Snowies of the North

Unlike most birds of prey, I typically migrate to the north to my Michigan roots during the winter holidays to visit my family.  My most recent visit yielded a most unexpected and joyous surprise....I glimpsed my first wild Snowy Owl!

The Snowy Owl was perched high above the farm fields looking for prey. (Photo by Connie Bunke)

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white owl with striking yellow eyes and a black beak.  Females are typically larger and have a brown bar pattern mixed with the white of their plumage.  Snowy males will also have the brown coloration to a lesser degree and will become more white as they age.

These majestic owls live solitary lives in the harsh arctic tundra, following the population movements of lemmings, a type of rodent.  Lemmings are the primary food source for Snowy Owls.  A single Snowy Owl can eat 1,500 to 1,600 lemmings in one year.

A lemming is a tasty meal for Snowy Owls (photo: The wikipedia files)

Sightings of Snowy Owls in the thumb of Michigan was once a really rare occurrence.  My mother could only recall seeing a Snowy Owl out in the countryside once in the thirty-five plus years she’s lived there.  Now, neighbors and friends talk as though seeing two or three snowies in a single day is a normal event!

My family and I took a drive one afternoon to go looking for the Snowy Owls.  In the span of an hour, we came across six snowies perched on telephone poles overlooking the fields.

We almost didn’t spot this fellow.  At a distance, he simply looked like an extension of the telephone pole (photo by Connie Bunke)

In recent years the explosion of Snowy Owls appearing across the northern United States is likely due to an unusually high abundance of lemming populations across Quebec, Canada, according to an article by the Cornell Lab of Orinthology BirdCast.  The high population levels of lemmings allow Snowy Owl pairs to rear larger clutches of chicks.  With the current Snowy Owl baby boom, we’re likely to have more frequent sightings of Snowy Owls for recurring years.

If you wish to learn more about Snowy Owls, come visit the World Bird Sanctuary to meet Tundra, the Snowy Owl, at our Education Department, as well as Ookpik and Crystal, our Snowy Owl pair, living on the sanctuary’s display line. 

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Only One Owl Prowl left with limited space! Book today!

There is only one Owl Prowl left in the 2014/2015 season.  This popular program, awarded the AAA’s Midwest Traveler's Travel Treasure for the Midwest, will be over at the end of February and are selling out quickly.

Wild Barred Owl.
Photo used with kind permission of Patrick Lanham Photography

Come over to the Dark Side and meet the amazing birds that exist by moonlight.  World Bird Sanctuary Owl Prowls offer an exciting opportunity to learn more about the fascinating lives of owls.

Join one of our Naturalists at our evening programs - a 30 minute presentation featuring live flying owls, followed by an easy night hike around our grounds as we try and find wild Barred Owls and Great-horned Owls who are busy setting up territories and finding mates for the winter owl breeding season!

Owl Prowls offer a unique opportunity to see owls in flight!
Photo with kind permission of Sandra's Shooting Gallery.

Only one date left with space for you!

We have a limited number of dates with some spaces for remaining Owl Prowls, so book today to avoid last minute disappointment. 

February 2015

Friday, February 20th

Meet beautiful owls like Tundra, the Snowy Owl, at a WBS Owl Prowl!
Photo with kind permission of Sandra's Shooting Gallery.

All Owl Prowls start at 7pm and are concluded by 9pm.

To book, call our Education Center at 636-225-4390 ext. 1.

$11 per adult; $9 per child under 12.

Friends of World Bird Sanctuary receive a 10% discount.

Groups of 10 or more pay $9 per person, regardless of age.

With only 30 people per Owl Prowl and selected dates available, call today to make your reservation!

Blog submitted by Catherine Redfern

The Last Owl Prowls of the Season have just a few spaces left. Book Today!

There are just a handful of spaces left on each Owl Prowl before the season is over!  This popular program, awarded the AAA’s Midwest Traveler's Travel Treasure for the Midwest, will be over at the end of February and are selling out quickly.

