Snowy Owl

[AJE]

A hunter in winter white
Don't be fooled by the snowy owl's sleepy looks.

:arrow: Unlike other owls that prefer to hunt at night , the snowy owl
is active in the daytime.


Description: The Snowy Owl is a large, diurnal white Owl that has a rounded head, yellow eyes and black bill. The feet are heavily feathered. A distinctive white Owl, their overall plumage is variably barred or speckled with thin, black, horizontal bars or spots. Females and juveniles are more heavily marked than males - adult males may be almost pure white, although they have up to three tail bands. Adult females are distinctly barred throughout, and have from four to six tail bands. Immatures are very heavily barred throughout, and dark spotting may codominate or dominate the overall plumage. Intensity of dark spotting varies with the sex of the immatures, females being the darkest. Juveniles are uniformly brown with scattered white tips of down.

Size: Length (20-27") average female (26" inches), male (23")
Wingspan (54-65")
Weight (40-70oz) average female (60oz), male (57oz)

Habits: Snowy Owls are active during the daytime, from dawn to dusk. They have a direct, strong, and steady flight with deliberate, powerful downstrokes and quick upstrokes. They make short flights, close to the ground, from perch to perch, and usually perches on the ground or a low post. During hot weather, they can thermoregulate by panting and spreading their wings. Snowy Owls are very aggressive when defending their nest.

Voice: The Snowy Owl is virtually silent during nonbreeding seasons. The typical call of the male is a loud, harsh, grating bark, while the female has a similar higher pitched call. During the breeding season males have a loud, booming "hoo, hoo" given as a territorial advertisement or mating call. Females rarely hoot. Its attack call is a guttural "krufff-guh-guh-guk". When excited it may emit a loud "hooo-uh, hooo-uh, hooo-uh, wuh-wuh-wuh". Other sounds are dog-like barks, rattling cackles, shrieks, hissing, and bill-snapping.
Nestlings "cheep" up to 2 weeks of age, then hiss and squeal.

Hunting & Food: Most hunting is done in the "sit and wait" style. These Owls are highly diurnal, although they may hunt at night as well. Prey are captured on the ground, in the air, or snatched off the surface of water bodies. When taking snowshoe hares, a Snowy Owl will sink its talons into the back and backflap until the hare is exhausted. The Owl will then breaks its neck with its beak. Snowy Owls have been known to raid traplines for trapped animals and bait, and will learn to follow traplines regularly. They also snatch fish with their talons. Small prey up to small hares are swallowed whole, while larger prey are carried away and torn into large chunks. Small young are fed boneless and furless pieces. Large prey are carried off in the Owl's talons, with prey like lemmings being carried in the beak.

Distribution: Circumpolar - Arctic regions of the old and new worlds.
In North America, Snowy Owls breed in the western Aleutian Islands, and from northern Alaska, northern Yukon, and Prince Patrick and northern Ellesmere islands south to coastal western Alaska, northern Mackenzie, southern Keewatin, extreme northeastern Manitoba, Southampton and Belcher islands, northern Quebec and northern Labrador. The Snowy Owl is highly nomadic. During periods of lemming and vole population crashes in the Arctic, or excessive cold and snow in winter, mass movements of Snowy Owls occur into southern Canada and northern United States. These invasions occur every 3 to 5 years, but are highly irregular. Adult females stay furthest north while immature males move furthest south during these incursions.

[AJE]

Snow Owls have taken up Permanente residence in Manitowoc County. A pair of White Snowy Owls; have taken over the habitat at Collins Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary for the last year. My father who is a teacher at the nearby Valders High School has Collins students coming in with photographs from all seasons of this bird of prey shot from all angles in the trees, on the barn, atop the silo, in the woods, within the marsh and even taken down prey in the fields. So neat and then last night I got the phone call from my parents saying they went bird watching at dusk about 5 o’clock and wouldn’t you know it the birds were up onto one of the students barn. What a sight, I just wish I could have been there. But I’ll have my chance soon enough. So heres some interesting information for bird watchers on this deceptive mystery bird.

Some snowy owls spend each winter in Wisconsin, USUALLY arriving in mid- November and staying as late as April. USUALLY!!! They take up residence in areas similar to their home in the artic tundra. The Superior harbor, bay of Green Bay, the Lake Michigan coastline, the Lake Winnebago regions, as well as the extensive flat, open fields and marshes are likely places to find these illusive nomatic travelers.

The snowy owl is well-equipped with layers of soft, downy feathers and long hair-like plumage which covers and protects their legs and feet against the icy chills, so it isn't initially the cold weather that brings them south to Wisconsin. Rather, inadequate food populations declined within the tundra is the driver for the birds to migrate south.

Unlike our resident owls, snowy owls are diurnal, that is, they are active during the day. They generally perch on or near the ground in a hunched-over position unlike the proud upright stance of the more familiar great horned owl. I have seen the Great Horned Owl twice in the wild and they were magnificent as well! Given their white plumage, snowy owls blend in very well with the wintery background.

The perching snowy owl seems docile and misleadingly so disinterested in its surroundings. Its soulful, lemon yellow eyes seem only half open, which only enhances its peaceful image. Don't be fooled. The bird is well aware of its environment and reacts quickly to the disturbance from a rodent, duck or rabbit meal. These massive birds are truly violent, fearless predators that will take on prey bigger than themselves if the chance is feasible.

Snowy owls are the second tallest North American owl. They are a heavyweight tipping the scale at just over 3 ½ pounds. They have the longest wingspan of the North American owls, about five feet from wingtips. The snowy owl's flight is very strong, low and direct with alternating deep wing beats and short glides. A snowy owl flying directly toward you on broad, rounded wings is a sight truly of awe and grace.

So for those interested in seeing the birds here in Manitowoc County:

From Collins go east on County JJ to W Quarry Rd Loop follow to Quarry Rd and then back to County JJ. This whole area is part of the terrain for the Collins Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary.

From Clarks Mills go west on County JJ to Quarry Rd and around to W Quarry Rd Loop. Again this will take you back to County JJ. I hope you all see this bird!

Address is Quarry Rd, Reedsville WI 54230

:wink:

[CarolsCritterCare]

I"ve never seen one..........sure would like to.
Carol

[AJE]

Have a Correction for the Snowy Owls of Collins Marsh, at times there have been sightings of up to 5 birds at one sitting. Yet other times you may not see any. Best of Luck to whoever is birdwatching for the Snowys!

[CarolsCritterCare]

Long drive from here to the marsh......but if I knew for a fact I'd see at least one it would be worth the trip.

Carol

[AJE]

Ohh yeah this is one of serveral Snowys to reside in Collins Marsh Area... Last week the local Valders Journal had the Snowys on the front page and also my parents saw the pair ontop some hay mounds in a local field. Although I haven't seen them yet, we also have a flock of turkeys, cranes, muttins, and 3 bald eagles nesting at Collins Marsh as well. Bird Watchers are welcome to see the wildlife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ohh bring a camera

[MrKhay]

Now there's a fine looking owl. healthy.
Thanks for that photo, AJE