Day 15: Snowy Owl

We drove up to Pennsylvania this morning with the hope of seeing a rare winter visitor, the Snowy Owl. Several people had reported seeing one in some fields, so we decided to try our luck. On our way, we noticed a bunch of horse and buggies lined up by what looked like a church. Later, we realized that must have been an Amish gathering.

When we arrived at the intersection where the owl had last been spotted, our hearts sank. We saw no owl and no people even trying to look for the owl. Instead of giving up, we kept driving, turning down a side road. Shortly after, we saw a bunch of cars pulled over on the side of the road and hoped that they had spotted our Snowy Owl. Indeed, they had! One hundred yards off or so, sitting on a fence post, was a beautiful white Snowy Owl, the first Jared and I have ever seen. 

There it sat, gazing silently over the field, occasionally bending back to preen its fluffy thick feathers. When it turned its head, we saw its squinty eyes and sharp beak, and I got a glimpse of its clawed toes after it readjusted on the fence post. Our particular owl was much whiter than some I had seen in photos. Many are spotted or streaked with brown feathers as well, but this one was nearly all white. It was truly a lovely and awe inspiring bird.

You can barely make out its face

 

Facing away from us

Snowy owls are nomadic and unpredictable migratory birds, whose movements are thought to be related to the variable abundance of its main prey species, lemmings. In recent years, Snowy Owls have been spotted in greater abundance farther south in the U.S., likely due to changes in food supply. Here is an interesting video about Snowy Owl migration: Snowy Owl Invasion

Fun fact: Unlike most owls, Snowy Owls are largely active during the day.

Here's a good, close photo of a Snowy Owl (not our photo):

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