Subject: [Tweeters] Northern Pygmy-Owl dinner?
Date: Dec 29 13:43:27 2004
From: E.L. BOYD - BOYD6016 at msn.com



Hello all,

I sent the earlier post with the pictures of the pygmy owl to a friend who is a retired biology researcher, very knowledgeable in id of animals this is the reply he sent me, with possible ID of the vole.

"This is a remarkable picture. The owl and its prey
are of very similar size, and guessing that each
is around 6" long or slightly larger. The only
thing I know of that it might be is a Townsend
vole (Microtis townsendi). The color, size, and
geographic location seem possible for a Townsend."

Betty
boyd6016 at msn.com<mailto:boyd6016 at msn.com>
Chimacum, Wa


----- Original Message -----
From: mike denny<mailto:m.denny at charter.net>
To: Bruce Whittington<mailto:fieldnat at pacificcoast.net> ; tweeters at u.washington.edu<mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Northern Pygmy-Owl dinner?


Hello All,
Very interesting photos of a N. Pygmy-Owl with a large rodent. I would guess
that the rodent is a microtine, most likely Microtus longicaudus or
Phenacomys silvicola. The common names would be Long-tailed Meadow Vole or
Dusky Tree Mouse. There is one documented case of a pygmy-Owl taking a
Long-tailed Weasel! So these fierce little hunters might take a shot at us
if they were the size of a Great Horned Owls. So stay in your cars and thank
your lucky stars.
Later Mike

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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
1354 S. E. Central Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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