Winter 2001

Photographs and Observations by Kanae Hirabayashi

October 25 at Montrose. This immature Snowy Owl is the earliest record for this species in my 20 years of birding in Lincoln Park.

November 2. Here is a shot of the Snowy, still here, in the rain. A couple of passersby were fascinated to see the beautiful visitor from the tundra perched on the sign of a school-kids’ garden.

November 15. This morning at Montrose, there were a short-eared owl, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks, three northern harriers, and 50 crows who harassed Snowy, who tried to escape them at the tip of Fishing Pier. But the crows wouldn’t leave it alone. Twice, the Snowy, as if it knew that crows wouldn’t come close to humans, landed seven feet away from us. When the owl flew around us, we could feel wind from the owl’s wings. Then the crows stayed away a short while and gave the Snowy a little time to calm down. This picture was taken at this time.