Sensational Snowy Owls

By Sara Thompson

Image credit Judy Gallagher, obtained from Wikimedia Commons, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Special to The Enterprise

Snowy owls can be found in the upper latitudes in the northern hemisphere, in the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and even as far south as Northern Africa. This owl species shares many similarities with other owl species, but also has several adaptations to help it survive its arctic habitat.

Like all owls, snowy owls are predators. Their primary food sources are lemmings and other small mammals living in the snowy tundra with them. The scarcity of the arctic has made them opportunistic predators, also hunting small birds, amphibians, insects, and occasionally carrion. Additionally, like all other owls, snowy owls are covered in feathers. However, due to their extreme habit, they have some extra feathers that cover their beaks and feet for extra insulation. The thick covering of feathers on their bodies and extra insulation layers has made them one of the heaviest owl species in the world. They also have an impressive size for an owl as well. Males can grow to a little over two feet long and have a wingspan of between four to five feet. Females are a little bigger, growing to around 28 inches long, and have a wingspan between four to six feet long. Their flight wings have small comb-like serrations that help with reducing noise, rendering their flight almost soundless to ambush prey.

One of the biggest differences between snowy owls and other species is that they are diurnal, meaning active during the day, instead of at night. Male snowy owls are almost completely white in coloration, whereas the female will have dark bar patterns on her feathers. Juveniles or either sex will also have some darker plumage to help them blend into the foliage where their nests are and will fledge into the adult colorations as they grow.

Despite the popularity in media, the snowy owl is rapidly becoming a vulnerable species. Their plumage is sought after by poachers and human activity is reducing their nesting areas. The biggest factor to their declining numbers is climate change, which is reducing their food sources around the world and increasing competition among the birds and other predators. Helping to maintain our natural places, even the extreme places, help maintain habitats for countless wildlife species, even ones as popular and well recognized as the snowy owl.

Explorit's coming events:

• Noon Year Celebration, Tuesday, December 31 10am-2pm. Admission is $5 per person, Members and children under 2 free. Crafts, photo booth, and balloon drop at 12:00pm.

• Winter Workshops available for those in K-2nd grade. Available Dec. 23, 27, 30, and Jan. 3, theses one-day workshops are filled with fun science of varying themes. Each workshop is $40 for Members/$50 for Non-Members. Registration at https://www.explorit.org/camps.

• Explorit is open Fridays from 1-4pm and Saturday and Sundays from 10am-2pm. The current exhibit is “Blast Off! A Journey Through Our Solar System”. Admission is $5 per person, free for Explorit Members and those aged 2 and under.

• Winter Break hours: Dec. 23, 1-4pm; Closed Dec. 24 and 25, Dec. 27 10am-2pm; Dec. 30 1-4pm; Dec. 31 10am-2pm; Closed Jan. 1; Jan. 2, 10am-2pm. Regular hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

• Consider Explorit for your end of year giving and help to educate and inspire the scientists of tomorrow: https://www.explorit.org/donate

• Give the gift of science this holiday season. An Explorit Membership grants the recipient free visits to Explorit’s regular public hours, discounts on events, summer camps and workshops, and gives you ASTC benefits to visit other museums throughout the world.  To purchase or for more information visit https://www.explorit.org/membership or call Explorit at 530-756-0191.

• Celebrate your birthday at Explorit! Offered Saturdays and Sundays between 2-4pm, this two hour program includes themed group activities and crafts, a decorated party room, and exclusive access to Explorit’s Exploration Gallery. Themes include Amazing Animals, Dynamic Dinosaurs, and our brand-new theme Blast Off! Space. Call 530-756-0191 to reserve. More information found at https://www.explorit.org/birthday-parties.