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Loading...Rare Arctic Owl Migration to the U.S.
- Cherise Udell
- January 31, 2012
- 10:09 am
- 37 comments
Considered one of the most significant wildlife events in decades, the iconic snowy owl of Arctic fame is winging it south in a mass migration to the lower 48 states. A handful of snowy owls do find their way to the lower 48 every year during the winter, but never in the thousands like we are witnessing this year.
Snowy owls, which stand two feet tall and have a wingspan of five feet with snow white plumage, have been spotted coast to coast this year from shorelines in Massachusetts to farmlands in Idaho, rooftops in Montana, golf courses in Missouri, at an airport in Hawaii and at a wildlife refuge in Washington. “What we are seeing — it’s unbelievable,” said Denver Holt, head of the Owl Research Institute in Montana.
The surge of snowy owl sightings in the lower 48 has been a boon for birders — and the local communities where the birds are spotted. ”For the last couple months, every other visitor asks if we’ve seen a snowy owl today,” said Frances Tanaka, a volunteer for the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Olympia, Washington.
Read more: Feline Muse, Nature, Nature & Wildlife, arctic owl, arctic owl migration, climate change snowy owls, Feline Muse Cherise Udell, lemmings and snowy owls, snowy owl, snowy owl in hawaii, snowy owl in lower 48 states, snowy owl in montana, Snowy owl migration
Cherise Udell
Cherise Udell is a mom, clean air advocate, anthropologist and feline aficionado with the nomadic habit of taking spontaneous sojourns to unusual destinations. Before her adventures in motherhood, she was an intrepid Amazon jungle guide equipped with a pair of sturdy wellingtons and a 24-inch machete, as well as a volunteer at a rainforest animal rescue center.
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Very brave- I wish them success
One of the "coolest" articles on this site to date. I'm with you on this topic. Remember all those …
It sounds like someone received research $$$ for this study and didn't put the $$$ into it! With th…
37 comments
+ add your ownfantastic news
"I wonder why the lemmings intentionally fall over a cliff,lol.poor guys."..........Lidia, with all due respect, what are you talking about and what is the relevance of lemmings to snowy owls? BTW, it's a silly old wives' tale about lemmings falling off cliffs. It doesn't happen.
Beautiful birds the snowy owl.:). I wonder why the lemmings intentionally fall over a cliff,lol.poor guys.
They are indeed beautiful.
They are very beautiful. Thanks Cherise.
Incredible and indicative of the radical environmental changes emerging with climate change and related adaptation efforts.
beautiful creatures
Interesting article, owls are so beautiful, and I hope their numbers continue to grow!
Wow!! I knew there were more being seen but had no idea that there were so many!
Beautiful!
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