(Chelsea Update would like to thank Tom Hodgson and the Waterloo Natural History Association for the information in this story and Don Henise for the courtesy photographs.)
The snowy owl is a predator of the open tundra of Alaska and Northern Canada.
Mouse-like rodents called lemmings are its favorite food. When winter lemming populations are low, snowy owls are forced to fly south into the northern U.S. in search of food. There have already been sightings in the Chelsea area in December, and we expect more this winter.
Where should one look in hopes of seeing a snowy owl?
Being a bird of open country, they are most likely to be seen near large open pastures and grasslands. They prefer to perch on the ground, but will also utilize fence posts, power poles and the roofs of buildings. They often hunt from these vantage points, scanning the surrounding territory for any sign of a mouse or other small rodent.
They have excellent binocular vision and detect even smallest movements of potential prey from great distances. Snow cover does not inhibit their hunting abilities, as their keen hearing allows them to detect the noises made by mice scurrying in their tunnels under the snow. The right and left ears of most owls are of different sizes and located at slightly different levels on the sides of their heads. This allows them to triangulate on the sounds of their prey and accurately locate them even under a foot or more of snow.
Although most owls are nocturnal, snowy owls hunt throughout the day. This is an important adaptation, as the summer days are very long on their arctic breeding grounds, leaving little time for nighttime hunting.
In the Waterloo Recreation Area, the large restored prairie on Riethmiller Road opposite the Lutheran Church might be a good place to look.
The male snowy owl is pure white, while the young of the year and the females have dark barring on the body, wings and tail. The females are also larger than the males.
This year, snowy owls have also been seen on Sibley Road near Chelsea and on Francisco Road south of I-94.
I look forward every weekend to these interesting articles and pictures from the Waterloo folks in this, my “Sunday paper.” They never fail to sharpen my appreciation for the natural beauty around us. Thanks, all.
We saw one on Upland Hills Drive.