Out of growing concern over the impact people are having on Amherst Island's Owl Woods, working with the various landowners and stakeholders, the Kingston Field Naturalists began a project to find ways to minimize this impact. One result is the following document. It is considered as a guide and a springboard for ideas rather than a rule book. Implementation of the recommendations has begun with the formation of the Friends Of the Owl Woods in Summer 2011. Work has really just begun. To request a copy of the plan e-mail the club at info@kingstonfieldnaturalists.org.

To understand their population status and their wintering habitat needs, we developed a standardized, volunteer-based survey protocol to track Short-eared Owl wintering distribution and abundance on Amherst Island and Wolfe Island. The survey protocol involved recording all raptor species observed; in light of current concerns regarding the effects of wind farm development on the avian community. For volunteering in this survey go to projects on the website to see the contact information. The results of the survey so far have been published in the September 2011 issue of the Blue Bill on page 63. To download this issue of the Blue Bill and read the report follow the link below.

Short-eared Owl report