Avian Rarities of Colorado--Snowy Owl

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiaca) nests in the world’s arctic tundra habitats from near tree line north to the edge of the polar seas. In North America, this large, beautiful snow-white owl winters to the very northern portions of the Lower 48 states, and very sporadically farther south. In Colorado it has been rarely encountered in winter–that is, until the winter of 2011-2012! During this winter, a serious owl irruption has occurred south of the Canadian/U.S. border, bringing large numbers of Snowies as far south as the middle latitudes of the U.S. As of February 14, the date I placed this cache, a minimum of 14 different Snowy Owls have been confirmed in Colorado this winter; actual numbers wintering in the state are probably considerably higher. Some have been recorded on the plains in extreme southern Colorado (I saw two at very close range in Baca County on January 26th, the farthest south record reported at this time in our state). See The Winter of the Snowy Owl for some perspectives into this massive invasion of the remarkable Snowy Owl into the Lower 48 this winter.

SNOWY OWL IN FLIGHT

Until February 13th, the closest known wintering Snowy Owls to the Fort Collins area were in the Barr Lake State Park area near DIA. On the 13th, an owl was found in a location much closer to Fort Collins, in the square-mile Section of the Pawnee National Grasslands southeast of the intersection of Weld County Roads 49 and 108 (only 23 miles from my home coordinates!). Denali50 and I drove to the locality on Valentine’s Day, and I placed this cache in recognition of this rare bird wintering here. The cache is a small Rx vial; it is easy to find when snow is not on the ground, at the intersection of Road 49 and Road 108.

Go find it. Bring binoculars and scan the nearby prairie habitat for this majestic owl. Be certain to check out the tops of fence posts, windmills, and other elevated structures. And scan the ground, too! If you see the owl, please report so in your cache log. Have fun finding the cache. And have excitement finding this rare Snowy Owl!