Nature Snowy Owls at Boundary Bay near Vancouver, BC.

Snowy Owls at Boundary Bay near Vancouver, BC. · **1 Like**

Three days ago my lovely wife and I went down to Boundary Bay to view the snowy owls that come down every few years or so. We left without taking shots because of the bad photography light and after getting pushed out of the mud after being stuck in it.

We returned two days ago with better lighting and better moods and captured some shots. We saw 15 in total without counting too hard.

It was difficult with only 250mm as my farthest reach, so a bit of pp was required.

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littledrawe · 01-02-2012, 10:05 PM

Good stuff! What makes them "come down" like that, they seem very out of their element.

legacyb4 · 01-02-2012, 10:23 PM

Awesome; thought about going down but it was a bit too far and I was feeling far too lazy today...

how much longer are they out for?

**Bob Harris** · 01-02-2012, 10:26 PM

Great shots of these beautiful birds, what a privilege to see so many at one time.

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 01-02-2012, 11:00 PM

Very nice images Michael, I'm envious haven never seen one in the wild. Thanks for posting them.

**Jacquot** · 01-03-2012, 04:18 AM

Great shots of extraordinary birds. I'm hoping we'll see some around here this winter.

charliezap · 01-03-2012, 07:33 AM

Nice looking owls and good shots Mike.---charliezap

kcmadr · 01-03-2012, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by littledrawe

Good stuff! What makes them "come down" like that, they seem very out of their element.

Thanks.

I don't really know why they come down from the Arctic only once or twice every decade. Maybe it's because it gets way too cold for them up there, and they want a warmer winter. But I'm really pleased they did

- last time they came to this area and were numerous and photographable was 1996. Not 100% sure though.

kcmadr · 01-03-2012, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by legacyb4

Awesome; thought about going down but it was a bit too far and I was feeling far too lazy today...

how much longer are they out for?

Thanks!

I don't know how long they typically stick around for. Just a bit of the winter I would guess.

kcmadr · 01-03-2012, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Bob Harris

Great shots of these beautiful birds, what a privilege to see so many at one time.

Thank you.

It is special, and after taking the pictures, I put my gear away and just enjoyed watching them walk around and preen and basically bask in the sunshine.

kcmadr · 01-03-2012, 12:33 PM

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Very nice images Michael, I'm envious haven never seen one in the wild. Thanks for posting them.

Thanks. It's my pleasure to share these.

They are beautiful birds, and I would expect your area to have some from time to time. Maybe their food source is extremely scarce in that region?

kcmadr · 01-03-2012, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by Jacquot

Great shots of extraordinary birds. I'm hoping we'll see some around here this winter.

Thanks.

You never know. Form what I've read they travel south into the northern parts of the lower 48 as well. Speculation is that they follow their food source, so sightings might be patchy.

kcmadr · 01-03-2012, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by charliezap

Nice looking owls and good shots Mike.---charliezap

Thanks.

They are a real treat, and not just for photographers and birdwatchers, but the general public as well. They're a huge attraction.

lesmore49 · 01-03-2012, 08:02 PM

Originally posted by kcmadr

Thanks.

I don't really know why they come down from the Arctic only once or twice every decade. Maybe it's because it gets way too cold for them up there, and they want a warmer winter. But I'm really pleased they did

- last time they came to this area and were numerous and photographable was 1996. Not 100% sure though.

No, don't think the coldness of the winter affects them that way. I've heard biologist say that they migrate southward due to lack of food up north. They live on rodents....mice, voles, Lemmings....when the rodent population cycle is at it's lowest...they have to move in search for food.

We see Snowy White Owls on a fairly regular basis in Southern Manitoba.

kcmadr · 01-08-2012, 12:10 AM

I did a bunch of looking up on the 'net and found a website which states "These irruptions are believed to be related to the boom and bust cycles of lemmings, the Snowy Owl's main prey, and other factors such as weather." I'm pretty sure now that the weather has little or nothing to do with their presence here and the primary driver is their food source.

Beautiful creatures nonetheless, and a real privilege to see them.

Originally posted by lesmore49

No, don't think the coldness of the winter affects them that way. I've heard biologist say that they migrate southward due to lack of food up north. They live on rodents....mice, voles, Lemmings....when the rodent population cycle is at it's lowest...they have to move in search for food.

