US Army, was a teacher, and then entered the construction business. In 1986, he founded the still active Wisconsin Foundation of Wildlife Research, serving as its President. A Master Bird Bander, Don received the Don Hasenohrl Award for his dedication and study of birds. The Marshfield Free Library benefited from Don's contribution to its bird collection. He was a member and on the Advisory Board of the Zoological Society of Marshfield, WI. The last day of this symposium marks the ninth year since Don's death at 48 years of age. Many of you will fondly remember Don from the 1987 Owl Symposium.

Don's motivation, his love of owls, and especially his ability to share information encapsulates the spirit of this symposium and sends an important reminder to us all. Sound research and knowledge of owls is not enough to ensure their conservation. Owls and other wildlife, and the habitats that support them, have to be relevant to the public at large. Don's generous efforts helped to make owls important and personal to hundreds, one person at a time.

James R. Duncan

Disclaimer:

The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by symposium sponsors, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or the Forest Service of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

Pesticide Precautionary Statement:

Research involving pesticides appears in some technical papers contained in these proceedings. Publication of these reports does not constitute endorsement or recommendations for their use by the symposium sponsors, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended.

About the Following Color Section:
The photographs used in the color section reflect the majority of the owl species for which presentations were made at the symposium. Two photographs of the Northern Saw-whet Owl, Queen Charlotte Island race (Aegolius acadicus brooksi) were included, as these are among the first ever published photographs of this owl. We thank all of the photographers who have so graciously submitted their slides for inclusion. Color section layout and design by David H. Johnson.