HOME	Birds No birds are known to be restricted to "limestone" habitats. However, many birds call the "limestone barrens" home. Only one Newfoundland and Labrador bird study has been done on an exclusively "limestone" area. In 1998, Bruce Mactavish submitted a short report on the birds of Burnt Cape. White-crowned Sparrow, or "Strip-ed Head". A ubiquitous species of the northern Great Northern Peninsula, and the Labrador coast. 2011. Photo: Gene Herzberg. [CLICK image to enlarge.] The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), known locally as the "Lopper", is particularly characteristic. Not nearly as common as it used to be in the early 1970s - before major gravel-pitting in the Strait of Belle Isle seriously degraded much of the coastal "limestone barrens" habitat - it is still a thrill to see as it courses low over the coastal barrens in search of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). [See: Short-eared Owl management plan] [PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION] ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......