Snowy Owls are large white raptors that nest in the Arctic tundra. Females tend to be more mottled with brown with immature birds distinctively so marked. Snowies are strong and swift in flight and are known to feed on other birds as well as rodents. When found in Michigan it is ordinarily from October through April. Occasionally they may be found in September or May but these sightings are usually rare. Snowy Owls have been reported in Michigan in the summer but when here at that time they are thought to be ill or injured.

There seems to be consensus that the number of snowy owls observed each winter in Michigan depends on availability of food further north.

Experts report that they are about 23-24 inches long with a wingspan of from 52-60 inches. If you are wondering about variation in size, as is the case with most raptors, the female snowy is usually larger than the male.

The first reporting of the sighting of a snowy owl in Leelanu county this year came in early December, from North Shore Drive in Northport, reported by Leelanua resident, Pauline McClure on December 7. Pauline reports that she has observed snowy owls in past years in the area of Peterson Park and Scott Rds.

No Snowy owls were seen during the Leelanau Christmas Bird Count this year.

A second reporting of a snowy owl came in early January by Leelanau resident Bob Houdek who reports seeing snowy owls for an extended period of time in the area around Lavassar Rd.

On January 21 a third sighting was reported by Jerry Brow, a Kasson Twp resident, who observed a snowy owl while x-country skiing near Sleeping Bear Point. Jerry states that though many years he has observed snowy owls along M-72 he has seen none there this year.

Pat O’Connor, who resides on Shady Lane in Bingham Twp., reports that most years there are snowy owls in the vicinity of Fort Rd. but he has not seen any there so far this year.

I have observed snowy owls in Leelanau during past Christmas Bird Counts sitting on the ice on Lake Leelanau and atop a telephone pole on Bodus Rd.

Update 26 Jan 06: In a birdalert on January 24, Kay Charter states that Marlin Bussey, president of Saving Birds Thru Habitat and a resident of Omena, reported observing a snowy owl perched on the roof of the Discovery Center at the Charter Bird sanctuary. This is the first time they have seen that species on sanctuary property.

-- Bob Carstens

Photo credit: John Ester, Benzie Audubon club