Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
The Canadian population of this widespread nomadic ground-nesting owl breeds in open grassland, tundra, and wetland habitats in all provinces and territories, and winters in southern Canada and the United States. In Prince Edward Island there were four records during the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas (1986-1991), including breeding records, and similarly four records during The Second Atlas (2006-2011). New atlas-based population estimation procedures suggests that the size of the Canadian population is about 31,000 mature individuals, roughly 10% of previous estimates. Owl numbers vary in response to cycles in the availability of small mammals – the main prey- adding uncertainty when estimating of the rate of decline in the Canadian population. Data from both the Breeding Bird Survey and Christmas Bird Counts indicate a decline of more than 30% over 12 years (2007-2019).
Our population will likely continue to decline because of future threats, including reduced availability of nesting and wintering habitat resulting from crop conversion, agricultural intensification, urbanization, and invasive plants. In the north, increased growth of shrubs as a result of climate warming will further reduce prey availability and increase predation risk. Designated Special Concern in April 1994 and April 2008, its status was re-examined and designated Threatened in May 2021. In 2024, its legal status remains Special Concern.