Nature & Environment
Large Influx of Snowy Owls Descend into Northeastern U.S.
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Dec 30, 2013 02:22 PM EST
Just this winter, hundreds of snowy owls have flocked into parts of the northeastern U.S. from their usual Arctic home in search of prey. According to the Audubon Society, this is the largest influx of birds in the past half century.
"Basically, they are just everywhere," Patrck M. Comins, director of bird conservation for Audubon Connecticut, the state office of the National Audubon Society said, via The Hartford Courtant.
The ghost-like owls, with white plumage that showcase their Arctic origins, become whiter as they grow older, with males typically lighter in color than females. Yet this winter, these birds weren't spending their usual season darting through icy tundras. This year, it looks as though they headed south in search of food.
According to Chris Elphick, an ornithologist and associate professor in the University of Conneticut's department of ecology and evolutionary biology, he believes it is possible that the severe Artic weather during July may have killed some of the lemmings and voles that the owls feed off of. For younger owls, their only option would be to fly south in hope of prey and survival--which is exactly what they did.
"If you are young, you go to where it is easier to find food," Elphick said, via the news organization, stressing that most of the birds spotted in various northeastern areas have been younger.
The Hartford Courtant notes that in a typical winter, residents might be lucky to spot two or three snowy owls gracing the flat lands. However, officials note that more than a dozen have been seen in the area, with new sightings every day.
Other birds have been spotted throughout the northeast and even in parts of the Midwest.
Have you spotted a snowy owl in your neck of the woods? Share in the comments below.
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First Posted: Dec 30, 2013 02:22 PM EST
Just this winter, hundreds of snowy owls have flocked into parts of the northeastern U.S. from their usual Arctic home in search of prey. According to the Audubon Society, this is the largest influx of birds in the past half century.
"Basically, they are just everywhere," Patrck M. Comins, director of bird conservation for Audubon Connecticut, the state office of the National Audubon Society said, via The Hartford Courtant.
The ghost-like owls, with white plumage that showcase their Arctic origins, become whiter as they grow older, with males typically lighter in color than females. Yet this winter, these birds weren't spending their usual season darting through icy tundras. This year, it looks as though they headed south in search of food.
According to Chris Elphick, an ornithologist and associate professor in the University of Conneticut's department of ecology and evolutionary biology, he believes it is possible that the severe Artic weather during July may have killed some of the lemmings and voles that the owls feed off of. For younger owls, their only option would be to fly south in hope of prey and survival--which is exactly what they did.
"If you are young, you go to where it is easier to find food," Elphick said, via the news organization, stressing that most of the birds spotted in various northeastern areas have been younger.
The Hartford Courtant notes that in a typical winter, residents might be lucky to spot two or three snowy owls gracing the flat lands. However, officials note that more than a dozen have been seen in the area, with new sightings every day.
Other birds have been spotted throughout the northeast and even in parts of the Midwest.
Have you spotted a snowy owl in your neck of the woods? Share in the comments below.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone