A Time with the Snowy Owls

For the second year now, we have taken time to view one of the resting points in the Snowy Owl migration route. They travel hundreds of miles south and rest in a part of the Pacific Flyway located at Boundary Bay in BC.  When they arrive, they are totally exhausted and often starving.  Unfortunately, many of them don't make it this far, but those who do are the best of the best, and they rest.  They find logs or secluded grassy areas to sit and recuperate from the ultimate energy expenditure.  Signs are posted all along the dyke warning   people not to disturb the birds by getting too close and forcing them to fly away.  Even this small relocation may cause the difference between survival or not.  People adhere to the signs and respect the fragile lifeline these amazing birds cling to.

My brother and I walk quietly along the dyke and spot white blotches along the muddy area between the bay and the shoreline.  As we near the area where the owls are resting, we get a better view.  They are silent statues of weariness and may only turn their heads to see around them.  They are conserving vital energy. We stand in awe of them and try to imagine the miles they have migrated and their measure of survival.  They  are absolutely beautiful birds and their white or spotted bodies and penetrating eyes astound both of us.

A bonus this year, was the tremendous activity that was taking place on the opposite side of the dyke.  Short eared owls were quite active flying, searching, "barking" and seemingly playing in a fenced electrical area. We had never seen owls so active in such a small area and although at times they seemed to be hunting, they were also playing.  In addition to the owls, this area is home to eagles, hawks, herons, crows, red-winged blacks birds, in addition to the myriad of smaller birds that seemed to go unnoticed.  

We were in the presence of magnificence!