Snowy Owls have captured our imaginations partly because Harry Potter’s faithful companion Hedwig is a Snowy Owl, but also because unlike most owls, Snowy Owls hunt during the day, allowing us to observe their movements and struggle for survival more easily than their nocturnal cousins. Like all owls, the Snowy possesses a superb sense of hearing, binocular vision, and the ability to turn its head 270 degrees. A Snowy Owl’s hearing is so astute, it can capture prey under snow, without ever seeing the intended prey!
The Snowy Owl that was spotted in East Gloucester several days ago displayed this very behavior. Perched on a rock wall with a panoramic view of the surrounding fields, it held its body stone still all the while rotating its head around and around, up and down, and side to side. At one point, its head seemed to rotate in its socket nearly 360 degrees. In the two photos you can see the head turned seemingly backward from its front facing body, the second photo to an even greater degree than the first. By comparison, a human’s neck bones would snap if rotated to that measure and the blood vessels would close down. Owls not only have 14 very flexible neck bones, they have specialized blood vessels. When the circulation is cut off, others open to allow blood to flow.
Snowy Owl Irruption Update
Are Snowy Owls having a second irruption, two years in a row? It’s too early to tell. Just as with last year’s histoic incursion, they are again showing up all over eastern Massachusetts. My brief encounter with the Snowy Owl only left me wanting more!
You can learn much about the Snowy Owl from the tremendous film, The Magic of the Snowy Owl, linked here from a GMG post during last year’s widespread irruption. GMG FOB Mary McCloud shared this article from an Annapolis magazine, published last January, 2014.
Beautiful, KIm!!!
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Thank you Kathleen. Good to hear from you!
Happy New Year to you and much success with your novel writing in 2015!!
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I hope those beautiful creatures survive. I’ve heard an owl in my back yard during the evening. I’m not sure what type it is.
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Hi Susan,
Happy New Year to you!
Here’s a link to the eight species of owls you might see in Massachusetts: http://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/birds/owls/species
I understand too that we are seeing more than what is typical of the Northern Saw-whets.
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Fantastic picture and what a fantastic owl. Very interesting to learn much thing about it. Thank you!
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Happy New Year Monique! Thanks so much and I hope you see a Snowy Owl in your locale someday!
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Beautiful photos Kim!
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Happy New to you Karen. Thank you for your always kind comments.
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There’s a great live Owl presentation coming soon to the O’Maley school; the children will love it.
Linzee Coolidge
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Good morning Kim ~ would like to clarify ~ the Snowy Owl story was the cover story for our “What’s Up? Annapolis” magazine published January 2015. However, the story must have been written 2014. All the better ~ ongoing interest for the beautiful owl! We are having a beautiful snow today ~
I’m on the lookout for those yellow eyes 😉
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Hi Mary, Thanks for clarifying. I am sure many “What’s Up Annapolis” readers were very confused too about reading an irruption that happened last year in an article published this winter.
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Beautiful and observant owl – remember them well also on the Wise Potato chips that way! 🙂 Dave & Kim:-)
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Beautiful
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Thanks so much Patti–beautiful creature!
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