Snowy Invasion!

The invasion spreads...  From the Eastern coast spreading over the Great Lakes region and into Minnesota, they are coming and they are here! The Snowy Owl.... Hundreds of reports have been flooding my e-mails since December of Snowy Owl sightings across this region as well as far south as Jacksonville, Florida and Bermuda! (So far, not much in west). The latest report I have was being in the area in Bruan Rd, Hwy H and Co KR with THREE sighted! If that is the case, that will make FOUR Snowys in the Racine/Kenosha area including the one I discovered on the North Pier last month.(Picture taken below on 12/14/2013) Plus FOUR more at the Milwaukee lakefront (mostly at the Metro Pier under the Huan Bridge and the Coast Guard Impoundment). As of this standpoint, there are over 200 Snowy Owls in the state alone! There is an extremely good possibility there is even more!

Why are they here? Owls don't migrate normally like waterfowl and songbirds do. Much of it depends on the food supply. Experts say there has been a lemming explosion in regions of the Arctic where the Snowys are from. A large food supply breeds larger families and a better survival rate among the Snowys, thus creating an abundance of these beautiful creatures. When the winter arrives, the youngsters will spread out to find new territories to hunt. My big question is how many will make it BACK when spring arrives. Starvation, rodent poisoning and vehicular collisions are a reality, among other perils.

Where can we find these magnificent creatures? Think tundra! In almost any wide open spaces. Airports, open fields, beach fronts, harbors-anywhere void of trees. Look for them perched on fence posts, utility poles, hay bales, rock outcroppings, buildings, silos and even on the ground.

Before anyone goes out there searching for Snowy Owls, I do want to bring up some important matters. Remember, Snowys come from the farthest and most remote regions in the Arctic, therefore many of them have never seen a human till now. They don't know how to deal with us and that makes them appear tame. For the love of all creation, DO NOT get too close them! If fly they away, you were too close! DO NOT chase after them! In the long winter cold, they need to conserve their energy to stay warm and hunt for food. DO NOT bait them with mice or anything else! Some photographers are known to do this to get those great action shots you see. Weather baiting is illegal is a grey area, however to many birders it is unethical. While feeding a hungry owl seems to be a good idea, it can cause more harm than good. First of all, pet store bred mice may have contaminants (shots, etc.) that may be harmful to an owl. Two, owls have a tendency to beg. What happens when photographers that bait owls get enough pictures and move on? The owl waits and waits for a handout and none arrives, it will likely starve to death. You really want that to happen? Three, let's keep the owls "wild" as Mother Nature intend them be. Observe them from a distance and enjoy!!!