[View the story "Snowy owl invasion: Birds spotted as far south as Florida" on Storify ]Snowy owl invasion: Birds spotted as far south as Florida Snowy owls have been spotted far south of their usual range in the boreal forest this winter. The birds have been heading south in large numbers, surprising and delighting many bird watchers. Storified by CTVNews.ca · Sun, Jan 05 2014 14:18:53
Snowy owls nest in the arctic regions of Canada, Alaska and Eurasia, but are known to head south when their population spikes or their main food source, lemmings, becomes scarce.
Every year a few snowy owls are spotted in a handful of U.S. states, but this year some researchers believe the sightings may reach record numbers. Scientists at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology say irruptions -- when birds migrate beyond their usual range -- for snowy owls occur about every four years. During irruption years the birds have been spotted as far south as Florida, Texas and California.
This winter's irruption has been so dramatic, it's prompted the
American Birding Association to state that the invasion is "getting crazier by the minute."
Sightings of a snowy owl in Florida's Little Talbot Island Park made headlines this week in Jacksonville:
WOW!! Snowy owl invasion of US extends to #Florida; only third ever sighting in Florida - http://t.co/CE1pCyNoCg - http://t.co/pgvumldH9wNews4Jax
#birds - Snowy #Owl was a life #bird for 2013. Very rare for Florida. #birding #nature http://t.co/uJCyeM8NVNFlying True North
Rare sighting of Snowy Owl at Little Talbot Island, courtesy of @jaxdotcom's Will Dickey: http://t.co/yymjKdEexzjaxdotcom
The owls were also spotted in a number of other states including Virginia:
Snowy Owls expanding range? largest North American owl, typically in Canada/Arctic reported this winter in Midwest Northeast Mid-AtlanticRoseville/Plaza Vet
ICYMI here's a Snowy Owl taken by Twan not far from RTPI in Jamestown yesterday http://t.co/jh5o0LlmwCRoger Tory Peterson
I'm becoming a bird watcher, I've now seen a snowy owl in the wild that is #Harrisonburg! #loveva… http://t.co/e2JjbsxpcfJessica Newman
New Hampshire:
Snowy Owl at Hampton Beach State Park (South Beach area)! Amazing capture by A G Evans Photography: http://t.co/pBP3Z1RSeFNH State Parks
Massachusetts :
Saw a snowy owl while walking on Crane Beach #owl #snowyowl #winter #wildlife http://t.co/hp8f16myBdAdam Perri
Took a great pic of a Snowy Owl on New Years Day at Deerfield MA. http://t.co/BYscUUbi94Brian Wells
New York State:
Snowy Owl on Plum Island http://t.co/1o4m6L56BCRoadTrip New England
Snowy Owl on Dune Road, Long Island. iPhone photo taken with #Meopix adapter and #Meopta spotting scope http://t.co/btctaqG5acMikeC
"@Snowy Owl, Long Island http://t.co/6RPMRW3mVj"Chrissie
New Jersey:
Finally found a snowy owl in Belmar today #NewJersey http://t.co/OojAP1Rk5nBill Mckim
Anyone wanna go search for a snowy owl tomorrowTom Magarelli
@Ginger_Zee hey Ginger. ..Happy New Year!! Snowy Owl on the beach in Wildwood NJ http://t.co/LH7rRcl3KoFLO M
Michigan:
Found the Snowy Owl at Willow Run Airport today. I'm in love! #snowyowl http://t.co/S7FRTV9T6iShelley Martinez
Pennsylvania:
Snowy Owl today at Presque Isle State Park (Erie, PA). http://t.co/qXsCefjZioAndrew Wood
and Minnesota:
Distant snowy owl in Dakota County, MN. #Instagram http://t.co/ZJ72vd9N8vSharon Stiteler
In Canada, there is also an "irruption" – more sightings than usualon country roads and harbours near urbran centres. From Manitoba to NovaScotia, here are some of the sightings:
beautiful snowy owl close to home http://t.co/V60VDeozdPJani Witoski
Thanks to Everyone for FAVE, RT and Follow. xoSnowy owl in St Polycarpe, Quebec http://t.co/Mfkl1BxAcALyne Hamel
Snowy owl in St Jean Sur Richelieu, Quebec http://t.co/DWCtx5QLruLyne Hamel
OMGosh A Snowy Owl just flew over my head and landed on a tree in front of me ! How can you witness such a beautiful bird & not believe ?!Lynn
The Manservant spotted this FABULOUS Snowy Owl today. She is looking for LUNCH, no doubt. http://t.co/iF5qGCtiyVFrankie
I saw a Snowy and a Great Horned Owl on the Leslie Street Spit today. Worth the frostbite.Stephen Marche
A young Snowy Owl seen on the pier at the Burlington Lift Bridge #BurlOn #HamOnt #birds #owls http://t.co/fvvtjDpFSzRob Porter
We had a visit from a snowy owl today at the MacDonald House! #macdonaldhouse #snowowl #nature… http://t.co/s768rYphEtBridget Turner
Feeling inspired by the bird, this Twitter user wrote a haiku poem about the snowy owl:
patient snowy owl /stands motionless on a stump /wild arctic hunter#haikuBarbara Pease
