Exciting news: Snowy owls have begun to arrive in Wisconsin, with the first landing in Dane County! Lots of you may know this news already but the DNR link might be worth checking out because it reviews some basic information about snowy owls and some precautions to take in finding and watching them. Enjoy!
Topf Wells, Madison Audubon board member and advocacy committee chair
From the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Conservation Program:
Snowy owl photo courtesy of Ryan Brady
Snowy owls are arriving. Tips on where to find this bucket-list bird and how to respectfully view them
As of Nov. 22, three snowy owls have been confirmed with photos in Wisconsin so far this season. That's lower than at this time in most recent "irruption" years, but the birds could just be getting a late start.
As their name suggests, snowy owls are generally a northern species, nesting worldwide on the treeless tundra above the Arctic Circle. During a typical winter, some remain close to their breeding areas while others head south into southern Canada and the northern United States. At least small numbers reach Wisconsin each year. Every handful of years, however, large numbers move into the state, an event known as an "irruption."
Expect more owls to reach the state each week over the next month but as of now it is difficult to predict numbers.
Where to look? In short, check low-level perches in open habitats around dawn or dusk from now to March. Find more details on our snowy owl web page and learn more about this beautiful northern visitor.
