With the cold temps this week, and the forecast showing warmer temps in the coming days, We are seeing all sorts of things in our winter birds. We know that some people participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count this past weekend, and we of course hosted a Winter Bird Count here at the nature center back in December. We are also experiencing the greatest influx of northern owls in almost 20 years this winter, drawing visitors from all over the world to MN to see these amazing birds.
Our Winter Bird COunt went well this year, despite the crummy weather. For the second year in a row, we had drizzles and poor visibility for our count day. Despite that, we had 47 people submit data on birds that they counted throughout the day. A grand total of 4,153 birds from 51 species were seen (or heard, in the case of the owls) that day. Thank you again to everyone who participated!!
If you are feeling adventurous and looking to see some interesting birds yet this winter, I suggest a drive north! A record number of owls have come to MN from Canada in search of food this winter, making for some amazing opportunities. This phenomenon, known as an irruption, happens during years when a lot of owlets survived fledging but the rodent population isn’t large enough to feed all of them. This drives the owls south until they can find enough food to feed them. While it is an amazing opportunity for us to see these elusive birds, it means that they are often stressed and hungry when they do arrive. Their favorite food are small rodents called voles, though they will happily eat any available prey.
One of these wintery visitors is the Great Grey Owl. The world’s largest owl by length, Great Greys are sometimes called Phantoms of the North. They stand 24-33 inches tall, weigh 1.28-4.19 lbs, and have a wingspan of 4.5-5 feet wide. They are, unfortunately, frequently hit by cars due to their tendency to fly low to the ground when hunting. They are crepuscular hunters, most active at dusk and dawn. This makes them particularly hard to see as they cross the roads in pursuit of a meal. It is a major problem, unfortunately. Luckily, with the amount of news coverage that this irruption has garnered, the general public is more aware of the risk to these birds than in the average year.
Another frequent visitor during irruptions is the Northern Hawk owl. These owls tend to perch at the very top of trees and are active only during the day. They are small, measuring 14.2-17.6 inches tall, weigh about 11 oz, and have wingspans of about 18 inches. These owls are often said to fly and behave more like hawks than owls, possibly due to their diurnal nature. The flat head with black borders of the face makes them a very distinct looking owl. I enjoy seeing Northern Hawk Owls just as much as I enjoy seeing Great Grey Owls. They have made for an exciting winter birding experience!
I hope that you have had a chance to enjoy some of the amazing birds that overwinter in our beautiful state. Stay warm, and hang on for the warmer temps that are coming our way!
None of the photos used were altered from their original format.