Here is a portrait of a snowy owl taken early in February on the entrance road to Salisbury Beach State Park. I spent a few days there watching these birds munching on voles and sitting all puffed out to stay warm.
I have heard two different reasons for the high number of snoweys this past winter:
1) There was a cyclical increase in the lemming population and since the owls are territorial the increase population of snoweys had to find territory for winter.
2) The polar vortex pushed them south as they moved to find food during the winter and that was why there were so many.
I tend to buy in to the first theory. . .
What have you heard about the plethora of white owls prowling New England this past winter?
Posted by Nancy de Flon on April 8, 2014 at 12:32 PM
That's a nice portrait, Jim! No particular theories advanced by my friends in the NEPG, just that they were all very grateful to have the Snowies there.
Discussion
2 repliesI have heard two different reasons for the high number of snoweys this past winter:
1) There was a cyclical increase in the lemming population and since the owls are territorial the increase population of snoweys had to find territory for winter.
2) The polar vortex pushed them south as they moved to find food during the winter and that was why there were so many.
I tend to buy in to the first theory. . .
What have you heard about the plethora of white owls prowling New England this past winter?
Spent some time there and at Rye this winter as well. Ran into Nick Leadley once too...
Most biologists are inclined towards the first theory, as they were showing up in large numbers in November.
Have you followed the good work of Project SNOWstorm? Well work a google-ing!
Hope all's well!