Courtesy of a pilot who frequently flies and in and out of the Superior Richard Bong Airport, I learned more about Snowy Owls … including this “dorky looking” bird that I watched last night at the same location. I always thought Snowy Owls were occasionally spooked by planes, but was I ever wrong!

This pilot told me that it is common knowledge at the Superior Airport amongst the pilots that as we move through February into early March as the snow depths lessen, he and his buddies often see Snowy Owls flying parallel to their planes next to the runways. Why? The owls know that the planes often scare up small mammals upon take-off and landings, and it is easy food. These owls are smart!

Non Dorky Snowy Owl in Superior Yesterday Evening at Sunset

Within the past 48 hours a new wave of Snowy Owls has arrived in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin … from Sax-Zim Bog to the North Shore to Ashland, Wisconsin. Better yet, I have seen my first male Snowy Owl! (see below). Neither the photo ops nor light has been great, but it is so neat to see a male owl (much, much whiter than the females). These two images were taken 14 hours apart. Hopefully this owl has set up a winter territory.

I’m not sure which team Snowy was cheering for yesterday evening, but for Team Vole a mistake would surely be deadly (oops … I mean tasty). Our early season viewing of Snowy Owls up here in the Northland continues to be lots of fun. However, tonight’s forecast winter storm with 12 inches of snow will make the Snowy Owls harder to find!

At the ballpark

On the hunt