Snowy owls are busting out of the arctic and taking North America by storm. The New York Times reports that these ravishing raptors have been spotted from Vancouver to the Ohio River Valley, to Boston – even in Hawaii.
Often when you hear about wildlife straying far from its normal range, it’s because the animals are stressed, but experts say that these owls are healthy and well-fed. Last year was just a banner year for lemmings, which make up 90% of their Arctic diet. Well-fed owls can raise up to 8 chicks in a good breeding year, when they usually have only one, or none at all.
Boston’s Logan airport is an especially popular destination for snowy owls, because the airfield looks like the tundra:
The owls are even showing up in urban and suburban areas, along highways, on signs and fence posts, and in other places where people can more easily spot them. It has been a good snowy owl year at Logan Airport in Boston, too. Because the airfield looks like tundra, snowy owls tend to flock there, and they must be trapped and removed.
“We’ve removed 21 so far this year, and the average is six,” said Norman Smith, who works for the Massachusetts Audubon Society and traps the birds. The most ever trapped was 43 in 1986, Mr. Smith said, “but the year’s not over.” [NYT]
Hey, snowy owls, New York’s LaGuardia Airport is nice this time of year. We also have this subway rat problem, I mean, all-you-can-eat buffet.
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