Wild Barred Owl.
Photo used with kind permission of Patrick Lanham Photography

Come over to the Dark Side and meet the amazing birds that exist by moonlight.  World Bird Sanctuary Owl Prowls offer an exciting opportunity to learn more about the fascinating lives of owls.

Join one of our Naturalists at our evening programs - a 30 minute presentation featuring live flying owls, followed by an easy night hike around our grounds as we try and find wild Barred Owls and Great-horned Owls who are busy setting up territories and finding mates for the winter owl breeding season!

Owl Prowls offer a unique opportunity to see owls in flight!
Photo with kind permission of Sandra's Shooting Gallery.

Owl Programs with spaces available on selected evenings from February thru March 2015

We have a limited number of dates with some spaces for remaining Owl Prowls, so book today to avoid last minute disappointment. 

February 2015

Friday, February 6th

Saturday, February 7th

Friday, February 20th

March 2015

Saturday, March 14th

Meet beautiful owls like Tundra, the Snowy Owl, at a WBS Owl Prowl!
Photo with kind permission of Sandra's Shooting Gallery.

All Owl Prowls start at 7pm and are concluded by 9pm.

To book, call our Education Center at 636-225-4390 ext. 1.

$11 per adult; $9 per child under 12.

Friends of World Bird Sanctuary receive a 10% discount.

Groups of 10 or more pay $9 per person, regardless of age.

With only 30 people per Owl Prowl and selected dates available, call today to make your reservation!

Blog submitted by Catherine Redfern

Owl Prowls are filling up quickly - have you booked your space?

We are halfway through Owl Prowl season!  This popular program, awarded the AAA’s Midwest Traveler's Travel Treasure for the Midwest, will be over at the end of February and are selling out quickly.

Wild Barred Owl.
Photo used with kind permission of Patrick Lanham Photography

Come over to the Dark Side and meet the amazing birds that exist by moonlight.  World Bird Sanctuary Owl Prowls offer an exciting opportunity to learn more about the fascinating lives of owls.

Join one of our Naturalists at our evening programs - a 30 minute presentation featuring live flying owls, followed by an easy night hike around our grounds as we try and find wild Barred Owls and Great-horned Owls who are busy setting up territories and finding mates for the winter owl breeding season!

Owl Prowls offer a unique opportunity to see owls in flight!
Photo with kind permission of Sandra's Shooting Gallery.

Owl Programs offered on selected evenings from January thru March 2015

We have a limited number of dates with some spaces for remaining Owl Prowls, so book today to avoid last minute disappointment. 

January 2015

Sunday, January 4th,

Friday, January 9th,

Saturday, January 10th,

Saturday, January 31st,  

February 2015

Friday, February 6th

Saturday, February 7th

Saturday, February 14th

Friday, February 20th

Saturday, February 28th

March 2015

Friday, March 6th

Saturday, March 14th

Meet beautiful owls like Tundra, the Snowy Owl, at a WBS Owl Prowl!
Photo with kind permission of Sandra's Shooting Gallery.

All Owl Prowls start at 7pm and are concluded by 9pm.

To book, call our Education Center at 636-225-4390 ext. 1.

$11 per adult; $9 per child under 12.

Friends of World Bird Sanctuary receive a 10% discount.

Groups of 10 or more pay $9 per person, regardless of age.

With only 30 people per Owl Prowl and selected dates available, call today to make your reservation!

Blog submitted by Catherine Redfern

OPEN HOUSE 2014

 Fall is in the air and people's thoughts are turning to fall activities—street festivals, apple picking, trips to the pumpkin farm and, of course, everybody’s favorite two-day free event….the World Bird Sanctuary Open House!

Open House is this coming Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, from 10 am to 4 pm. 

One of WBS's free flying Bald Eagles soars just inches overhead (photo: Gay Schroer)

Activities at this year’s Open House will include programs featuring a majestic flying Bald Eagle, as well as a number of other birds who are seasoned performers in the World Bird Sanctuary’s repertoire of educational programs.  Prepare to be amazed as these ambassadors of the sky fly just above your head. 

