For the Birds: Snowy Owl Facts and Precautions - Interview with Nature and Bird photographer Paul Bannick

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Phone interview with Paul Bannick, Author and Photographer of The Owl and The Woodpecker 11/17/2011, by Christine Southwick

With the reports of sighting along the Washington coast, this year appears to be an irruptive year for the Snowy Owl.

"Snowy Owl Singing in Fog"  Photo: paulbannick.com
Reprinted with permission


Paul, WHERE ARE THESE OWLS COMING FROM AND WHY ARE THEY HERE?

Snowy Owls breed on the Arctic Tundra, but the young disperse widely, so we don’t know if these owls are from Alaska, Canada, or Asia. We do know that they are here in search of food. The most common explanation is that the birds are responding to a fall in lemming populations to the north. The success of the prior year’s breeding owls likely plays a role as well, with many more birds putting pressure on whatever lemming populations remain.

These owls are hungry. The only reason that they fly this far south is to get enough food to survive. They need all the energy and fat that they can acquire. It is important that people, in their enthusiasm to see these magnificent owls, don’t crowd them and cause them to waste valuable calories. Expending energy unproductively can be the margin between surviving or starving.

IS THERE A SPECIFIC AGE OR SEX OF THE SNOWY OWLS THAT FLY SOUTHWARD TO FIND FOOD?

There is a hierarchy in Snowy Owls, with the adult females initially retaining breeding territories, while males and juveniles move south with juvenile males traveling the furthest. Therefore, most of the Snowy Owls who travel down into Washington are juveniles, and the majorities of these are males.

WHAT KINDS OF FOOD ARE THESE OWLS EATING WHILE THEY ARE HERE IN WASHINGTON?

They are eating mostly rodents, and opportune birds. Rodents mostly move at night or dusk, so while the Snowy Owls are in Washington, most are hunting dusk through dawn. Having found an area that sustains it, a Snowy Owl may stay in the area for a while.

HOW WOULD I KNOW IF I AM TOO CLOSE AND CAUSING A SNOWY TO WASTE ENERGY?

These owls live on or near the ground. They need much more distance than other owls because of their exposure. If you are closer than 100 yards (length of a full football field), you may be too close! Half a mile is more ideal. If you see the owl opening its eyes during full daylight, defecating, climbing to a higher perch, or especially flying away from you, you are probably TOO CLOSE. You are causing an owl harm every time it has to launch itself for reasons other than feeding.

WHAT SUGGESTIONS WOULD YOU OFFER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THESE OWLS IN WAYS THAT ARE HEALTHY FOR THE OWLS AND SATISFYING FOR THE VIEWERS?

First and foremost, keep your distance. That means use a scope if at all possible. If you are taking pictures, take advantage of high-powered lenses and tripods and/or digi-scoping . Be prepared to stay in one place for a while.

It is recommended that people wait for a few weeks when they hear about a Snowy Owl in a new location. By late December or January, many of these owls will be in place and settled, and less likely to require that half mile. It may even be able to tolerate a closer approach, especially if you use your car as a blind. Watch for those signs of nervousness, and back away if you are bothering the owl.


5 comments:

Anonymous,  November 22, 2011 at 6:14 PM  

Thank you for this informative -- and cautionary -- piece. It is very exciting to see a snowy owl, but we do need to respect its needs above our desire to see it! Seeing it through a spotting scope is perfectly wonderful, and often provides better and longer views!

Victoria
Bainbridge Island

Anonymous,  November 22, 2011 at 8:21 PM  

Thanks to both you (Christine) and Paul for providing us with things to consider when we head out to view and/or photograph these charismatic birds.
To find out where the Snowy Owls are being seen this winter, anyone can check the Tweeters List, a birding list-serv where birders share sightings and other observations and info from their birding experiences, present and past. It's a great resource, found at :
www.birdingonthe.net/mailingslists/TWET.html

Barb
Seattle

Jenny,  November 25, 2011 at 4:56 AM  

Good info here. And thanks Barb for the list-serve link. Very handy indeed. Tundra animals and birds such as the snowy owl are truly wonderful creatures. I hope to catch one with my new camera this winter. That would be an excellent way to start the new year.

Anonymous,  November 30, 2011 at 4:58 PM  

Very informative piece. I was fortunate enough to observe up to seven of these owls in Ocean Shores a few days ago. I used a super telephoto lens to maintain my distance. Images are available at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tony-v/6427093007/

Anonymous,  December 6, 2011 at 10:25 AM  

Great photo. Sure must have been closer than a half mile! Shame to see so many 500mm folks so close. Happy birding.

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