Snowy Owls and more …

Year 9,

Yesterday evening was perfect! How else would one describe finding a Snowy Owl just before sunset and then the following occurs:

  1. The landowners invites me onto their land for a closer view of the owl
  2. The sun comes out for the final 30 minutes of daylight
  3. The Snowy Owl poses on a beautiful, natural perch

Before I show the results of yesterday’s photo session, I think many readers of this blog know I support Project Snowstorm. This research effort tags Snowy Owls with solar array powered GPS tracking / communication devices. The banding devices have provided fantastic data in terms of learning more about the year round life and locations of Snowy Owls. Although these devices are up in the Arctic much of the year as Snowy Owls return north for mating and raising owlets, there has been no such comparable effort for another winter  visitor, Northern Hawk Owls. Are Northern Hawk Owls only winter visitors which return north into Canada in late March or early April, or do they just retreat deep into the northern Minnesota bogland to raise families … far from any road (maybe both)?

Enter Hannah Toutonghi, a masters degree candidate at the University of Minnesota. For her research project she has been banding Northern Hawk Owls this winter with similar devices as those used by Project Snowstorm on Snowys. I am happy to be a financial supporter of her efforts. She will present a free webinar on March 17th at 6:30 pm CST about her initial research results and future efforts. The seminar is supported by the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. Read more via their website (scroll down upon browsing over to Hannah’s webinar), and/or register here (it’s free … I’m attending)

Now back to yesterday’s Snowy Owl experience … and one photograph of a Northern Hawk Owl I watched early this winter.

Snowy  Owl Just Before Sunset Yesterday

Northern Hawk Owl Photographed Earlier this Winter

And the Magpie said to the Cow …

Year 9

How now, black cow! This was the scene early this morning at a farm just south of the Sax-Zim Bog boreal forest. Magpies have been steadily expanding their range westward, and here in northern Minnesota it appears I always find magpies near a farm.  While in the summer there is lots of food in the forest, the cow’s fodder also provides an excellent meal for the magpie! At one point I even saw the magpies landing right on the cows. I’m not sure the cow looks pleased with sharing its meal.

I did also see this morning the traditional “bog bird”, the Great Gray Owl!

Nest in Sight! Great Horned Owl!

Year 9

Success! … at least almost. After over 20 nighttime hikes stumbling through snow that is over 3 feet deep, I found “Dad’s” daytime roost. By listening and tracking the evening hoot, I had narrowed down the forest nesting area. This is the fourth year I have watched this unique pair of Great Horned Owls raise owlets! While I did not find the nest this morning (went back this morning to the location of last night’s hoot), I know from experience the male always sits during the first few weeks within line of sight of the female / nest. I may not find the nest till the snow melts and the whitewash and owl pellets are more easily seen, but it is now only a matter of time! This winter has been particularly brutal as for most of my nighttime hikes, the temperature were well below zero.

Should you have Great Horned Owls hooting near your home, if you would like to watch them raise their young, now is the time to get out there at night and follow the hoot. Within 2 to 3 weeks the parents will stop hooting.

Great Horned Owl (father of Hoot)

Actually it has been a good week for owls. A few days ago when the winds were calm for 48 hours I made certain to get outside … found the Snowy Owl just before sunset, and this Great Gray Owl just after sunrise two days ago in Sax-Zim Bog. Although the wind was calm, the air was cold (-35F). The owl was not hunting, and only want to feel some warmth of the sun’s golden rays after a brutally cold night.

Great Gray Owl