25 August 2018 Animal Spotlight: Snowy Owl!

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The snowy owl was my first wildlife sighting in Utqiaġvik – I got to see one as I was entering the Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC) where most of the scientists' research labs are housed. Someone had to point it out to me, not only because it was foggy out, but mostly because it just looked like a large white piece of trash on the tundra. This put me on the lookout for white "tundra trash" for the next couple days.

Arctic Snowy Owl - Males are whiter than females — Arctic snowy owl.

Thankfully, the snowy owls were not feeling shy and I got many sightings. The Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC), which handles all of the local logistical arrangements for research teams name means "place to hunt snowy owls" (don't worry, no one hunts owls anymore). Three owls are currently living near research sites on the Barrow Environmental ObservatoryA location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events. (BEO); an older male and female, and a juvenile. As Mariana and I were hiking out to install the camera we came across the male and female several times. As we trekked over ridges we were careful as owls could be on the other side. Owls perch in mounds and ridges to hunt lemmings – while I never saw an owl actually go for a lemming, I did get to see them drafting.

Female snowy owl – notice the difference in her feathers.

Snowy owls are the heaviest owls in North America. They can survive the cold in Utqiaġvik temperatures because of their well adapted feather insulation – it keeps the heat in better than any other bird (except the Adélie penguin). The warmth snowy owl feathers generate is similar to fur of an arctic fox. While most owls migrate south for the winter, some will occasionally stay. Population numbers, especially in Utqiaġvik, vary greatly depending on availability of prey. When lemming populations are down, snowy owls might not be seen for several years. This year, because lemmings are up, the BEO could support three owls.