Snowy Owl 2011

For several weeks in early 2011, a Snowy Owl was reported in northwestern Illinois.  Snowy Owls are rare winter migrants into Illinois from their breeding grounds in the Arctic.  Because they nest on the ground, drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife would have a negative impact on Snowy Owl habitat.  In winter they come to places like Illinois not to escape Arctic cold, but in search of food.  Jill, Joe, and I set out see it on Friday, February 11, 2011.  A couple of years ago Jill and I looked for a Snowy Owl in the fields near Ottawa, IL, but we never found it. 

This 2011 owl was easier to locate, however.  We stayed in our car and used it as a blind.  The owl put on a great show.  It started atop a pole next to the road, then flew into the cornfield.  It stayed there for a few minutes, then flew back up to the top of the pole.  I took a bunch of pictures with a telephoto lens (only a few are cropped).  We left shortly after seeing this great display.

Many people have gone to see this incredible creature.  Unfortunately, they have not all used common sense or ethical practices.  After our sighting, I learned that sometimes people have parked long lines of cars along the road to see the bird.  Some people have approached the owl in the cornfield to get a "better" view or to flush it.  The scene has been described by veteran birders as a "circus."  Most disturbing of all, some people have brought mice to "bait" the owl, in the hope of seeing it fly to capture the mice.  All of this human activity is a stress on a wild owl and puts it at risk.

I do not know if my pictures show the owl snatching one of the mice that someone may have previously brought.  I was unaware that this had been done, and I am ashamed that people have behaved so recklessly around a rare and protected bird.  I certainly hope the owl was not exposed to any diseases. 

It is a gift to witness such a beautiful bird, and is not something to be be abused.