 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
The snowy owl is a very beautiful, majestic bird. It is commonly found in Greenland, Iceland, Canada and the Northern USA. In the winter it usually migrates south to warmer places. It has been recorded that this bird has flown all the way south to the Caribbean Sea! Snowy owls also tend to go to airports because of the mice and other small rodents that run around on the ground. This owl can grow up to 21 to 26 inches tall. The female is about one fifth bigger that the male. The snowy owl is actually one of the largest birds on the tundra. The female lays its eggs in grassy hummocks. She lays them in large clutches. The number of eggs depends on the amount of food the male supplies. The average number of eggs laid is three to nine eggs. Snowy owls communicate with each other with a series of shrieks and hoots. They tend to live by themselves except when mating |
|
In the wild, the snowy owl's life span is about 15 years. However, in captivity, the snowy lives about 28 years. When we went to the Utica Zoo to observe the snowy owl, it was kept in a large cage outdoors. The snowy owl's environment consisted of dry grass and tree limbs. The owls also seemed jumpy. One flew around a lot and the other perched on a tree limb, staring at the people. The owls were fed mice and other small rodents.
|
Many people believe that snowy owls live in trees. Although the snowy owl does perch in trees to find prey, it actually lives in tiny hollowed out holes in the ground. The snowy owl lives in the tundra biome located in Greenland, Iceland, Canada, and the northern USA. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl is not nocturnal. This means it doesn't sleep during the day and feed at night. In fact, the snowy owl actually feeds around dawn and dusk. This reduces the chances of competition for food between the owls and other animals that fly at night. This is the snowy owl's niche. A niche is an animal's role in its community. |
|
To survive in the harsh, cold, windy environment of the tundra, the snowy owl must find a way to stay warm, get food, and blend in with its surroundings. The snowy owl has adapted very well to its environment. To maintain its blood at a constant temperature, the snowy owl must eat more food than an animal in a warm environment. The snowy owl uses fat left over from summer to survive when food is scarce. Instead of flying to keep warm, the snowy owl stands as still as possible. In this pose, the snowy owl can keep more of its energy to stay warm instead of using it to keep in flight. Have you ever noticed that male snowy owls seem to be whiter than the females? The male owls uses its white feathers to blend in with the surrounding snow. The female, on the other hand, has brown speckles that she uses to blend in with the rocks and melting snow around her. This camouflage protects the owl from many predators including the arctic fox, wolf, and even humans. As you can see, the snowy owl is well adapted to its environment. It has managed to get food and survive in the tundra. |
|
 |
|
In the tundra many people have begun to dig for oil. Since the organism tends to live near the water, the oil diggers on land may not affect the snowy owl too much. Of course, this will not help the owl. It might even take away some of its food options. But, since the snowy owl eats a variety of foods, we hope that digging for oil will do no harm.
|
|
Gates, Phil. "Snowy Owl." http://www.marwell.org.uk/owl/pg.htm (6 March 1997). Baumgartner, A. Marguerite and Frederick, M. "Oklahoma Bird Life: Snowy Owl. http://www.tulsawalk.com/birding/snowy.html (6 March 1997). Perrins, Dr. Christopher M. and Dr. Ales L. Middleton. The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Oxford Press, 1985. |