WBS Eagle mascot,our Dancing DoDo and kids rock out to the music of the Raptor Project (photo: Gay Schroer)

In addition to the free flight exhibitions there will be entertainment by the Sanctuary’s in-house band, the Raptor Project, which will entertain audiences with old favorites, as well as new songs that have been added to their repertoire this year.

A young guest proudly displays what she made at the craft table (photo: Gay Schroer)

Other activities will include presentations by the Butterfly house, face painting, a craft station and other activities for the kids.  There will also be tours of the hospital, the behind the scenes breeding barn and the behavioral training center, which are usually not open to the public.

A guest gets a really close look at an Augur Buzzard at the photo op (photo: Gay Schroer)

For a small fee guests will have the opportunity to have their photo taken posing next to one of our raptors.  Featured birds this year will be Tundra, a beautiful Snowy Owl, and Max the Tawny Eagle.  Since these two birds are new to the photo op area their time may be limited, so you may want to make the photo op your first stop.  In addition to our two newcomers, we have several old pros on standby for photos.

Also with us for the first time this year will be the cool Eagle Harley motorcycle, presented by owner Tom “The Kong” Compton.  Those of you who are bike riders will want to be sure to check out this beauty.

Our naturalists are always happy to answer questions (photo: Gay Schroer)

The main paths in our upper triangle area are paved and handicapped accessible, and restrooms are located conveniently nearby.  Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as you will want to explore all the attractions and activities that will be spread out throughout our site.

For those more adventurous souls we have several hiking trails that wind through our oak/hickory forest.  These paths are natural and unpaved.

There are photo opportunities at every turn (photo: Sandra Lowe)

Bring a picnic lunch or take advantage of our concession truck.  Be sure to bring your cameras, as there will be photo opportunities at every turn.  

So, mark your calendars! ….Save the date

Saturday, October 18

Sunday, October 19

10 am – 4 pm

Admission and parking are free!

For directions to our site Click Here.

As always….for the safety of our animals—and our other guests--no pets please.

Amazing Opportunities

Working at World Bird Sanctuary has given me so many memorable experiences.

    

I’ve had the chance to dress up at a renaissance fair.  Doing shows in a dress was interesting and fun.  I also got to visit many of the other booths at the fair, and each had a lot to teach and show just as our World Bird Sanctuary displays and presentations did.

A Harris' Hawk landing on my glove during an education program 

I had the opportunity to go to Keokuk, Iowa for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Eagle Days.  Here we did shows in a movie theater and made the front page of the local magazine.  We also got to see dances the Native Americans did to show their respect for the Bald Eagle.  At the Eagle Days there was also a group from an insect zoo.  We learned about different spiders, scorpions, and other sorts of bugs and creepy crawlies.

Educating an audience about Tawny Owls

My most recent trip was to Minnesota.  Here we did programs for Carpenter Nature Center.  Carpenter Nature Center has a lot of the same goals as WBS.  They are not as big as we are, so they asked us to come out and help spread the word.  Here I got to see how another nature center works.  I had the opportunity to go snowshoeing, see a wild Snowy Owl, and we got to eat in Wisconsin, so I can now say I have been to both states.  My favorite part of this trip was seeing the wild Snowy Owl.  Thanks to WBS I got to see an owl I would not have normally seen in Missouri.  When I went snowshoeing we were looking for other owls that had been seen in the area, such as Short- eared, Saw-whet and Long-eared Owls.

Tundra, WBS's female Snowy Owl--I actually got to see one in the wild!  (photo: Gay Schroer)

One thing that I’ve learned from all this is that everyone has something to teach and there is always something new to learn.  Though I went to these programs to teach the public about birds of prey and how they can help our environment, I came home having learned so much about so many other things. 

It makes me happy and excited that there are other people out there who work hard to teach others what they have learned.  If nobody stood up for what they believed then we would lose a lot of what we have in this world.

