The owl irruptus makes me wonder what the abundance of squirrels is called after a mast year for the oaks (and if the squirrels travel south, too)
Keep us posted on seeing those owls and on the butterfly class! And though I haven't yet found a verb for the snow geese, last week I thought their movement looked like confetti in NYC streets when there's an updraft wind working.
Although for whatever reason I'm not normally a fan of those collective nouns for animals, I do like "confetti of geese!" And, at least here in the Northeast, Red Squirrels often follow a two-year boom-bust cycle, with implications for nesting songbirds (cool stuff): https://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/a-good-year-for-fir-cones
I egretly await my tern to duck tradition and become more gullable. Herring these parts, there aren’t too many, but murre than many realize. Owl also be perched by the window, where snowy precipitation of joy might be expected, and I’ll likely grouse if only juncos show.
Eider know. I'll admit it's a sora spot for my wife--she rails about it often. (It can be very unpheasant.) But that's obviously a small sample, and can skua the analysis. But I'll kiwi it while I'm ahead....
Snowy owls are spectacular but here in old growth forested Oregon we have our own Northern Spotted owl, a worthy bird! The cause of a great political battle decades ago between tree cutters and conservationists, I remember the caustic bumper sticker the former promoted:
Worthy indeed. Thanks, Michael. Some interesting biology now with the intrusion of Barred Owls into the Spotted's traditional range, and taking over -- a challenge for conservation of Spotted Owls. Those owl wars of the 80s were indeed horrible -- really sad and too bad for everyone involved. And it happened long before the acrimony that's now almost de rigueur
We have hosted this week, a wonderful Barred Owl in our neighborhood of old Victorians and tall old trees- mostly deciduous. He sat for a while in the tree across the street eating a mouse he had caught. I kept expecting our neighborhood crows to start their mobbing, but none showed up... I hope he might stay a while but no signs the last few days so he must have moved on. 🙁
Bryan, as I was reading your post I thought about the issue of the Barred v. Spotted owl here in Oregon. I’m not a biologist, and I wrestle with the idea that conservation of one comes at the expense of the other...if you ever have time or inclination I’d appreciate your insights.
“From a Snowy Owl’s eyes the Arctic speaks. Hypnotic and seductive, like bioluminescence or romance, the glow brings you immediate and ancient pleasure. From the intensity of this gaze you cannot look away. And yet from the owl there is no reciprocity. “
Hours spent creeping silently through the trees at the very edge of the forest line. Across the long expanse of a field , taking turn back and forth between squinting and binoculars.
Finally what looks to be a snowball on top an old fence post.
A whisper, Shhh… there it is.
Don’t even breathe , it will hear us .
We think we are so stealth .
Of course it knows we are here.
Finally , for just one moment we get a piercing yellow glance that says ‘you’re boring me’.
We sit breathless, like the end of the grand finale of an incredible fireworks display.
There has never been words to describe the feeling of making eye contact with such a magnificent bird .
Until now.
Thank you Brian ,
The whole post, just perfection !
Can’t wait to head out and pretend I am as quiet as the tiny prey it’s stalking.
Oh, yeah -- reliable there, to be sure. Snowy are a bit "late" this autumn, at least compared to the last 10 years or so, during which we had lots of October records (and basically none this October). Thirty years ago or so, I seem to recall, it wasn't until aroundThanksgiving that Snowy Owls began to show up in the U.S. Or perhaps this year will be relatively quiet "down here." We shall see in the next couple of weeks!
I thought it seemed late, but it has been warmer. The bird paparazzi down here gets so intense. I wish more people understood keeping a distance from them.
Nov 17, 2023·edited Nov 17, 2023Liked by Bryan Pfeiffer
Thank you! A few years ago - during the pandemic, I had to call the local PD to get someone down to the Salisbury Res to break up a large group of photographers surrounding one a dune alongside the road. I could see the snowy in distress and my heart ached.
Such an amazing owl - that photo is stunning. We have several Snowy Owls spend the winters here in the Ottawa Ontario Canada area as well. Such a treat to see and will be on the lookout in the coming weeks and months.
Those Snowy Owl yellow eyes are something else. Also their speckled marking looks a little like open-winged bird silhouettes! Seriously very excited for the upcoming 'Classroom', Bryan!
I’m almost certain I saw a snowy owl in a tree , in a field about 3 weeks ago in Berkshire County ( western ) Mass. I didn’t have binoculars with me but can’t imagine what else that very large white bird could have been.
Binoculars -- great idea, going to pack them now for our trip. Sure hope we see a snowy owl on our trip. Never seen one as I've lived mostly in Florida all my life. Also, yay for you seeing a snowy owl!
Will there be snowy owls near Wilmington, NY / Lake Placid area this February? We are coming up from Florida and my little kids and I would love to see them. Any places in particular to look for them?
The owl irruptus makes me wonder what the abundance of squirrels is called after a mast year for the oaks (and if the squirrels travel south, too)
Keep us posted on seeing those owls and on the butterfly class! And though I haven't yet found a verb for the snow geese, last week I thought their movement looked like confetti in NYC streets when there's an updraft wind working.
Although for whatever reason I'm not normally a fan of those collective nouns for animals, I do like "confetti of geese!" And, at least here in the Northeast, Red Squirrels often follow a two-year boom-bust cycle, with implications for nesting songbirds (cool stuff): https://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/a-good-year-for-fir-cones
I egretly await my tern to duck tradition and become more gullable. Herring these parts, there aren’t too many, but murre than many realize. Owl also be perched by the window, where snowy precipitation of joy might be expected, and I’ll likely grouse if only juncos show.
