 |
| Audubon's Snowy Owls |
In a rare event called an "irruption" thousands of beautiful snowy owls
{Bubo scandiacus} are migrating south. Usually the large owls stay year round in their circumpolar tundra, but occasionally some do migrate south, but the numbers this year are unprecedented. Scientists are scratching their head for an explanation. Some think it may be due to the more than normally severe winter weather or increased competition from a boom in owl populations, but no one knows for sure. The migration is a rare treat for birdwatchers on both coasts and in the midwest as the all white owls with five foot wingspans soar overhead or roost on rooftops. Snowy owls have been seen as far south as Oklahoma. An owl expert called the event the most significant for wildlife in two decades. A plethora of lemmings last year caused the snowy owl population to increase too. Some breeding pairs hatched as many as seven offspring compared to the usual one or two. The increase in owl sightings has brought human enthusiasts out to see the fascinating sight. The gawking has contributed to local economies, but the migration has a dark side too. There are accounts of emaciated owls weighing only a third of their normal weight and the usual lethal
collisions with man's civilization.
