>> For anyone taking notes, this is a USUAL spot for Snowy Owls. They have
>> been here in most winters for at least five years now--interesting for a so
>> called irruptive species.
>>
>> --Jerry_Tangren at tfrec.ncw.net
>> --Wenatchee WA

>Probably a family group that got into the habit of wintering here. Do
>other observers suspect that might happen with Snowy Owls sometimes.
>
>Gene Hunn.

My guess is that Snowy Owls are very unlikely to migrate as family groups.
Predators such as this tend to be better off not in social groups (you know
the old saying, "those who stay together prey together"), so nothing gained
by the family taking off together. And it's quite demanding to stay in a
flock over the course of a long migration.

However, I'd have no doubt that *individual* Snowies might come back to the
same place year after year.

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416