FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Re: Snowy Owl not spotted this morning

["Mary Ann Good" <clintgood@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bob Abrams wrote:

 

I was watching a Snowy Owl on Rainsford Island in Boston Harbor. It was
blowing hard and the owl was tucked snugly behind dune grass. A Rough-legged
Hawk cruised low down the island into the north-east wind. As it crossed
over the Snowy, the owl rocketed up and killed the hawk. The end for the
Rough-legged came behind a dune and out of my sight. Just as well. This is a
great bird we have here and I would like to thank whoever sent it down.

 

 

Yes it is a great bird and it's wonderful that so many area birders have
been able to find and observe it.  Many, like me (alas) only discouragingly
far, but at least it is (nearly) always findable in a particular quadrant of
the airport grounds.

 

Thanks for these great stories, Bob.  Makes me wonder why our bird is so
seemingly sedentary?  With so many watching its every move, we haven't had
any reports of any real action.  It's great just to see it, but when does
this bird ever make a living?  

 

Contemplating that thought a little longer, I have to remind myself that
Norman Smith, the owl bander, and Bob Abrams I'm sure, must have spent many
long hours watching Snowy Owls just sitting for each memorable action
sequence.  We listen to other people's stories enviously, then we have to
realize that we've each had stunning action sightings, but there's a lot of
the more-or-less humdrum in between.

 

Mary Ann Good