Could we be in for another Snowy Owl irruption?  There have been numerous sightings of Snowy Owls throughout the Northeast including many in Massachusetts.  The BBC Conservation/Education committee has made a donation to MA Audubon’s Snowy Owl Project run by Norman Smith since 1981.   Norman Smith, Director of Mass Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum, has been studying Snowy Owls since 1981. As part of his research, he attaches bands and transmitters to Snowy Owls at Boston Logan International Airport, and then tracks their travels.

MA Audubon is a partner of Project SNOWstorm which is a collaboration between dozens of scientists and organizations.  It was formed in the wake of the historic Snowy Owl irruption of 2013-14, and continues to expand their study of the ecology of wintering Snowy Owls.  Cooperating researchers capture and place a solar powered transmitter on the owl using kind of a backpack harness.  The researcher’s are then able to track the movements of these birds.

Come join the BBC on one of our many walks this winter.  Who knows, maybe there will be a Snowy Owl sighting!