To see many of the birds mentioned in this article come visit WBS the next time you are looking for free outdoor entertainment.  We have many of these birds on display and easily visible to the public.

Submitted by Christina Rankin, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Photo Project - Year 3: Spring Things & Fun In The Snow

March has been a good month for taking photos of the birds I get to work with on a regular basis at the World Bird Sanctuary, as well as a start to the flower season outside. 

I think I will start with a little sign of spring.  March has been an up and down month for weather.  On one of the nice, warm, sunny days I was luckily off from work for my birthday, and I took a nice walk at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis. 

Crocuses - the first sign of spring (photo:  Cathy Spahn)

One of the first signs of spring, flower-wise, is when you see crocuses coming up.  These small flowers can easily be missed, but if you know to look for them they are very pretty.  I just love the purple and yellow ones.  The sun that day just made them stand out.

The next series of photos were taken on a work trip to Hastings, MN at Carpenter Nature Center.  We presented shows there early in the month.  On this trip we took our Snowy Owl, Tundra, on her first travelling trip.  Since they had lots of snow and it was cold up there we took advantage of this, and placed her in the snow to see what she would do.

Is that a birdy smile--or what?  (photo:  Cathy Spahn)

First off I think if a bird could have smiled she would have been grinning from ear to ear.  She sat in the snow and made her happy/excited sounds (we trainers get to know the sounds our birds make and what they mean). 

This is one happy bird (photo: Cathy Spahn)

Then she started looking at the snow.  All of a sudden she stuck her face into the snow.  She came up with a face full of snow, and she even ate some!  Several times over the weekend we took her outside to sit in the snow.  Tundra had a ball!

She stuck her whole face in the snow (photo:  Cathy Spahn)

Sometimes when photographing the birds we do it to capture the beauty of the birds.  Other times it is to capture the action of what a bird may be doing, like a few of these photos of Tundra and the snow.  This experience with her was such an amazing and fun moment of watching a bird in a natural moment.

The bird version of the kid who just got into the cookie jar (photo:  Cathy Spahn)

The next time you visit the World Bird Sanctuary be sure to look for Tundra in the weathering area behind the Office of Wildlife  Learning  Nature Center.  This is where she spends most of her days—unless she’s traveling with our staff  to do an educational presentation.

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Birdy, It's Cold Outside

Recently I went to get my eyes checked and had a very enjoyable chat with my optometrist. She had recently visited World Bird Sanctuary, loved it and was curious as to how the birds were handling the cold weather. I realized that others might have the same question, so I decided to write my blog about our birds and the cold.

Peabody, the Tawny Owl, is native to Europe, where members of his species thrive in cold conditions.

Most of the birds that are on our display line in the winter are adapted for cold weather. They are either native to Missouri or even more extreme climates. Some species that are not native to Missouri can remain on our display line throughout the winter with additional wind protection or building shelters and providing them with heat lamps. Other species that are from warmer climates, such as the Brown Pelicans, move indoors for the winter and move back out once it warms up. Every now and then we need to bring birds indoors for the very cold spells, such as that week when we hit negative temperatures, but in general if a bird is out on our display line it is because it is adapted for the cold.

Ookpik the Snowy Owl - well-adpated to the cold.

How exactly are the birds adapted for the cold, you might ask. The short answer is feathers! Yes, those wonderful things that allow birds to fly also allow birds to live pretty much anywhere. Feathers have the highest insulation quality of any substance known to humans. You are probably familiar with this if you own a down comforter or jacket. You know that warm toasty feeling you have when bundled up? The temperature difference between the outside and the inside of the feather coat of a song bird can be one hundred degrees. Due to this amazing insulation birds from warmer climates tend to have more skin exposed to aid in heat exchange. Unfortunately that extra exposure means that in Missouri those particular birds are at risk of frostbite, hence why we need to move them indoors. The birds native to colder environments tend to have more feathers. For example Golden Eagles, which are found in the Northern Hemisphere have feathers all the way to the tops of their feet. These extra feathers keep their legs warm, as well as protecting them from the bites of their prey. Golden Eagles are members of the group of eagles called booted eagles, which also include Tawny Eagles. Snowy owls, native to the tundra not only have feathers on their feet, but also on the bottoms of their feet. Since Snowy owls are ground nesters, this helps to protect their feet from the snow and frozen ground. Even when it snows birds are not as affected as we are due to the feather’s structure. Feathers are made up of barbs and empty spaces between them called touch points. These suspend water away from the feather preventing it from soaking into the feather and the bird’s skin. Feathers are not the only “winterizing” on a bird of prey.

