Snowy Owl

[larryj]

This visitor from the north stopped for a few days in a forming area a few miles west of Colorado Springs. He was the first snowy owl seen in that area in 65 years. A birder friend alerted me to his presence. These birds spend their first winter south of their Arctic home learning hunting skills. The next fall they return to the Arctic and spend the rest of their lives up north.!

 

[AlanLichty]

Very cool looking bird. So it's only the youngsters that fly south for an appearance like this?

 

[larryj]

Very cool looking bird. So it's only the youngsters that fly south for an appearance like this?

Thanks Alan for your comments.
Yes only the youngsters fly south during their first year.

 

[JimFox]

Wow!!! How lucky you are Larry!!! Owls are high on my list of birds I would like to photograph.

Great job here. How long does it stay there? A couple weeks? Or all winter?

 

[Trent Watts]

Nice photo Larry. That is a long way south and good job on finding and photographing it. We see Snowy Owls often in the winter months here in Saskatchewan. I would be interested in your source for the statement that only the young leave the arctic. That is not my understanding as they eat Lemmings, Ptarmigan and other prey during the summer breeding months and then disperse widely in search of food during the winter. Here is a reference from allaboutbirds on Snowy Owl s. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl/overview#

 

[larryj]

Wow!!! How lucky you are Larry!!! Owls are high on my list of birds I would like to photograph.

Great job here. How long does it stay there? A couple weeks? Or all winter?

It only stayed in this location for about 2 weeks and then moved on. It is my understanding that the young birds spend up to 2 winters out of the arctic and return to the arctic in summer when they are ready to breed.

 

[BlackRockArt]

This visitor from the north stopped for a few days in a forming area a few miles west of Colorado Springs. He was the first snowy owl seen in that area in 65 years. A birder friend alerted me to his presence. These birds spend their first winter south of their Arctic home learning hunting skills. The next fall they return to the Arctic and spend the rest of their lives up north.!

wow, larry, this is a lifer !

Oliver

 

[larryj]

wow, larry, this is a lifer !

Oliver

Thanks Oliver1.