Arctic Snowy Owl Cam

Background, Year 6

It’s time to enjoy the Snowy Owl Nest Cam live from up on Alaska’s Arctic Tundra. The Owl Research Institute and Explore.Org have combined for this great learning experience. The Owl Research Institute has worked for over 30 years to further our understanding of owls, including Snowies. Both organizations are worthy of your support. I used Explore’s snapshot tool while watching the owl family to take the images accompanying this blog post. Both parents are often now away from the nest hunting to feed a hungry family.

Visit the Owl Research Institute’s web site to learn more. You need to create an account with Explore.Org (free) if you wish to use the snapshot tool. Be aware the snapshots you take dramatically lag what you are seeing in real time on your computer’s display. As a fyi, I support the Owl Research Institute with both financial and book donations (see my children’s books).

Snowy Owl Family (Male Snowy Owl arriving with a lemming)

Snowy Owl Cam (direct link)

Snowy Owl Family (lots of images taken using the snapshot tool)

Sunrise Fox Fight!

Year 6

I know I have often given sermons on the importance of birding and hiking the woods shortly after sunrise (or even before). This morning I was following my own advice and my morning turned magical. Although I found my target birds (Green Herons), the sunrise treat was watching a pair of fox kits romp and play for a few minutes before they discovered my presence.

Fox Fight! (my camera was “not” optimized for motion … I reaction to the motion and pressed the shutter)

The Fox Kits were now playing tag, and I had better camera settings

I am discovered!

My target bird was a Green Heron, which did not let me down.

Finally, yesterday evening an hour before sunset my oldest grandson discovered a raccoon had moved into our large white pine! The images were taken from my deck. I know from experience the Raccoon will not venture out of this den till it is truly dark.

Northstar Lake Wolfpack Fishing

Year 6,

Yesterday I saw my first wolfpack of the season fishing on Northstar Lake. This wolfpack consisted of only three Common Loons, but by mid September I often see groups of 8+ loons fishing as a group. The birds circle in a tight formation, and then they all dive. I wish I had an underwater camera to see the havoc they cause underneath the waves. Yesterday’s event was on the windward shore right over an underwater point. It was obvious the wind was blowing the microorganisms over to this spot which was then setting up the food chair. The loons repeatedly dove and came up at the exact same spot.

Common Loon Wolfpack of Northstar Lake

In addition, this is the time of year to start checking out every hay bale one sees in the countryside. Any bird that enjoys bugs for food will often be spotted sitting on hay bales. These ring-billed gulls had flown seven miles inland from Lake Superior to enjoy the bounty … another example of a food chain … farmer mows hay forcing all the bugs in the field into a very small area (i.e. the shorted cut hay), which means easy pickings for birds.

Cloverland Hay Bale Ring-Billed Gulls

Finally, while everyone else is sweltering in the heat, Lake Superior provides gentle cool breezes. I took this photograph of my bicycle during this  morning’s ride near Split Rock Lighthouse.