Yew may egret those puns!
Eider know. I'll admit it's a sora spot for my wife--she rails about it often. (It can be very unpheasant.) But that's obviously a small sample, and can skua the analysis. But I'll kiwi it while I'm ahead....
Ibis bee on my way. It's a wren ching experience to meet an un-finch-ing punmaster such as yourself. I took a thrashering!
You are too kind! Now I'm puffin up my chest and telling my wife to take a gander.
No groan icon -- but I do love this.
Glad to oblige! ;-)
Anythyme!
I will always be ready for snowy owls! I'd be amazed if they showed up in Florida but it might be too far south...
I saw one north of Jacksonville some years ago!
Snowy owls are spectacular but here in old growth forested Oregon we have our own Northern Spotted owl, a worthy bird! The cause of a great political battle decades ago between tree cutters and conservationists, I remember the caustic bumper sticker the former promoted:
I LOVE SPOTTED OWLS - FRIED!
passes for wit in some quarters....
Worthy indeed. Thanks, Michael. Some interesting biology now with the intrusion of Barred Owls into the Spotted's traditional range, and taking over -- a challenge for conservation of Spotted Owls. Those owl wars of the 80s were indeed horrible -- really sad and too bad for everyone involved. And it happened long before the acrimony that's now almost de rigueur
in the public square.
We have hosted this week, a wonderful Barred Owl in our neighborhood of old Victorians and tall old trees- mostly deciduous. He sat for a while in the tree across the street eating a mouse he had caught. I kept expecting our neighborhood crows to start their mobbing, but none showed up... I hope he might stay a while but no signs the last few days so he must have moved on. 🙁
Bryan, as I was reading your post I thought about the issue of the Barred v. Spotted owl here in Oregon. I’m not a biologist, and I wrestle with the idea that conservation of one comes at the expense of the other...if you ever have time or inclination I’d appreciate your insights.
A snowy owl favored a tree near me a few years back, and you post reminded me of what delight it brought. Thanks, Bryan
I hope I also saw that owl!
Gorgeous. I've never seen one in person but maybe someday! Your words will tide me over until then. (Including "gullable" 😂)
I'll keep watch for you! 😀 Stay tuned!
I hope they can keep snowy owls away from the Logan Airport in Boston, the owls go there because it is a big wide area
I think it's been managed really well over the years — they've even done research on those Logan owls if I'm not mistaken.
“From a Snowy Owl’s eyes the Arctic speaks. Hypnotic and seductive, like bioluminescence or romance, the glow brings you immediate and ancient pleasure. From the intensity of this gaze you cannot look away. And yet from the owl there is no reciprocity. “
Hours spent creeping silently through the trees at the very edge of the forest line. Across the long expanse of a field , taking turn back and forth between squinting and binoculars.
Finally what looks to be a snowball on top an old fence post.
A whisper, Shhh… there it is.
Don’t even breathe , it will hear us .
We think we are so stealth .
Of course it knows we are here.
Finally , for just one moment we get a piercing yellow glance that says ‘you’re boring me’.
We sit breathless, like the end of the grand finale of an incredible fireworks display.
There has never been words to describe the feeling of making eye contact with such a magnificent bird .
Until now.
Thank you Brian ,
The whole post, just perfection !
Can’t wait to head out and pretend I am as quiet as the tiny prey it’s stalking.
The rest, after my quoted text, is yours, Lor? Lovely!
I am ready! We usually get them in my coastal town in Mass and also across the Merrimack River at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
Oh, yeah -- reliable there, to be sure. Snowy are a bit "late" this autumn, at least compared to the last 10 years or so, during which we had lots of October records (and basically none this October). Thirty years ago or so, I seem to recall, it wasn't until aroundThanksgiving that Snowy Owls began to show up in the U.S. Or perhaps this year will be relatively quiet "down here." We shall see in the next couple of weeks!
I thought it seemed late, but it has been warmer. The bird paparazzi down here gets so intense. I wish more people understood keeping a distance from them.
I’ll be emphasizing proper etiquette, to be sure.
Thank you! A few years ago - during the pandemic, I had to call the local PD to get someone down to the Salisbury Res to break up a large group of photographers surrounding one a dune alongside the road. I could see the snowy in distress and my heart ached.
Such an amazing owl - that photo is stunning. We have several Snowy Owls spend the winters here in the Ottawa Ontario Canada area as well. Such a treat to see and will be on the lookout in the coming weeks and months.
Yes, and you often enough see Great Gray Owls as well!
They’re such majestic creatures! 🦉 how lucky that you get to spend time with them 🤍
I'll keep you posted in the unlikely event one flies near you!
Owls. ❤️🌱 Love them so much that I wrote this shortie: https://open.substack.com/pub/renegvolpi/p/conversations-with-an-owl?r=1mncrk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Bring it on!
Those Snowy Owl yellow eyes are something else. Also their speckled marking looks a little like open-winged bird silhouettes! Seriously very excited for the upcoming 'Classroom', Bryan!
I’m almost certain I saw a snowy owl in a tree , in a field about 3 weeks ago in Berkshire County ( western ) Mass. I didn’t have binoculars with me but can’t imagine what else that very large white bird could have been.
Binoculars -- great idea, going to pack them now for our trip. Sure hope we see a snowy owl on our trip. Never seen one as I've lived mostly in Florida all my life. Also, yay for you seeing a snowy owl!
Will there be snowy owls near Wilmington, NY / Lake Placid area this February? We are coming up from Florida and my little kids and I would love to see them. Any places in particular to look for them?