CHICAGO — A duo of snowy owls has become the main attraction along a Lake Michigan beach, drawing the attention of onlookers and sparking excitement over how long these Arctic birds might stay in Chicago.
News of the owl pair quickly spread through birdwatching communities in the nation’s third-largest city, as noted by the Chicago Ornithological Society. While snowy owl sightings aren’t unheard of in Chicago, their numbers can vary greatly each winter. Typically, a few are spotted by December, but some years see none at all.
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“Their unpredictable nature makes studying them and predicting their movements quite challenging,” remarked Edward Warden, president of the society, on Sunday. “Their next destination is anyone’s guess.”
This season, two snowy owls have been observed frequenting a beach and pier near the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary on Chicago’s North Side. Additionally, a third owl was briefly seen at another beach a few miles to the south, according to the society.
The arrival of these owls is slightly ahead of schedule, and their extended stay has led to speculation about a potential “irruption,” or significant migration event, which in the past has brought over a dozen snowy owls to the city.
On Saturday, more than 100 people gathered at the concrete pier extending into the lake, hoping to catch a glimpse of the majestic birds. Among the crowd was Sean Clark, a birdwatcher and photography enthusiast.
“They were coming and going all day long. It’s amazing that the birds are accepting of that many people,” he said.
The owls did seem rattled, however, by some peregrine falcons that swooped down near them, something Clark was able to capture on his camera. The owls’ yellow eyes grew wide and they flapped their large wings but stayed put.
Snowy owls live north of the Arctic Circle during the summer. In some years, some of the owls stay north while others migrate to southern Canada and the northern half of the United States in the winter, according to experts. On a global scale, they’ve been considered “vulnerable” – one step from endangered – by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
In Chicago, the birds eat a range of things, including small mammals or waterfowl, according to the Chicago Ornithological Society.
Alan Hougton came to see the owls on Saturday, his first time since he started birding five years ago.
“It was awesome,” he said.
Slevin reported from Denver.
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