A Magical Owl

by Norma A. Hubbard  (December 2014)

When the Harry Potter books became famous, every kid wanted to own Hedwig – and if I am being honest, I wanted to own him, too! It is no secret that we are fascinated by Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus). Last winter (2013-14) there was a record number of Snowy Owls in our area, providing many of us with the opportunity to catch a glimpse of this beautiful white bird. As Snowy Owls are irruptive (meaning they do not appear every winter), we may not be so lucky again this winter.

Snowy Owls weigh 1,600–2,950g (the heaviest of the big owls) and are 52–71 cm in length (not the tallest); these incredible birds, with a wingspan of 126–145 cm, present an impressive sight as they soar across fields in search of food. As with many birds, there is a marked difference between males and females. Adult males are usually the whitest, but immature males start with dark brown bars that get whiter with age. Females, especially when young, are very dark. However, it can be difficult to tell the sex between a darker young male and a lighter female. Hedwig is definitely an adult male.

While breeding, Snowy Owls are territorial, and if needed in winter, males will fiercely defend their areas. Often Snowy Owls remain year-round in their breeding areas. Within the male’s territory, it is the female that selects the nest site; a clutch size is between 3 to 11 eggs. If food is scarce, owls may skip a breeding season. It is known that some owls return to the same wintering site year after year, while others may travel great distances from their birthplace to find a territory – Snowy Owls can easily fly over 1000 km in the summer. The oldest Snowy Owl on record was almost 17 years old.

Most owls are nocturnal, but Snowy Owls are diurnal, so they hunt day and night, including for hours on end during the continuous daylight of an Arctic summer. They prefer to hunt in open areas, like the Tundra. In our area, Snowy Owls have been spotted perched on fence posts, telephone poles, or other vantage points near open fields. They eat various small mammals, such as mice, rabbits, or squirrels. A Snowy Owl can eat more than 1,600 lemmings in a year. They are also known to hunt small birds.

Currently this is not an endangered species, but climate change will impact the Snowy Owl. There is something magical about this bird, so let’s try and do our part so that no matter when they come to visit again, we will be able to welcome them.

Source: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snowy_owl/