Golden Eagles are 'booted eagles' - an important factor in helping them to keep warm.

The scales on a bird’s feet also play an incredibly important role. These scales form in layers and depending on the species can be incredibly thick and act as built in snow boots causing ice to flake off rather than sticking to the bird and leading to frostbite. Bald eagles have these thick scales as well as feathers that stop before the tops of the feet, preventing feathers from freezing when they fish in icy water.

Bald Eagle feet have thick scales to help deal with the cold.

Birds, especially birds of prey, have a number of adaptations to help them keep warm. We make sure all of our birds are comfortable during these cold spells, whether that means keeping them indoors, or letting their natural adaptations take care of it. In fact during these cold spells, our birds probably feel even warmer than we feel!

Submitted by: Leah Tyndall, Trainer

365 Photo Project - December Photos

December is a month of holidays and vacation for me.  The first part of the month is always very quiet and then there is the second half of the month that is always busy with Christmas and travelling back to New York to see family.  So photos for the month are generally fewer. 

This December, however, has been a little more eventful.  First I went with a group of friends to the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow.  Then the second half of the month I was home for Christmas, and, fortunately for me, this year just happened to be an irruption year for Snowy Owls on the east coast.

The Glow Garden with the Climatron in the background

I am going to start with the Garden Glow.  It was a beautiful night when we went to see this beautiful display.  The temperatures were cold, yet not too cold.  This was the first time I used the night setting on my camera.  Normally when you use a night setting it is best to have a tripod or monopod to stabilize the camera, however the gardens had asked for no tripods or monopods, so the test was on.  Could I keep my hands steady enough to take nice photos? 

Surprisingly, I actually ended up with a lot of very nice night photos.  I would have loved to stay longer and walked back through to take more shots, but sometimes when you are with a group that does not always work.  However, of those I did take I came away with numerous very nice shots.  My first and favorite photo is from the glow garden looking back at the Climatron.  The Gardens staff had these nice, pretty glow globes on the ground and then star lights hanging above, and with the Climatron all decorated in beautiful green lights, it just came out beautiful.

The Christmas Tree at the Tower Grove House was just beautiful!

My second favorite photo from this event is this close up of the Christmas tree in front of the Tower Grove house.  I love this photo because the decorations are simple, yet it combines the old and the new way of lighting trees. The candle with the modern lights and the ribbons makes for a beautiful simple tree.

The last photo I have included is from Dec. 26.  My parents and I went for a birding ride from Webster, New York, west along the Ontario Lake shore.  This year the area has been experiencing a Snowy Owl irruption.  This year the Arctic had a very poor year for Arctic Lemmings, the Snowy Owls’ favorite, small rodent food.  So, many of the owls have moved south in search of food.  Snowy Owls like small rodents, but will also eat waterfowl, such as ducks and geese.

On this particular day we located a total of 5 Snowy Owls and I have photos of all five.  I will do a blog later about Snowy Owls so you can see some of these birds.  Three were on piers or docks and the last two were in farm fields. 

At first glance can you find the Snowy Owl?

The photo I have chosen for this blog is the last owl we found that day.  This was a dumb luck find.  We were driving through the country side looking for small birds.  I always look at the fields watching for raptors.  When we drove by this field I saw a white lump and said, “Possible owl!”  We pulled over and at first I could not find the bird, then I saw the lump move its head,  Snowy Owl!   We backed up and then I took several photos. 

