The newest issue of The Journal of Raptor Research is a special issue focused on movement ecology — how and why raptors move. This can include classic movements like migration, as well as nomadism. Short-eared Owls ( Asio flammeus ) fall into the latter category — they have a penchant for small mammals that breed in “boom and bust” cycles approximately every four years. Therefore, these owls must travel great distances to find prey in sufficient numbers. This requires a high degree of nuanced perception, yet we know very little about the actual mechanisms that allow an owl to accurately locate these peaks in prey cycles. A feature article in the new issue, titled “Irruptive Movements by Short-eared Owls and Concepts of Habitat Use: Commentary and Suggestions to Address Information Gaps,” emphasizes the need for more understanding about this phenomenon, and proposes eight research questions to guide future work. Changing climate regimes can severely impact where and when small mammals show up on the landscape, especially in the tundra, where many predators rely up on their presence. There is an increased need for conservation leaders to understand the decision-making of species whose survival is linked to these ephemeral pulses in prey, and owls are a strong choice for future investigation.
Short-eared Owls are medium-sized raptors with speckled golden plumage and bright yellow eyes. They are widely distributed across the globe and hunt in open country, typically following the presence of voles, lemmings, shrews, mice, and other small mammals. They cannot afford to settle down in one place year after year like many other raptors because of the shifting patterns of their prey. “There appears to be a great deal of complexity associated with decisions made by irruptive and nomadic species about whether to settle in a territory or move elsewhere,” says author Joe Buchanan. Short-eared Owls have a short lifespan and the size of their brood shifts depending on how much food is available — when there are many small mammals available the owls lay up to ten eggs. In years of scarcity, maybe only two eggs This gives them a life history strategy atypical for vertebrate predators which are usually long-lived and consistently raise few young.
The authors of the Letter propose more research on the relationship between Short-eared Owl movements, behavior, and habitat selection. They acknowledge that the dovetailing of these topics is complex but underscore the importance a deeper research dive. “How this predator navigates the erratically undulating tapestry of food abundance that spans thousands of miles remains a mystery,” says author on the Letter Travis Booms, “yet it is an integral part of their life history and a key component to their conservation and persistence.” This is likely a truism for other nomadic species linked to vole and lemming cycles such as the Snowy Owl ( Bubo scandinavius) .
Short-eared Owls, like other top predators, are bioindicators. They are sensitive to environmental change and provide cues on the health of their surrounding environments. Booms, Buchanan, and their coauthors propose that the density of Short-eared Owls could provide a strong indication that a habitat is of high quality because the owls only settle if there is a reliable abundance of prey. As denizens of open landscapes this species is also an important ecological link in quickly vanishing habitats like grasslands, which have shrunk to a fraction of their former range worldwide, forcing the species to, as coauthor John Callidine describes it, “Travel Far, Breed Hard, and Die Young.”
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Paper:
Buchanan et al. (2026). Irruptive Movements by Short-eared Owls and Concepts of Habitat Use: Commentary and Suggestions to Address Information Gaps. Journal of Raptor Research, 60(1 ):1-5.
DOI: 10.3356/jrr2514
Notes to Editor:
1. The Journal of Raptor Research (JRR) is an international scientific journal dedicated entirely to the dissemination of information about birds of prey. Established in 1967, JRR has published peer-reviewed research on raptor ecology, behavior, life history, conservation, and techniques. JRR is available quarterly to members in electronic and paper format.
2. The Raptor Research Foundation (RRF) is the world’s largest professional society for raptor researchers and conservationists. Founded in 1966 as a non-profit organization, our primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors. The Foundation organizes annual scientific conferences and provides competitive grants & awards for student researchers & conservationists. The Foundation also provides support & networking opportunities for students & early career raptor researchers.
Journal of Raptor Research
Commentary/editorial
Animals
Irruptive Movements by Short-Eared Owls and Concepts of Habitat Use: Commentary and Suggestions to Address Information Gaps
1-Mar-2026