On Sunday, my husband and I went up to the Samish Flats to see some SHORT
EARED OWLS (we ended up seeing about 7-9 in the late afternoon with very
close views).

Driving around the roads in the middle of the day, we stumbled upon this
NORTHERN HARRIER which at first seemed to be carrying a mouse. Upon closer
inspection with our camera, it was ACTUALLY carrying what looks like a spent
shell! The strange part is that the harrier was picking up it, carrying it
around, then dropping it. It would repeat this every now and then. Clearly
it's not food, so I'm not really sure what it was doing, but we chuckled a
bit anyways.

Can anyone enlighten us as to this seemingly strange behavior?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/5408747537_7dc5970b70_b.jpg

Jess and Bryan
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