We see Snowy White Owls on a fairly regular basis in Southern Manitoba.

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01-02-2012, 10:05 PM	#2
littledrawe Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Red Rock Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,514	Good stuff! What makes them "come down" like that, they seem very out of their element.

01-02-2012, 10:23 PM	#3
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Awesome; thought about going down but it was a bit too far and I was feeling far too lazy today... how much longer are they out for?

01-02-2012, 10:26 PM	#4
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Great shots of these beautiful birds, what a privilege to see so many at one time.

01-02-2012, 11:00 PM	#5
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Very nice images Michael, I'm envious haven never seen one in the wild. Thanks for posting them.

01-03-2012, 04:18 AM	#6
Jacquot Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sun City Center, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,544	Great shots of extraordinary birds. I'm hoping we'll see some around here this winter.

01-03-2012, 07:33 AM	#7
charliezap Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,686	Nice looking owls and good shots Mike.---charliezap

01-03-2012, 12:25 PM	#8
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614 Original Poster	Originally posted by littledrawe Good stuff! What makes them "come down" like that, they seem very out of their element. Thanks. I don't really know why they come down from the Arctic only once or twice every decade. Maybe it's because it gets way too cold for them up there, and they want a warmer winter. But I'm really pleased they did - last time they came to this area and were numerous and photographable was 1996. Not 100% sure though.

01-03-2012, 12:31 PM	#9
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614 Original Poster	Originally posted by legacyb4 Awesome; thought about going down but it was a bit too far and I was feeling far too lazy today... how much longer are they out for? Thanks! I don't know how long they typically stick around for. Just a bit of the winter I would guess.

01-03-2012, 12:32 PM	#10
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bob Harris Great shots of these beautiful birds, what a privilege to see so many at one time. Thank you. It is special, and after taking the pictures, I put my gear away and just enjoyed watching them walk around and preen and basically bask in the sunshine.

01-03-2012, 12:33 PM	#11
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann Very nice images Michael, I'm envious haven never seen one in the wild. Thanks for posting them. Thanks. It's my pleasure to share these. They are beautiful birds, and I would expect your area to have some from time to time. Maybe their food source is extremely scarce in that region?

01-03-2012, 12:34 PM	#12
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jacquot Great shots of extraordinary birds. I'm hoping we'll see some around here this winter. Thanks. You never know. Form what I've read they travel south into the northern parts of the lower 48 as well. Speculation is that they follow their food source, so sightings might be patchy.

01-03-2012, 12:35 PM	#13
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614 Original Poster	Originally posted by charliezap Nice looking owls and good shots Mike.---charliezap Thanks. They are a real treat, and not just for photographers and birdwatchers, but the general public as well. They're a huge attraction.

01-03-2012, 08:02 PM	#14
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,347	Originally posted by kcmadr Thanks. I don't really know why they come down from the Arctic only once or twice every decade. Maybe it's because it gets way too cold for them up there, and they want a warmer winter. But I'm really pleased they did - last time they came to this area and were numerous and photographable was 1996. Not 100% sure though. No, don't think the coldness of the winter affects them that way. I've heard biologist say that they migrate southward due to lack of food up north. They live on rodents....mice, voles, Lemmings....when the rodent population cycle is at it's lowest...they have to move in search for food. We see Snowy White Owls on a fairly regular basis in Southern Manitoba.

01-08-2012, 12:10 AM	#15
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614 Original Poster	I did a bunch of looking up on the 'net and found a website which states "These irruptions are believed to be related to the boom and bust cycles of lemmings, the Snowy Owl's main prey, and other factors such as weather." I'm pretty sure now that the weather has little or nothing to do with their presence here and the primary driver is their food source. Beautiful creatures nonetheless, and a real privilege to see them. Originally posted by lesmore49 No, don't think the coldness of the winter affects them that way. I've heard biologist say that they migrate southward due to lack of food up north. They live on rodents....mice, voles, Lemmings....when the rodent population cycle is at it's lowest...they have to move in search for food. We see Snowy White Owls on a fairly regular basis in Southern Manitoba.