Northern Hawk Owl, photo by Chris Wood.

The past ten days have brought the first signs of what may shape up to be a good winter for northern owls. Snowy Owls have been found in Massachusetts, Maine, and Minnesota, with Northern Hawk Owl reports coming from Minnesota as well. In the past, such early reports of these species have often presaged strong flights later in the season.

Even more exciting are early indications of a major movement of Boreal Owls into Minnesota. As many as fourteen (!) were banded in a single late-October night in Duluth. Minnesota in Winter is probably the best place in North America to see this small owl, and it looks like 2009 could be the year to do it!

We’ll be following any invasions of these and other boreal species carefully all winter, and will keep WINGS clients up to date here at The Wingbeat.