This bird’s photo really shows you how difficult they can be to see, even within the brown and green of a farm field.  The bird sat nicely for multiple photos, and then we moved on. 

We always think of the birds when we stop, trying not to stay for too long or getting too close.  When birding or taking photos always respect the birds and give them the space they need to maintain their comfort zone.  Never keep pushing closer because you want the better photo.

If you would like to see a Snowy Owl, but can’t journey to their preferred habitat, come out to the World Bird Sanctuary to see our resident Snowy Owls, Ookpik, Crystal and Tundra.

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Photo Project: Year Three--Discussing Ethics

This is my third year doing a photo project and I have enjoyed it so much.  I find myself getting out more and exploring or just going bird watching and taking photos while I am out and about. 

Snowy Owl (photo by Cathy Spahn)

However, since I spend so much time outdoors photographing wildlife I get a chance to see a lot of other photographers doing the same.  And by photographer, I mean anyone holding a camera—not just professionals or hobbyists.  Most professional wildlife photographers are very aware of the “rules of the road” when it comes to outdoor ethics.

Unfortunately, sometimes I see the things these would-be photographers do and I realize that unlike birders, most of whom have a pretty strict code of ethics while practicing their hobby, some wildlife photographers do not.  In this particular blog I am going to talk about a few things that as a photographer you may not realize you need to think about.

As many people realize, photographing birds and other wildlife can be very difficult and challenging because the subject moves about and is not always cooperative.

The first thing to always consider is the safety of you and your subject.  Do not put yourself or the subject in harm’s way.

Short-eared Owl (photo by Cathy Spahn)

You should also think about how comfortable the subject is with your presence.  Every animal has it’s own comfort zone.  Another way to put this is….do not keep pushing to get closer just because you want to get that better picture.  If you see the animal’s behavior starting to change, such as going from very relaxed to suddenly starting to look around faster and getting that nervous jumpy look, chances are the animal is looking for an escape route—which means you are too close.  Your best bet is to slowly back away and let the animal relax.

Another thing to think about is habitat and the effect you have on it.  First and foremost stay on trails, paths, pavement, etc.  You always want to have as much of a minimum impact on the environment as possible.  I have personally witnessed photographers-- more so than other groups of people--breaking branches to get that perfect shot, or stepping on rare plants to get that perfect angle.  I am not saying that birders and hikers are perfect and always do the right thing.  I just know I see these transgressions more often with photographers. 

Also remember to respect private property signs and get permission to enter the land.  At the same time remember that even with a long lens you may make a landowner nervous if he sees you photographing his/her property, even if you aren’t on it.  Always explain what you are doing if they ask and with the digital age you can show them.  Many times offering to send them a copy of a photo taken on their property can go a long way in creating a good relationship with a landowner.  Also, always follow their wishes--even if that means they do not want you photographing their land.

Short-eared Owl (photo by Cathy Spahn)

The last thing I would like to touch on is to always follow the rules of the road and be courteous to others.  Being courteous to others that are taking photos or just enjoying wildlife is important.  One of the most common things I see while out shooting photos is a lack of respect for others.  An example of this is if you have a small parking lot or roadside pull-out, make every effort to pull all the way into parking spots so other people can use the lot, too.  Remember, you are not the only one taking photos.

I meet many photographers on a regular basis who follow all of these rules.  It’s just that sometimes when people are behind the camera they become oblivious to what is going on around them. 

These are just a few things that many times are overlooked by people, and they do not just apply to photographers, but birders, eagle watchers, etc. 

For some excellent practice photographing animals, plan to bring your camera and come out and spend the day at the World Bird Sanctuary.  You will have the opportunity to photograph and observe not only our resident animals, but also the wild birds that visit our feeders.  This will give you some hands on practice in reading the body language of our feathered friends, and will give you the opportunity to bring home fewer of those photos of where a bird used to be.  (Fess up now—we all have them!) 

Chances are you may even bring home some outstanding wildlife photos. 

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist