I never would imagine I would find an Eastern Meadowlark, one of the signs of spring in southeast Michigan at a nearby birding site this week, only to find a sign of winter at the same location the next day.
But that’s exactly what happened when an unexpected Snowy Owl appeared at a local airport.
I’ve seen Snowy Owls the past few years perched on buildings/posts or sitting at nearby airport fields, but finding my first Snowy Owl for the winter in our county the first week of March was a surprise.
Especially since it was a warm day, 54 degrees Farenheit.
A few things to know about Snowy Owls:
- They’re the heaviest owl species in North America, weighing around four pounds
- You’ll see variation in color and size. Adult female Snowy Owls are bigger and generally have dark markings, while adult males are smaller and whiter.
- Used to 24-hour daylight on their breeding grounds, Snowy Owls can be seen during the day in their wintering grounds
- If you want to see Snowy Owls in the winter, check for lumps or what appears to be white plastic bags in wide open fields or whitish shapes on posts/buildings near airports
Snowy Owls will be heading north soon to their Arctic breeding grounds.
