If there is to be an invasion, what could be better than Snowy Owls?! Reports seem inconclusive over the years about whether the survival rate is generally good or bad during these events...something not easy to evaluate. Good productivity for the owls might have happened last summer...though lemming populations and other northern food sources are well-documented as declining.
This bird was at Craney Island, Portsmouth recently...sorry to say, an area not open to the public...and will be monitored by a research team. Virginia has already had about 10 other reports in this epic event...many more to come? Birders should certainly be respectful of the possible stress caused by observation.
Brian Taber
