Unusual number of arctic owls

An unusual number of arctic owls are being spotted in the U.S. this year and not in their usual habitats:

The owls live in the Arctic, but when their population spikes or lemmings are scarce, young ones fly south.

“Snowy owl populations are synchronized with their food source, lemmings," wildlife photographer Lillian Stokes, who co-authors the Stokes bird guides, said Dec. 5. “If the lemming population crashes, the owls have to go south in search of food."

A few snowy owls are seen in the U.S. every year, Stokes said. “But this year is phenomenal. People believe this could be historic numbers."

- See more at: http://pikecountycourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131209/NEWS01/131209955/-1/news01/Unusual-number-of-Arctic-snowy-owls-seen-in-US#sthash.2yqdCLBu.dpuf

The owls live in the Arctic, but when their population spikes or lemmings are scarce, young ones fly south.

“Snowy owl populations are synchronized with their food source, lemmings," wildlife photographer Lillian Stokes, who co-authors the Stokes bird guides, said Dec. 5. “If the lemming population crashes, the owls have to go south in search of food."

A few snowy owls are seen in the U.S. every year, Stokes said. “But this year is phenomenal. People believe this could be historic numbers."

- See more at: http://pikecountycourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131209/NEWS01/131209955/-1/news01/Unusual-number-of-Arctic-snowy-owls-seen-in-US#sthash.2yqdCLBu.dpu

The owls live in the Arctic, but when their population spikes or lemmings are scarce, young ones fly south.

“Snowy owl populations are synchronized with their food source, lemmings," wildlife photographer Lillian Stokes, who co-authors the Stokes bird guides, said Dec. 5. “If the lemming population crashes, the owls have to go south in search of food."

A few snowy owls are seen in the U.S. every year, Stokes said. “But this year is phenomenal. People believe this could be historic numbers."

- See more at: http://pikecountycourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131209/NEWS01/131209955/-1/news01/Unusual-number-of-Arctic-snowy-owls-seen-in-US#sthash.2yqdCLBu.dpuf

http://pikecountycourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131209/NEWS01/131209955/-1/news01/Unusual-number-of-Arctic-snowy-owls-seen-in-US