A beloved visitor from the far north showed up in Milwaukee on Wednesday, just in time for seasonal festivities.
Although it hangs from the chimney, it’s not a jolly man in a red suit pulled by a reindeer.
This wild animal travels under its own power.
This is a snowy owl, the first recorded in Milwaukee this winter.
The bird perched on the chimney cap of a Bay View home late Wednesday afternoon, attracting a crowd of onlookers and photographers.
“What a beautiful bird,” said Rita Flores Wiskoski of south Milwaukee, an avid birdwatcher who looks forward to the opportunity to fly in Wisconsin every winter. Enjoy the snow scenery. “I’m not sure we’ll see one (this winter), so it’s particularly welcome.”
The owl roosted at the site for several hours, sometimes resting and sometimes feeding on what Wiskovsky and others believed to be an American coot.
Jeremy Meyer of Franklin was photographing birds in Grant Park on Wednesday when he saw a social media post about the owl. He headed to the Bayview neighborhood to take photos of the snow. Meyer said sometimes as many as 50 people gathered on the sidewalk and in the yard, looking up in awe.
“The homeowners were so happy, they couldn’t believe it was snowing in their neighborhood,” Meyer said. “It turned into a really nice spectacle.”
On the eve of the winter solstice, owls provide feather inspiration to celebrate the longest night and the increased daylight ahead.
How big is a snowy owl?
Weighing 3 to 6 pounds, the Snowy Owl is the heaviest owl in North America and is easily distinguished by its white feathers and yellow eyes. Their wingspan is 4 to 5 feet.
According to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, male snowy owls have dark brown markings when young that become whiter as they age, while females retain some dark markings throughout their lives.
Where do snowy owls live?
Snowy owls spend their summer breeding season in the tundra north of the Arctic Circle. When winter arrives, some migrate south to southern Canada and the northern United States, including Wisconsin.
In some years, more than 100 snowy owls migrate to the Badger State in an event known as an “invasion.” One of the largest recorded invasions was in the winter of 2017-18, when 280 snowy owls were recorded in the state.
What causes the snowy owl invasion?
Ryan Brady, a conservation biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said disturbances in the Arctic are thought to occur most often in years when snowy owl nesting success is high and production is high.
The population surge is causing more snow than usual to push south.
Does this winter look like a year of disruption?
As of Dec. 21, seven snowy owls have been recorded in Wisconsin, Brady said, which is far fewer than typically found in disaster years.
In 2017-18, for example, the state had seen 84 snowfalls through mid-November.
Brady said the following counties have seen snow so far this year: Brown (three), Burnett (one), Green (one), Sheboygan (one) and Milwaukee (one Only).
What do snowy owls eat?
Snowy owls are active day and night and use their keen hearing and vision to hunt prey. Lemmings are the most common prey in Arctic snow. In Wisconsin, birds often capture and eat mice, rabbits, ducks and other waterfowl.
Where are the best places to see snowy owls in Wisconsin?
Snowy owls in Wisconsin are most often found in open areas that resemble arctic habitats. This typically includes open areas along bodies of water, farmland, and airports. They can be observed perching on telephone poles, fences, jetties and buildings.
In Milwaukee, the bird is often seen near the Lake Express ferry terminal and on piers and jetties along Lake Michigan.
These birds are also frequented at Port Oconto and the Bonavista Wildlife Area near Wisconsin Rapids.
To view recent sightings, visit eBird.org.
Snowy Owl Viewing Guidelines and Code of Ethics
Snowy owls are a protected species in Wisconsin, and harassing or killing a snowy owl may result in a ticket. Wildlife watchers, photographers and others should give birds plenty of space and not allow them to flush or move.
The DNR offers the following tips for bird watching:
- Don’t get too close to an owl. If the owl frequently looks at you, sits up straight, stares in your direction with its eyes open, or blushes from its perch, you are too close.
- Do not play the recording.
- Don’t feed the owls.
- Minimize the use of flash photography, especially after dark, as this can disrupt the owl’s activity patterns.
- When viewing from a vehicle, turn off the engine to avoid interfering with the owl’s auditory hunting techniques.
- Ask landowner permission before frequenting private property and avoid blocking public roads and access points.
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