For birders in Central Iowa, this winter has been rather blasé. There have been a few sightings and reports of irruptive winter bird species in the region. Red-breasted nuthatches, purple finches and pine siskins, however, have been observed in below-normal numbers thus far. Redpolls and crossbills even less so. A snowy owl that was seen consistently for a few days in Hamilton County and later in Story County for a day has seemingly disappeared from the state, at least based on rare bird alert postings.
There’s time, of course, for the pattern to change, but, as we move into the final week of February, opportunities to see some of these birds that don’t ever migrate through the region lessens. The few northern species birds that have made their way this far south in search of food resources will sooner than later make their way back to nesting grounds in coniferous forests of Canada and the Great Lakes Region.
Compared to Iowa, birding dynamics have been much more captivating in northern Minnesota, where I’ve spent a good deal of time since early fall. There, in recent weeks, an irruption of owls has occurred across much of the northeastern portion of the state. Thought to be caused by a collapse of several small mammal populations (think mice, voles and other small furry, four-footed creatures), an abnormally large influx of boreal owls and great gray owls has been occurring for the past month or longer.
Along with the burgeoning number of owls arriving in the region, which has been accompanied by a steady increase in the number of reported sightings (more on that later), have come a growing number of birders to the area. Several friends and acquaintances from central Iowa have made the long journey north this winter just for the opportunity to perhaps cross paths with these avian invaders from points farther north.
In addition to great grays and boreals, visiting birders are often on the lookout for other northern species to add to their lifelists. Pine and evening grosbeaks, Bohemian waxwings, American three-toed and black-backed woodpeckers, Canada jays and spruce grouse are birds typically found only in these parts, and sometimes, as in the case of the waxwings, only in winter.
It’s not unusual to see a great gray owl in northern Minnesota, although they are anything but common. The state does have a small resident population of North America’s largest owl, and the fact that they are more active during the day than most other owls, increases their visibility to humans. The first great gray Stephanie and I saw came on a hike near Grand Marais … in the middle of the summer. We were winding our way through a low area in a canopied forest and suddenly there one was – perched on a branch 50 feet away. We were shocked; the owl seemingly wasn’t. It turned its head a couple times but otherwise patiently watched us as we collected a few photos. It’s the closest either of us had ever been to an owl at the time.
Boreal owls, conversely, are among the smallest of the continent’s owls, almost exclusively nocturnal and are found more often north of the border. With shortages of food resources and heavy competition for those that are available, boreal owls are having a tough winter. To try and survive they hunt both day and night and often end up in proximity to backyard birdfeeders. Sadly, a significant number of boreals may not make it through the winter.
Earlier this month on a roadtrip from Ely to Grand Marais, Andrew and I had the good fortune of seeing not just one, but two, great gray owls along Lake Superior’s north shore. Armed with a steady hand and a descent i-phone camera, Andrew took the photo of one of the two owls that accompanies this story. For him, it was his first time seeing a great gray, and it left an impression he undoubtedly will store in his memory as long as the ones Steph and I both have from our first encounter with a great gray nearly 30 years ago.
You don’t have to drive 400 or more miles north for the opportunity to experience winter owls. Great-horned and barred owls are frequently seen and heard here in Iowa this time of year, as both species are down to the business of nesting and raising their young now with screech owls soon to follow suit. Hiking or walking through any number of city parks and greenbelts afford the highest probability of encountering an owl, but don’t be surprised if one shows up in a tree in your front- or backyard, either.
Whether you’re in northeastern Minnesota or central Iowa, this is a great time of year to see and hear some of North America’s birds of prey.
*** To get alerts on rare or unusual bird sightings in central Iowa and beyond, download Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s free e-Bird app and subscribe to rare bird alerts based on your county, state, etc. It’s a great way to become more aware of what birds are being seen in your area.