Snowies

As winter draws near the end the snowies will be heading back north to their homes to breed. There is nothing better than to sit quietly watching a snowy hunt. NO baiting necessary. Patience is all that is needed and respect. Keep your distance and just watch. I was blessed with an opportunity with this owl to watch it hunt 5 times. I stood by my car and just watched as it hunted and caught rodents under the snow. It was a tough winter for these birds and many other birds and animals. As a birder or photographer,BE RESPONSIBLE. Do not follow,harass in any way,bait or chase an owl. It needs to hunt,it needs to conserve its strength to do so. It's life depends on it. You also can be charged under "hunting" in the wildlife act. Many an owl that has been baited is hit by cars. Becoming used to humans and associating them with food. They do not fear cars,they have none where they come from. They don't fear humans as they don't see them. They come here to find food to survive when their food is scarce. And if left alone they will do just that. Some do not make it. Some get hit by cars. Lucky ones get saved and rehabbed to become healthy magnificent owls again, to be released back to the wild. Others die and become food for other wildlife. Mother nature's way. Please be respectful to these birds and others. You will be rewarded.

All photos are copy-right of Jennifer Howard.