Máistir Nádúraí: Snowy Owls!

12.02.2013

Snowy Owls!

Waunakee Snowy Owl - December 2011

By now most of you are aware Snowy Owls are on the move. There are even a few places in Wisconsin where multiple snowies are being observed. As stated on Cornell's All About Birds website, "Fluctuating prey availability and weather conditions influence the whereabouts of this nomadic species during the breeding season as well as winter." Though speculative, this relatively rapid surge seems to have followed the last cold blast of arctic air that came through. Looking at the map below, it appears the east coast is experiencing the bulk of the northern visitors. Amazingly, one Snowy Owl was even spotted in Bermuda! Be on the lookout. You never know where these birds are going to show up!

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.