Current Nature: Snowy Owl Season Returns

After a two-year absence, snowy owls have returned to Nantucket, with three recorded during the 2024 Christmas Bird Count! These striking Arctic birds, last seen here in the winter of 2021, have graced our beaches and open landscapes again, reminding us of their tremendous journeys. But how do they end up so far from their tundra homes? Let’s explore the story of snowy owls, their travels, and how we can be good stewards during their winter stay.

Snowy owls hail from the Arctic tundra, breeding and raising their young during the short, intense summer. When winter rolls around, food scarcity and harsh weather conditions push some owls to move southward for better hunting grounds. While many snowy owls stick closer to the northern U.S. and Canada, some venture farther south, like to our island.

The winter of 2013–2014 marked one of the most remarkable snowy owl booms in history. This phenomenon is called an “irruption.” Extreme high numbers of owls flooded the lower 48 states, with sightings as far south as Texas and Florida. On Nantucket, the 2013 Christmas Bird Count tallied an incredible 33 snowy owls, a record-breaking number for the island!

Why such a dramatic influx? The answer lies in the Arctic’s lemming population. Lemmings are small, rodent-like mammals within the vole family. Snowy owls rely on lemmings as a primary food source, and 2013 was a banner year for lemmings. Snowy owls had a highly successful breeding season with abundant food, raising large broods. However, the boom created a problem: those offspring, now numbering in the thousands, had to compete for food as they dispersed. The intense competition forced many young snowy owls to explore unfamiliar territories, traveling far from the Arctic in search of hunting grounds.

The irruption year also marked the founding of Project SNOWstorm, a groundbreaking research initiative. This project began tracking snowy owls' movements using lightweight GPS transmitters to capitalize on the influx of these birds. The real-time data collected provided unprecedented insights into the owls’ winter ecology, migratory routes, and habitat use.

Since its inception, Project SNOWstorm has revealed fascinating details about how owls adapt to urban environments, navigate vast landscapes, and find food in unfamiliar territories. One important finding from tracking these birds is their varied migration patterns: some venture south in search of food, others remain within their tundra breeding grounds, and a few even fly further north into the darkness of the Arctic Circle. The project is still actively tracking these birds today, and you can view their movements on their website.

If you’re hoping to glimpse a snowy owl, keep your eyes peeled in open, windswept areas like our beaches, grasslands, and airport fields. These habitats mimic the flat, treeless tundra where snowy owls feel most at home. They can often be seen perched on dunes or fence posts, scanning the landscape for prey.

Remember, snowy owls are masters of camouflage—especially the more speckled juveniles—so bring your binoculars and practice patience. I have often mistaken a balloon or trash bag for a snowy owl! While snowy owls are undeniably stunning, it’s essential to give them the space they need to rest and hunt. These birds often arrive on Nantucket after a long, arduous migration, and they need to conserve energy to survive the winter.

Seeing a snowy owl in the wild is a memorable experience and a privilege we have on our island, even if only for a few months each year. By respecting their space and supporting initiatives like Project SNOWstorm, we can help ensure future generations also get to see these Arctic visitors. Next time you spot a snowy owl on Nantucket, take a moment to appreciate its presence and snap a respectful photo (from a respectful distance, of course!) to remember this remarkable winter guest.

Stay tuned for more editions of Current Nature, a new bi-weekly column featuring seasonal topics, natural history information, and advice on the outdoors from the staff at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation.