The most mystical and amazing owl to me is the snowy owl. This is the bird that all non-birders are astounded by. So what better bird to entice my grandkids into birding? Not that they needed much encouragement.
My oldest granddaughter Gia has been into nature since she was around 3 and my grandson Colton has no fear and is like the little professor and of course Noah, "No-No". They are throwback kids from an age passed by. Weather means nothing to them. Bugs, frogs, butterflies and birds are all a gift waiting to be explored. So loaded up with their cameras, and they needed to use real cameras, we trek out to the top of some wind swept hills in Oneida , New York.
We ride up and down the back roads in about 10 degree weather and my granddaughter says "There it is on top of that telephone pole!". We pull past it and the kids quietly get out of the car position themselves and begin shooting like seasoned wildlife photographers. After a while the bird swoops down and across the road to the delight of the kids. Noah is videotaping the event not knowing the camera isn't even on but he's having the time of his life thinking he is doing a you tube video. I'm not even shooting , i am enjoying them too much.
They can't wait to get home and see their pics and they are so proud. All they can say is "when is our next adventure?"
Now that my friends is the joy of the journey.
The snowy owl, also known as the polar owl, the white owl and the Arctic owl, is a large, white owl of the true owl family.
Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra.
(from Wikipedia)
