Finally! After a winter of being the only ones NOT to see the snowy owls
in our area, Tom and I met with success. All winter long: The snow plow
operator told us about them; the farm-call vet told us about them; the
local goose hunter told us about them. Tweeters told us about them.
We'd run right out to mile-marker such-and-so. But - No Snowy Owl.
Often we found owls: Short-eared, yes. Long-eared, yes. We were
beginning to think that, although we'd seen a snowy before, we had the
wrong "search image" in mind. "Maybe they lay flat, with wings
outstretched," we joked. "Or maybe they lay belly up!"
Anyway, Sunday we drove the old state highway between Reardan and
Davenport. We saw at least three owls, one was a juvenile on a utility
pole who let us look to our heart's content. Our five-year-old even
rolled down her window and talked to it. Then we saw another snowy
after we got back on the main highway (2). Finally!
Kristi Streiffert
Coulee Dam, WA