January 3, 2014 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 9 Scientists Continue To Track Snowy Owl Tagged On Assateague BIGGER, BETTER & MORE OCEAN CITY’S NEWEST SPORTS BAR! at 131st Street & Coastal Highway FREE WI-FI Try Our New Additions To Our Sports Bar Menu GRILLED OYSTERS • RAW OYSTERS CLAMS CASINO • CREAM OF CRAB DELICIOUS MD CRAB CAKES And Much More HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS A snowy owl is pictured being tagged with a solar-powered transmitter that has allowed scientists to track its whereabouts the last couple week. Photo by Allen Sklar BAR FOOD & DRINKS ALL DAY LONG NFL WILDCARD ACTION SATURDAY & SUNDAY SATURDAY, JAN. 4 EAGLES VS SAINTS 8:10 P.M. & ALL OTHER PLAYOFF GAMES By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR ASSATEAGUE – The first snowy owl fitted with a transmitter on Assateague Island has been a busy bird, according to data collected to track his whereabouts over the last week or so. Local residents and visitors to beaches in Maryland and Delaware over the last few weeks have been treated to a rather rare opportunity to see snowy owls up close and in person as the Arctic visitors have flocked to the mid-Atlantic’s coast as well as inland areas. Their visit is called an “irruption” in scientific terms, and while they are fairly common for many species of migratory birds, the ongoing irruption of snowy owls in the local area has been particularly noteworthy and is being referred to in some circles as a nat- ural history event. Scientists are seeking answers for the unusual irruption of snowy owls and are trying to gain a better understanding of the migration patterns of the large and beautiful birds. To that end, some of the birds have been briefly captured and fitted with a lightweight, solar-powered transmitter allowing scientists and bird-watching enthusiasts to track their movements. The first snowy owl fitted with a transmitter during what is now being called Project SNOWstorm was tagged on Assateague last week. In the days since, the tagged snowy owl has been tracked from Assateague to Delaware to ultimately the Jersey shore. As of early this week, the snowy owl fitted with a transmitter on Assateague was taken up residence in Cape May. SEE PAGE 10 Watch All Your Games On Plenty Of Large HD TV’s With Plenty Of Seating. Plenty Of FREE Parking For J/R’s Customers BOB HUGHES FRIDAY, JAN. 3 • 6 P.M. HOWARD ON THE PIANO SATURDAY, JAN 4. • 5 P.M. The Best Place for Ribs, Seafood & Steaks Full Dinner Menu In Our Spacious, Separate Dining Room Open Year Round! Open Friday at 4 p.m. • Saturday at 3 p.m. • Sunday at Noon 131st St. & Coastal Hwy. 410-250-3100 • www.jrsribs.com Carry-Out Available 410-250-3131 • Cold Beer • Bags Of Ice A snowy owl is pictured in flight on Assateague in November. Photo by Allen Sklar