Snowy owls soar south from Arctic in rare mass migration

Reuters thru Yahoo ^

[chopperman]

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - Bird enthusiasts are reporting rising numbers of snowy owls from the Arctic winging into the lower 48 states this winter in a mass southern migration that a leading owl researcher called "unbelievable."

Thousands of the snow-white birds, which stand 2 feet tall with 5-foot wingspans, have been spotted from coast to coast, feeding in farmlands in Idaho, roosting on rooftops in Montana, gliding over golf courses in Missouri and soaring over shorelines in Massachusetts.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

[Free Vulcan]

Yep, like clockwork, that’s what they’d claim.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I remember one very cold winter in 1990 or 91 in Minnesota. We had hundreds of red polls at our bird feeder. They were so tame I could hold a bit of feed in my hand and they came right in my lap.

[Lando Lincoln]

Some years ago, I was deer hunting in northern Wisconsin. Fresh snow was falling and the woods were completely silent. Out of nowhere, a snowy owl soared 20 feet overhead with wings outstretched and landed on a limb just yards ahead of me. Completely silent and majestic. A real gift.

[muir_redwoods]

I got buzzed by one in Connecticut a few years ago and it was a bit of a surprise having a huge bird fly by about waist-high to me and easily within reach. It kept flying and I kept hiking but it was pretty exciting.

[RegulatorCountry]

That much cold dammed up is going to lead to an impressive Alberta Clipper at some point when the system finally breaks. I'm in comparatively warm North Carolina, but I remember one in the mid-eighties that froze the humidity right out of the air, looked like Disney pixie dust under the street lights. Dropped from 43º F to -15º over the course of one evening.

[Flycatcher]

I remember one very cold winter in 1990 or 91 in Minnesota. We had hundreds of red polls at our bird feeder.

Lucky you!

But that's exactly what is happening now all over the Lower 48. And it's not just snowy owls. Had this "reporter" researched further, he/she/it would have discovered that many Arctic birds are irrupting into the Lower 48 due to the extremely cold temps up north.

For example, there is a gyrfalcon seen by many in central Nevada right now. And if you can believe this, common redpolls have been seen in a backyard -- in LAS VEGAS!!!!

It's extraordinary. But it's a great time to be a birder!

[Flycatcher]

That much cold dammed up is going to lead to an impressive Alberta Clipper at some point when the system finally breaks.

No doubt about it.

I'm curious how the MSM will spin it.

Sheesh... who am I kidding? It will simply be attributed to man-made global warming. Yet again.

[Steamburg]

The next ice age is beginning. Gorabull backed the wrong horse.

[Hot Tabasco]

A couple weeks ago one was spotted in Chesterfield Twp., here in S.E. Michigan.....

And a number of years ago I saw one while I was pheasant hunting in N.W. Kansas.......

[Flag_This]

"They sure are good eatin’."

Better than panda?

[2111USMC]

I think I saw some of these while driving in northern Iowa last week.

[grame]

We had one recently interfering with landings and takeoffs at out Reserve Air Base. The tried to scare him away but that didn't work and he would place himself and others in danger on the landing strip the brought in a falconer who trapped and re-released him.

North Central Indiana. Pretty far south.

[shelterguy]

Better than panda and not as greasy as baby seal.

[Kozy]

Stupid, stupid, stupid. There I said it.

Let's see, climate change could be going in one of two directions; it is getting warmer or it is getting colder.

If getting warmer, the ground would thaw sooner, more land would be available for vegetation to grow; more food for the lemmings. He is saying there is less food so the ground is not be available to grow food, hence the climate is getting colder. Yes there is climate change; however it is getting colder not warmer.

[AnTiw1]

Every reputable scientist who isn't on the koolaid is saying we're way overdue for an ice age...some are even saying that if we really were capable of changing the climate of the earth, we should be making as many emissions as possible!

[blam]

[depressed in 06]

...that lemmings rely on.

But, cats taste so much better.

[Eska]

Minus 64 this morning 9am in Eagle, Alaska. Coldest day so far this year.

[JediJones]

Had this "reporter" researched further, he/she/it would have discovered that many Arctic birds are irrupting into the Lower 48 due to the extremely cold temps up north.

The writer probably knew that. But since it didn't fit with the global warming meme, even if he put it in the article, his editors never would've let it through. So the leftist-approved language had to be changed to, "...remains largely a mystery of nature. 'There's a lot of speculation. As far as hard evidence, we really don't know,' Holt said." Now why doesn't every article about global warming included the same caveat?