Page 12 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch December 27, 2013 ‘Irruption Year’ Brings Snowy Owls To Region By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR Scientists were able to attach a tracking device to this snowy owl after it was captured temporarily on Assateague Island this month. Photo by Allen Sklar ASSATEAGUE – For the last few weeks, local residents and visitors to beaches in Maryland and Delaware have reported the rareosightings of snowy owls, and scientists are hoping to get a better understanding of the anomaly. Snowy owl sightings in increasing numbers have been reported on beaches from Assateague to Indian River essentially since Thanksgiving, providing beachgoers and bird watchers with a rather rare opportunity to see up close and in person the large, beautiful white and brown birds. Their visit is called an “irruption” in scientific terms, and while irruptions are fairly common for many species of migratory birds, the current irruption of snowy owls in the local area has been particularly noteworthy. “This is definitely an irruption year,” said Assateague Island National Seashore Scientific Communicator Kelly Taylor this week. “In a nutshell, something is driving these birds out of their typical migration pattern and pushing them in a different direction, which is why they are showing up here.” Taylor said the cause of the irruption of snowy owls in the local area this late fall and early winter is under investigation, but there is no real reason for concern. “Just because they have suddenly shown up here doesn’t necessarily suggest that something is bad,” she said. “There is a scientific reason for it. It could be a lack of food along their normal migration routes, or other natural factors. We’re looking into it, but it doesn’t mean something is out of order.” Taylor said in most years there are irruptions of other migratory birds on Assateague and other beach habitats along the mid-Atlantic but they go largely unnoticed to non-scientists and non-bird watchers because they aren’t as readily visible or recognized. Standing about two feet tall and about four pounds and densely covered with white feathers and brown markings, the snowy owls easily standout along the local winter landscape. It doesn’t hurt that the iconic birds have been featured in books and movie series such as Harry Potter, for example. “It’s a rare winter when we have no species irrupting in our area,” she said. “What makes this so special is that the snowy owls are what we refer to as charismatic megafauna. They are huge and beautiful and rarely seen by the public in their natural habitat. They are really amazing.” Taylor said the snowy owls are SEE NEXT PAGE