Christine,

Isn't it possible that female Snowy Owl was emaciated because it had been injured, not injured because it was emaciated? That would have been my thought on seeing such a bird. Birds typically starve because there is something wrong with them or because their food supply is inadequate and they can't move to somewhere where there is an adequate supply. Again, I'm not trying to be argumentative, but my inclination is to question assumptions when further info is lacking.

I honestly don't see any reason to think that most Snowy Owls arrive here near starvation, any more than I would think that of Rough-legged Hawks or Gyrfalcons. They are effective predators. Like other raptors, they can feed during migration. They can stop somewhere and put on weight they might have lost during a long flight. In fact, I would say they are programmed to avoid being near starvation. Perhaps someone with more knowledge of Snowy Owls than I have can refute that.

It would be interesting to find out how many owls salvaged (and brought to museums) in this area were thought to have died from no other reason than starvation. Here is more info I just gleaned from the BNA account:

In Alberta, 45% of the specimens examined had moderate to heavy fat deposits, and traumatic injuries were the major cause of mortality (Kerlinger and Lein 1988a). Causes of death or injury were collisions with unknown objects (46.5%), automobiles (14.1%), utility lines (4.2%) and airplanes (1.4%); also gunshot wounds (12.7%), electrocution (5.6%), fishing tackle (1.4%). Only 14.1% was believed due to starvation.

I certainly agree with all your recommendations. It is known that immatures have a harder time of it than adults, and they are usually at a lower weight, but that is their normal state, not just when they have arrived in migration. One conclusion from that would be to be even more careful not to disturb immatures. From the photos I've seen, it seems there is a good mixture of age classes present this winter.

Dennis

On Dec 12, 2011, at 3:00 PM, Christine Southwick wrote:

> Tis true, after the Snowys have been here they fatten up. That's why they flew this far south: to find food.
>
> It is only when they first arrive that they are near starvation. Case in point: the juvie female that was rescued and found to be emaciated, with possible head trauma. Did she get hit by a car because she didn't have the strength to avoid it? Or would she have been hit by a car (if that is where she received her head trauma) any way?
>
> If people, be they birders, photographers (who are usually birders too), or general public, would wait a couple of weeks after a Snowy is spotted; or if they can't wait, at least keep their distance so as not to cause a newly-arrived owl stress before it regains its healthy margin of fat, that would be ideal.
>
> Once a Snowy has found a productive habitat, it will stay for a while, probably until February. Closer pictures can usually be taken then--still back off if it becomes apparent that you are disturbing the owl. And educate others as it becomes possible, in a friendly and encouraging manner. After all, people getting too close are obviously excited to see these birds, too.
>
> Christine Southwick
> N Seattle/Shoreline
> clsouthwick at q.com
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> On Mon, 12 Dec 2011, Dennis Paulson wrote:
>
>> Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:14:52 -0800
>> From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson at comcast.net>
>> To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>> Subject: [Tweeters] thoughts about Snowy Owls and their aficionados
>> Tweets,
>>
>> After reading today's digest, I decided to enter the discussion. I am a long-time birder and photographer, but one of my primary objectives is to know as much as I can about birds so I can appreciate them better and teach about them.
>>
>> I am not sympathetic to the idea of pursuing an animal to the point of stressing it just to get photos (or better looks), but I would hope that there would be light as well as heat in these discussions. When I read statements such as "these birds are on the edge of starvation," I am afraid that too many people will go away believing such a statement.
>>
>> In fact, when these owls come down to our latitude, most of them flourish. There is enough to eat, otherwise they wouldn't be hanging around the same place, day after day, week after week. They come down here not out of desperation but because this is a good place for them to be in this particular winter. I suspect they are doing quite well.
>>
>> The owls are still at Boundary Bay and Damon Point even after several weeks of being photographed to a fare-thee-well and - from what I read - often flushed. Does that seem likely if they are being stressed so much? My simple logic tells me that if these owls were being stressed as much as some have written, to the point of not being able to maintain their energy balance, their numbers would be declining rapidly rather than remaining stable. Has anyone noticed moribund owls? Why haven't they left? Snowy Owls are strong fliers, and there are areas all around Grays Harbor and Boundary Bay where they wouldn't be disturbed by people.
>>
>> It would be interesting to have counts from these areas through at least midwinter, say February, to see if their numbers decline (or not) from this barrage of observers and photographers. After that, some of them may be heading north. And even if they did decline, there are sources of mortality other than starvation. At least the ones at these two localities won't be struck by cars, one such source when the birds are along roads. Birders disturb Snowy Owls; drivers kill them.
>>
>> I think it is very unlikely that they are near starvation. Lacking lemmings, they can go out hunting at dusk and find a duck or grebe or shorebird that will keep them fed until they are ready to hunt for another one. They are thought to need about a pound of lemmings per day to survive in the winter, about the size of a Bufflehead or Horned Grebe (or 7.5 Dunlins).
>>
>> Some banded Snowy Owls have been known to return to the same site in subsequent winters. These were birds that were trapped and banded, surely a greater source of stress than being flushed. They chose to return to the same spot.
>>
>> Again, I'm not trying to argue that people should purposely disturb Snowy Owls or any other bird, but I would prefer a realistic view of what constitutes a disturbance and what real effect it has on an animal. Blanket condemnations of photographers and other birders have become routine on tweeters, and it makes me sad to see so many people using a birding listserv as a forum in which to criticize their fellow birders.
>> -----
>> Dennis Paulson
>> 1724 NE 98 St.
>> Seattle, WA 98115
>> 206-528-1382
>> dennispaulson at comcast.net
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
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>>
>

-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson at comcast.net



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