Snip from Marty Michener:
> I have said this before in this group: I think these little guys
[Screech Owls] are in
> much trouble.
> . . .
> I believe it is the fault of night-lighting. "Security". All small -
medium
> sized cryptic / nocturnal / forest creatures are now easy
pickings for
> large nocturnal predators - On cloudy nights our obsessive
highway lighting
> lights up forest floors and tree details all night long for many
miles from
> every highway. . . . Thus the decline of all Caprimulgids
> and small owls within five miles of "civilization"s roads. . . .
> . . .
> Interestingly, this theory also predicts that the largest nocturnal
> predators will do very well: indeed, Coyote and Great Horned
Owl
> populations are now off the charts.
>
Very intrigued and struck by this, Martyn, as I was looking out the
other night over snow and astonished by the levels of orange
light here in the country on a moonless, overcast night.
But how does this stand up against the fact that for at least half
the month moonlight is far brighter, even in quite overcast
conditions? I rely on the moon a lot to pick my way around at
night - don't think I would feel as confident with distant
streetlighting and would probably take a torch!
Seriously, though, is this effect real and do you know of any
studies? I'd never thought of it before, only of the effect of traffic
noise on the ability of owls to locate food.
Romilly H
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"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
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