A rare sight: More than 100 snowy owls seen across Wisconsin

[Donna]

http://host.madison.com/news/local/environment/378fab8e-1c8c-11e1-9d46-001871e3ce6c.html

"From the reports we have coming in, there are more than 100 birds in the state," said Mueller. "And it's early. It could get to be quite a few more. It's very likely that if we have a normal winter, we could have these birds around until early March."

[MAK]

  What a road trip that would be! 

[valhalla]

What a road trip that would be! 

 

[Dot_Forrester]

Much as we all love to see snowy owls, it's actually too bad that they're down here. In years like this of widespread snowies in the US, the reason is probably that food is too scarce way up north to support an abundant owl population, forcing the younger males to move down this way to avoid starving to death. This happened fairly often when I lived in upstate NY.  Owls captured were usually in terrible shape with low weights and nonreversible muscle loss.  I remember at least 3 times when birders would go to where a snowy owl had settled and would release voles for it to eat to build up its strength.  These owls are also very vulnerable to pets, animals, and "sick" people either because they lack experience in dealing with humans and other animals to have the sense to move away when danger approaches, or they are too weak to move to safety.  Let's all hope that most of these snowies survive and make it back safely to their far north homes.  They are so very beautiful.

Dot in PA