BirdEden.com
Keep a sharp eye out as Snowy Owls are being reported in
the upper Midwest and great lakes states in what has been called unusual
numbers for November and December.
Concentrations of them appear to be along the Lake Michigan coastline.
This big bird (3 to 6 pounds) sports bright white
plumage, large yellow eyes and larger feathered talons. Home territory to this bird is the treeless
tundra above the Arctic Circle. And while small numbers may visit Wisconsin
from time to time periodically large numbers will show-up in an event called an
owl ‘irruption’.
These owls hunt during
daylight hours and will roost on almost anything. They like flat open land
(it’s what they know), sometimes sitting on the ground, but more often on hay
bales, fence posts, telephone posts, rock piles, muskrat houses, tree snags,
silos, and other structures. Snowy Owls
will dine upon almost any live thing that moves - voles, mice, lemmings,
waterfowl, rabbits, muskrats, weasels, and pigeons. Other bird species are
taken as well.
What is the cause of
these irruptions? It is hypothesized
that a temporary abundance of lemmings allows the owls to successfully raise
large families, and then these young owls disperse southward by the hundreds to
avoid competition with older birds for winter territories.
Because these birds are not accustomed to
seeing humans they will appear fearless in your presence. As a consequence approach them with caution
and observe them at a distance. Do not
flush them. Enjoy the rare sighting of
this beautiful bird.
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