Snowy owls' invasion of Chicago is off to a flying start this winter

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-snowy-owl-20111214,0,2761678.story

Snowy owls' invasion of Chicago is off to a flying start this winter

By Sheryl DeVore, Chicago Tribune

December 14, 2011

Snowy owls are arriving in the Chicago area in far greater numbers than usual this winter, but the dramatic presence of a bird made famous in the Harry Potter movies has nothing to do with magic and everything to do with finding a good meal.

"The owls are here for only one reason: food," said Paul Kerlinger, a New Jersey-based expert who has studied the species throughout the country.

Along the shores of Lake Michigan where the birds seem to be showing up almost daily, that means an abundance of tasty ducks, large flocks of roosting gulls and in Chicago itself, rats — plenty of rats.

The snowy owl breeds in Arctic regions, raising young in the remote tundra wilderness. The species, however, is staging an invasion in a broad swath across the northern United States, from Washington to Illinois to Maine, experts say. One was even found as far south as Honolulu, the first time it's been seen in Hawaii.

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Photo gallery: http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-111213-snowy-owl-pictures,0,2887116.photogallery

Snowy owl makes stopover at Montrose Harbor

[HappyMe]

1. What majestic birds!

[XemaSab]

2. They're invading the US

http://g.co/maps/83x7t

[sarge43]

3. I love the first picture.

"Oh hell, guess I'm going have to kick some ass after all."

[zanana1]

4. They're so beautiful!

I'd give my right arm to see one in person.

[XemaSab]

5. Where do you live?