Guest Author - Nancy Hertzel

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the phenomenal numbers of Great Gray Owls and Northern Hawk Owls that had moved south out of Canada into northern Minnesota this winter. Well, the numbers and sightings continue to amaze! Never before in the recorded history of birding has something like this happened. A typical winter season may bring 30 to 35 Great Gray Owls to northern Minnesota; but in 2004-2005 (now called The Year of the Owl), over 2,500 individual birds have been recorded!

In a normal winter, a normal Minnesota birder would make a plan to go birding “up north” one weekend to try to find a Great Gray or Northern Hawk Owl; they would get up early Saturday, pour hot coffee into a thermos, get in the car and drive north for a couple of hours; once they hit the remote back roads, they would begin slowing down, looking intently into the snow-covered trees, noting the crossbills and other winter finches flying around in the top branches – nice, but that’s not really what they’re after. Hours would pass, the coffee would get cold, and then – joyously, a Great Gray Owl!

Well, this year, you don’t even have to look. They’re everywhere. One person described them as "dripping from the trees." Birders have located one place – appropriately dubbed The Owl Field – where you can sit in your car and watch as up to 75 Great Gray Owls perch, call, hunt, and fly. Across the northern part of the state, people are just getting into their cars and driving down the snowy back roads, counting as they go; when they head home later, it is with the satisfaction of having seen 40 or 50 Great Grays and 10 or 15 Northern Hawk Owls that afternoon. Over 100 have also been reported in northwest Wisconsin, just adjacent to Minnesota. It's almost unbelievable.

Some of the early arrivals have now moved farther south, into Pine, Aitkin, and Hubbard counties. These owls appear to be in good health, while some of those late arrivals, only now moving south out of Canada into the areas already deserted by the “early bunch,” seem emaciated. The lesson for those owls seems to be -- as soon as the vole population crashes, don’t wait – head south!

Visitors from every state in the union and at least three foreign countries have traveled to Minnesota to see the owl irruption. There has been quite a bit of tragedy as a result; these owls are not used to cars. They hunt by listening and looking intently, and if they see something, they go for it – even if a car is in their path. Over 500 Great Grays have been hit by cars so far this winter, about 20% of the total number.

When winter is over, will they stay? There is some speculation that they will. The food supply (meadow voles, mostly) is good across Minnesota, so it is likely that at least some of these beautiful, shy owls will settle in and claim a territory.

There has been some clash between local people living in the rural communities of northern Minnesota, and the large numbers of birders invading their space. Birders are, however, spending a considerable amount of money on gas, food, and lodging, so it is hoped that birders’ respectful behavior and safe driving methods will combine with the economic benefit that birding has brought to the community, and the two groups will realize and appreciate the positive impact each brings to the other.

If you can afford it, go. It's worth it.