There are still two SNOWY OWLS at the South Jetty of the Columbia
River. Neither is color marked. That bird has, apparently, moved
on. I have now collected 60 pellets and have counted at least 70
individuals (based on bone counts).

Contents as of 02-28-2006:
Rattus rattus 42.9%
Microtus sp. (prob townsendii) 1.4%
duck sp. (prob Bufflehead) 12.9%
Red Phalarope 32.9%
jay sp. (prob Steller's Jay) 1.4%
unknown bird 8.6%

The diet appears to have shifted to small ducks, almost certainly
Bufflehead. I watched one of the owls make several passes at a
female Bufflehead today. Many of the birds listed in the unknown
category for now are also probably small ducks.

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

Scale, nature and our infinite capacity to rationalize
http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/003674.html