It's probably too soon to say for certain but this could be a good winter
for Snowy Owls - they are showing up in the
upper midwest already as well (Chicago and northern MN are reporting). These
early birds tend to be immatures that are leaving the arctic due perhaps to
food
shortages (and they can't compete w/ adults). If this is the case we could
get a push of these young birds through early winter. I don't think there
have been any Snowies in Idaho for the past 3 years. (A few adults winter
annually in eastern WA).

Charles.
****************************************************
Charles E. Swift
charless at moscow.com
Moscow, Idaho


----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Dexter <ronpatdex at juno.com>
To: <lenmargo at gateway.net>; <elkmtn at earthlink.net>; <yuhaus at hotmail.com>;
<snelson at Spokanecounty.org>; <swanlake at bossig.com>; <rbelous at icehouse.net>;
<kgjudy1 at uswest.net>; <amccoy at icehouse.net>; <astage at moscow.com>;
<bdgriff at gntech.net>; <charless at moscow.com>; <Drbirding at juno.com>;
<im4nature at icehouse.net>; <Gbiologist at hotmail.com>; <ferg1199 at uidaho.edu>;
<INLAND-NW-BIRDERS at uidaho.edu>; <JOYCE_WHITNEY at OR.BLM.GOV>;
<LATIMAUDU at AOL.COM>; <markjhoust at AOL.COM>; <miller at spk.hp.com>;
<ssturts at iea.com>; <two.wing-nuts at juno.com>; <shempleman at juno.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2000 9:18 AM
Subject: SNOWY OWL


> Maurice Vial reported a Snowy on the Old State Hwy on Nov. 1. The record
> for early sightings of Snowys in this area is Oct. 27 per Jim Acton.
>
> See page 87 of your DeLorme map. One mile north of Highway 2. 4.2 miles
> East of Davenport, there is a N-S rd with a name of Ziemer (not shown on
> map). T25N,R38E,S7,SE corner. Maurice and his birding class got a good
> look at it perched atop a power pole right along the rd.
>
> Keep in mind that the Snowy may hunt this area or may move to the Detour
> Rd one mile south of hwy 2, where they are most frequently found. Look
> for high points along the roads to get out and scan the fields. They
> spend most of their time on the ground.
>
> Take your spotting scopes, because some of these open
> fields stretch for miles.
>
> Good Luck---Ron Dexter----OCIE
>