Pictured: The snowy owls invading the continental U.S.

UK Daily Mail ^ | February 6, 2012 | Staff

[C19fan]

These are the snowy owls attracting quite a crowd of onlookers across America as an ‘unbelievable’ mass migration continues to grow. Bird enthusiasts are reporting rising numbers of the Arctic birds winging into the lower 48 states this winter in a mass southern migration. Some states as far south as Texas are reporting sightings of the bird that is as white as the driven snow.

[Ravenstar]

Drat that AGW (anthropogenic global warming) causing all this freezing cold snow near the equator!!!

Ravenstar

[conservaterian]

There are lots of ponds in the area and they like hanging around those ponds. I suppose that the fishing is good there. I have already heard stories about people killing Canadian geese because they are depleting local fishing. I don't like hearing that, but I do understand the problem.

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Canada Geese don't eat fish. They are grazers.

[elcid1970]

Massed Canada geese foul the ponds which kills off the fish.

Nonmigrating geese are oversized pests.

[kabumpo]

Re Robins: I was amazed last February, a few days after a NYC snowstorm to see a robin on East 9th St. Never seen one before Spring in my life.

[moehoward]

"Any freepers have seen Snowy Owls."

Thank you for asking, I love telling this story.

My family's Kansas farm had two barns. One very large and one smaller "English Barn". In the smaller barn my uncle kept his Packards. One morning I went out to it to admire his cars like I often did. Then I noticed a large White Owl up on a rafter looking down at me. We sat there sizing each other up for several minutes before he got bored with me. He swooped down, flying right past and out the door behind me.

My one and only encounter with a wild one.

[Flycatcher]

You're probably referring to double-crested cormorants who are eating the fish, not Canada geese.

But, yes, many populations of Canada geese have "stopped" migrating. They are becoming residents up and down the American coast, and in places inland too.

They seem to be very adaptable, and their numbers are growing.

[Flycatcher]

Great story.

My hunch, though, is that you saw a barn owl, and not a snowy. Snowys only VERY irregularly reach the central Great Plains, and only then in exceptionally cold winters (as it is up north this winter). Snowys also prefer open ground, and are often seen standing on the ground or on a fencepost, etc.

But barn owls are quite different. They really do breed and roost in barns (hence the name).

They also appear a ghostly white from the front. They don't hoot either -- they shriek!

It'll send the hairs on your neck rising the first time you hear one!

[jagusafr]

Had one fly up my street in north San Antonio 10 years ago. Still before dawn, I was seated, cooling down after a run, this thing had a HUGE wingspan, about 10 feet off the street, veered over toward me, then away. It was absolutely silent, no beat of wings or anything. Eerie but beautiful. Glad I wasn’t a field mouse that day!

[Vinnie]

My son took this Christmas Eve in Eastern Co.

[moehoward]

I just looked up a picture of a Barn owl. You are correct. I'll never forget that mug.

I thought Barn Owls, had (ear?) tufts. And I remember being struck at how completely white he was. The only owls I had ever seen in the wild were much smaller than this big fella.

[Flycatcher]

Notice that "heart-shaped" face?

Ya gotta love any bird with a heart for a face!

[thesearethetimes...]

Thanks for the great thread C19fan! (Offtopic alert - which manner of C19 are you a fan of?)

We hear owls at night here on the Georgia coast a LOT, but I was never sure which species I was listening to until your post inspired me, Flycatcher ; }

I looked up an owl audio clip site, and lo and behold, we have Great Horned Owls!!

Sometimes they will “converse” with me a bit, and then I have to stop, because I know all my rescued and released squirrels are thinking - “MOM!!! Quit talking to him!! You could be inviting him to come to dinner!!”

Countless are the blessings.
Tatt

[pgkdan]

Thank goodness for our weather. I’m saying prayers of Thanksgiving for every extra day of golf I’ve gotten in this winter. I’ve played almost every weekend in December and January!

[Jack Hydrazine]

Warm globally, cool locally! LOL!

[thesearethetimes...]

http://del.typepad.com/del/2009/12/up-close-with-a-great-horned-owl.html

This site has a profile of a Great Horned Owl, which is a perspective I hadn’t seen before. Maybe someone can get it to post here as my tech skills are extremely weak, laughs.

May God give us strength.
Tatt

[Flycatcher]

If you have two great horned owls "conversing" with you, you can actually tell the sexes apart. Apparently, the male hoots first, usually followed by the female in response.

The male's hoots are higher-pitched however. The female's hoots (in response) seem to be noticeably lower-pitched.

Now you've got your homework for tonight! Lol!

All the best!

[thesearethetimes...]

I will definitely be quiet and just do some listening tonight so I can hear who is talking to who out there, no pun intended ; }

May God bless!
Tatt

[Free Vulcan]

Apparently they had a record crop of lemming and hence a record brood season for the owls. Now the young owls are moving south because of competition. I think it’d be awesome of they populated the lower 48.

[C19fan]

Which manner of C19 are you a fan of? I amateur Victorianist so I enjoy learning about the 19th century, you can in Civil War.

[thesearethetimes...]

http://museumca.org/naturalsounds/innercoast/innercoast.html

Ok, last post now - must get some work done around here, lol, but this is what I hear!

Blessings.
Tatt