I have yet to see any snowy owls this year. There just have not been many sightings locally. Usually, I see at least a handful in Marblehead, Gloucester, Plum Island, etc. The lack of migrating numbers may be due to plentiful food sources in the north, but I am not sure. I dug into the archives for a few photos taken in Marblehead over the past several years. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to see more locally in the near future.
According to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, snowy owls are winter visitors to Massachusetts, typically arriving in November and staying until April before returning to their Arctic breeding grounds. They seek out habitats that resemble the open tundra, like large salt marshes, extensive agricultural fields and even airports. Popular sighting hotspots include Westport, New Bedford, Nantucket, Orleans, Duxbury Beach, Salisbury State Park and Plum Island. The number of snowy owls that visit each year varies, as they are what’s called an “irruptive species,” one that migrates irregularly in response to fluctuations in food supply and other conditions in the Arctic. During winter in Massachusetts, “snowies” hunt rodents, rabbits, birds like ducks and gulls, and even other raptors. They swallow their prey whole and later spit up indigestible parts like bones and fur as pellets.
Snowy owls face many threats during winter in Massachusetts. They risk getting hit by vehicles, electrocuted by power lines, poisoned by rodenticides and disturbed by people while roosting and hunting. Providing these owls with ample space is crucial — observers should keep at least 150 feet away, view from one location rather than surround the owl, and immediately back off if the owl becomes alert or distressed. Disturbing roosting owls can prevent them from resting and conserving energy needed to survive the winter.
The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner. For the past 16 years, he has taken thousands of nature photographs.
