From Ken Anderson
Short-eared Owls in the deep freeze. ❄️
Ice forms around their eyes as they hunt in temperatures below -25°C.
It’s incredible how they endure these extremes. Dense plumage, a fast metabolism, and pure instinct keep them alive through the harshest winter days.
Beauty Shortie!
Do owls migrate? I mean, they do when they’re following migratory prey but otherwise?
No, yes, and kinda!
No - Most do not, and don’t typically go more than a few miles from where they are born.
Yes - Some species do migrate. Flammulated Owls migrate from the Western US to Mexica and Central America, Saw Whets go from Canada and the Northern US and Rockies down into warmer climates in the US, and Eurasian Scops will migrate from Eurasia to Africa regularly each year.
Kinda - Owls like Snowy Owl do what are called irruptions. Unlike a migration which is regular, irruptions are not every year, it’s not always the same time, and it’s not to a regular spot. It can be, but it’s not required and not considered unusual if it’s not. They will move as prey moves. For ones like Snowies where the extreme cold might not be hospitable enough for their prey, they will move just far enough to find unclaimed territory with adequate prey. When conditions improve back where they like to live, they’ll head back home.
I have heard vultures have a very lazy behavior like this, where sometimes the move is very short, even just a county or so away from where they live, but as they require other animals’ populations to sustain them, they have to go where the food goes, even if that isn’t very far at all.
Excellent. And a new word! Irruption!
My favorite Van Halen solo of all time. Naturally inspired by Snowies!
😆
Eyeliner and lipstick: fierce.
Even their regular eyeliner is the best in the raptor world, but this icy new shade, combined with that “don’t mess with me” red lipstick really makes a lasting impression!
