Hedwig in the feathers: Historic numbers of rare snowy owl flock to Indiana and how to see them

Snow and single digits are expected to return to Indiana later this week, but a little piece of the Arctic has already arrived in the Midwest.

More than 25 snowy owls have called the Hoosier state home since late fall — and more are on the way.

"You're not going to see a polar bear walking down your towns' main streets," said Scott Weidensaul, Co-founder of Project SNOWstorm, a national group that tags and tracks the owls. "But with snowy owls, that is a piece of the Arctic coming to your backyard."

Indiana — along with some other Midwestern and northern plains states — are in the midst of a historic invasion of the all-white raptors, according to the Indiana Audubon Society.

The sightings have concentrated in the northwest along Lake Michigan, but some snowy owls have been seen as far south as Hancock, Marion and Brown counties, said non-game bird biologist Allisyn Gillet with the Department of Natural Resources. These owls are migrating from northern Canada during what is called an irruption, which the owls cycle through every four to five years.

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Still, such numbers are quite unusual, Indiana Audubon executive director Brad Bumgardner told IndyStar.

He compared this year's numbers to those of 2013 when the U.S. saw a record number of the rare arctic owl traveling as far south as Florida.

"In the last two years there really hasn't been a lot of snowy owls seen," Bumgardner said. "But we are on pace with the 2013 year, which was already so unprecedented — Hoosier's are getting a chance to see Harry Potter's owl."

Driving the migration is the snowy owls' primary prey: the lemming. When this giant mouse-like rodent has a flourishing year — as it did in 2013 and again this year — the snowy owls have an equally thriving breeding season. Rather than laying the normal two or three eggs, Weidensaul said, they might have seven or eight in their nests.

Once they hatch, many of the young and immature owls tend to leave the arctic during the winter and head south. They often like to set up shop in wide open spaces that mimic their tundra habitat, Gillet said. Hence, they often are spotted near agricultural fields or airports.

That's exactly where Whitney Yoerger of Zionsville saw her first snowy owl on Saturday.

The avid birder said she had been following reports of sightings throughout the weeks, which can be done on a site called eBird or following DNR's notices, but they were either too far north or south. But when one was spotted at the Mt. Comfort Airport in Hancock County, she jumped in the car — adding that a 40-minute drive was doable and well worth it.

"When a bird this marvelous, made famous by Harry Potter's Hedwig, lands in your state you make darn sure to go see it!" Yoerger said. "I loved, loved, loved watching her move — or stretch, maybe — her big, fluffy harbinger-of-death talons as she looked curiously overhead at the passing airplanes."

This snowy owl was Yoerger's 211th bird spotted in Indiana this year and the 424th different species she has seen since she began birding. Yet she says it ranks near the top for how majestic it is, with its stark white feathers and amber yellow eyes.

"It absolutely takes the cake," she added. "It is by far one of the top three most exciting bird sightings I've experienced. It was peaceful, overwhelming, and magical all at once."

She and her husband watched the owl from inside their car from about 150 yards away, using their spotting scope.

Many scientists and birders are encouraging others to use similar tactics to safely, respectfully and responsibly view the snowy owls. This includes staying roughly 100 yards away and not trying to feed the owls.

Coming from the tundra, many are not familiar with humans, vehicles or other aspects of more populated environments. With that in mind, many will allow humans to get very close — but Stephanie Kadletz asks viewers to resist the urge.

The director of Indiana's Humane Wildlife Rehabilitation Center said doing so could scare off their food sources or prevent them from hunting effectively. It also could spook them to flush, or fly away, where they could be hit by a vehicle or attract the attention of a bigger bird of prey.

The nonprofit Center is currently caring for two snowy owls, one rehabilitators believe is a female they picked up Friday after being hit by a semi-truck and the other believed to be a male that was rescued Sunday.

While neither have any injuries, Kadletz said, both were very emaciated and dehydrated and are being treated with fluids and various nutrients. She believes both will recover and should be able to be released within the coming months.

"It's unfortunate sometimes we get these rare species into our center, because these are not the circumstances we want to see them in," Kadletz told IndyStar. "But it is very rewarding to be able to work with them, especially a species that is not here year-round, and eventually be able to get them back out in the wild."

The rehabilitator added that the snowy owls have quite a voracious appetite: as many as six mice per day, or 180 per month.

Bumgardner and Weidensaul hope these birds will ignite an interest and passion that brings individuals into greater issues of conservation and potentially volunteering or donating to get involved and be stewards of the environment and wildlife.

The Project SNOWstorm scientist, who has been working with raptors for more than 40 years, said seeing a snowy owl never is the same and never gets old.

"This is shaping up to be an exceptionally good irruption and the best chance folks in the Midwest will have to see a snowy owl for at least four or five years," Weidensaul said. "They really are magnificent birds. They are big, sexy, charismatic, beautiful and entrancing — everyone is a story and everyone is an experience."

For those wishing to donate to help care for the injured owls and other wildlife, donations can be made at www.humaneindiana.org/wildlife. To learn more about the wildlife or volunteer, contact the Indiana Audubon Society.

Snowy Owl Etiquette

Snowy owls — which estimates say number just 15,000 to 30,000 across the world — can be remarkably approachable. But these arctic owls are also naïve with human interactions and these encounters can be dangerous for both the bird and the individual.

While scientists and researchers want people to see these majestic birds, they encourage them to do so safely and responsibly. Below are some tips and information on how to be a respectful observer:

Keep your distance — a minimum of 100 yards is recommended.

Stay in a vehicle, which makes a terrific blind, when possible and use binoculars, a spotting scope or a telephoto lens.

If the owl is visibly reacting to your presence — it could be fidgeting, staring at you, bobbing its head, or changing position — that means you are too close and should move back.

These owls are primarily nocturnal and rarely move much during the daytime when undisturbed by humans. An owl that is moving around is likely responding to pressure and harassment.

Respect private property and obey all closure or off-limits signs when trying to view the owls.

Do not feed the owls, ever — even if you are concerned the owl is starving, doing so could make the bird dependent on humans for food or be drawn into dangerous situations.

If you are concerned an owl is starving, injured or just see something unusual, then call a wildlife or rehabilitation center to come check on or rescue the bird.

For more information, check Project SNOWstorm's site or contact a local wildlife or audubon group to help you view the snowy owls. You can check reported sightings of them at eBird for where to potentially spot them.

Call IndyStar reporter Sarah Bowman at (317) 444-6129. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @IndyStarSarah. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

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