The 2005 to 2006 Snowy Owl Irruption Migration to Western Montana

During the winter of 2005–2006, a large number of Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) migrated to northwestern Montana. At least 42 owls were recorded in the Mission and Flathead Valleys. In one field of approximately 500 m2, 31 to 35 Snowy Owls roosted by day. Many owls roosted communally, and several age...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Northwestern naturalist (Olympia, Wash.) Wash.), 2008-12, Vol.89 (3), p.145-151
Main Authors: Holt, Denver W., Zetterberg, Steven A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal migration behavior
Bird watching
Birds of prey
Breeding
Breeding sites
Bubo
communal roosting
Geographic regions
irruption migration
Montana
Owls
Seasonal migration
Snowy Owl
Valleys
Voles
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Summary:During the winter of 2005–2006, a large number of Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) migrated to northwestern Montana. At least 42 owls were recorded in the Mission and Flathead Valleys. In one field of approximately 500 m2, 31 to 35 Snowy Owls roosted by day. Many owls roosted communally, and several age classes and both sexes were observed. No evidence of starvation or mortality was detected. This irruption migration was also noted throughout the Pacific Northwest.
ISSN:1051-1733
1938-5315
DOI:10.1898/NWN07-19.1