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Short-eared Owl and Northern Harrier

Posted by Jack Stephens on February 3, 2023 at 10:26 pm
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Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers share the similar ecological niches, and thus they compete and sometimes clash. These two birds mixed it up briefly over grassy fields in the Sammish River Valley north of Seattle. Their quarrel lasted just a few seconds. Only when I looked at the images after it was over did I realize the harrier had flipped upside down in flight, to meet the attacking owl with her talons.