Where are the Snowy Owls?

Background, Year 10

Project Snowstorm just published an article today which indicates this winter is the worst winter ever for Snowy Owl eBird sightings for which there is good data (since 2004). Sightings across North America are essentially a flat line (see below). Thus, I should be very happy to have seen two different Snowy Owls, multiple times. The article is definitely worth a read. Apparently not only are sightings way down this winter, but breeding success (or even attempts) in the Arctic was almost non existent last summer.With that note, I head off to Hawaii for 2+ weeks … our first ever visit to the island state. Molly and I have a small remote guest house up in the hills / forest on the big island of Hawaii.

This graphic was created by Project Snowstorm.

Lake Superior Sun

Year 10

Some friends of mine went up to Sax-Zim Bog this morning at sunrise. I decided the forecast seemed to indicate heavy fog inland, but clear skie for the morning hours next to Lake Superior. I was right. When birding I pay extremely close attention to the actual percentage of expected clouds. These images resulted from my working the shoreline along Scenic 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors this morning.

Two Bald Eagles

Ma and Pa Pine Grosbeak

Boreal Forest to Asphalt Jungle

Year 10,

Yesterday started with Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings at the tops of the Boreal Pines in northern Minnesota, and ended with the wedding of Peter and Catherine ( #EnzGame ) at the top of the Asphalt Jungle at Windows On Minnesota in Minneapolis (top of the IDS Tower … floor 50). I had not been to the top of the IDS for over 30 years when I took my middle son, Carl, out for dinner on his first day ever of school (kindergarten). The public restaurant no longer exists. My other son, Erik, was best man. I shall ever remember Peter as the young man who raced the American Birkebeiner in his striped green and white pajamas (Note: Peter is a good skier, and they were NOT pajamas, but it was my name for his ski uniform.)

Northern Minnesota Boreal Forest (pine grosbeak – female)

Southern Minnesota Asphalt Jungle (still beautiful!)

These images stretch from minutes before sunset (about 4:45 pm) to around 9 pm. The photos were taken with my Sony A6300 and a wide angle lens stabilized on a small tripod, and also using a photographer’s shade that attached to the window and allowed me to insert my camera in the dark environment.