The number of short-eared owls in Michigan has been declining.
Editor's note: This is part of a series of occasional articles from the Michigan Audubon Society about birds in our state.
ABOUT: The short-eared owl is listed as a vulnerable species worldwide and somewhat common in North America, South America, Eurasia and many oceanic islands. In Michigan, it's listed as an endangered species, having been observed in fewer than a dozen counties statewide within the last three decades.
FEATURES: Medium sized, measuring 13-17 inches in length, with short ear tufts, accompanied by a heightened sense of hearing. It has a large head with big eyes and a wide ...