Snowy Owl Research Paper
Snowy Owls
Snowy Owls
2012
Com156
12/9/2012
A snowy owl will live out the entire course of its life in the open artic in most cases, while others will migrate out of the arctic tundra. They will hunt, eat, mate, reproduce, and die where they reside. The largest bird in the artic, by a weight of up to six pounds, the snowy owl stands roughly two feet tall (National Georaphic). The snowy owl is a fearless hunter and strong protector. The snowy owls are diurnal, hunting mainly during the day unlike most species of owls that tend to be nocturnal. They mainly live in isolated and remote regions of the greater north; this protects them from human interaction. Snowy owls are immensely protective over their home, hunting grounds, and offspring. …show more content…
A snowy owl feeds on small mammals, such as, rabbits, squirrels and lemmings; however, they will eat seabirds and fish when the opportunity presents itself. The snowy owl will perch itself up on a fence post, building, telephone poll and patiently wait for prey (National Georaphic). Snowy owls spend a large amount of time sitting and waiting, often sitting right on the ground. The snowy owl has superior eyesight and hearing, allowing it to find prey hidden in brush or snow (National Georaphic). The snowy owl can turn their head two hundred and seventy degrees around, which aids them and finding a small animal on the ground to devour. The snowy owl has many hunting techniques; they swoop down, hover, jump, and even run after their prey. The snowy owl will swoop down on their prey and snatch them up with their sharp talons while hovering in the air. They will catch and pull a fish or duck right out of the water (Miller, 1999). The snow owl will also use an aerial dive while attacking prey. Once the snowy owl spots their prey they will run after it and pounce upon its prey, swallowing the whole critter down in one swallow, head first. The snowy owl will then regurgitate a pellet. These pellets consist of the parts of the food source that cannot be digested, such as the animal’s bones and hair (The Alaska Zoo). Feeding primarily on lemmings, the snowy owl will eat three to five lemmings a day. With the average weight of a lemming being four pounds, the snowy owl will feed on up to sixteen pounds of lemmings a day. Meaning the snowy owl eats up to two and a half times its body weight in an average
Snowy Owls
2012
Com156
12/9/2012
A snowy owl will live out the entire course of its life in the open artic in most cases, while others will migrate out of the arctic tundra. They will hunt, eat, mate, reproduce, and die where they reside. The largest bird in the artic, by a weight of up to six pounds, the snowy owl stands roughly two feet tall (National Georaphic). The snowy owl is a fearless hunter and strong protector. The snowy owls are diurnal, hunting mainly during the day unlike most species of owls that tend to be nocturnal. They mainly live in isolated and remote regions of the greater north; this protects them from human interaction. Snowy owls are immensely protective over their home, hunting grounds, and offspring. …show more content…
A snowy owl feeds on small mammals, such as, rabbits, squirrels and lemmings; however, they will eat seabirds and fish when the opportunity presents itself. The snowy owl will perch itself up on a fence post, building, telephone poll and patiently wait for prey (National Georaphic). Snowy owls spend a large amount of time sitting and waiting, often sitting right on the ground. The snowy owl has superior eyesight and hearing, allowing it to find prey hidden in brush or snow (National Georaphic). The snowy owl can turn their head two hundred and seventy degrees around, which aids them and finding a small animal on the ground to devour. The snowy owl has many hunting techniques; they swoop down, hover, jump, and even run after their prey. The snowy owl will swoop down on their prey and snatch them up with their sharp talons while hovering in the air. They will catch and pull a fish or duck right out of the water (Miller, 1999). The snow owl will also use an aerial dive while attacking prey. Once the snowy owl spots their prey they will run after it and pounce upon its prey, swallowing the whole critter down in one swallow, head first. The snowy owl will then regurgitate a pellet. These pellets consist of the parts of the food source that cannot be digested, such as the animal’s bones and hair (The Alaska Zoo). Feeding primarily on lemmings, the snowy owl will eat three to five lemmings a day. With the average weight of a lemming being four pounds, the snowy owl will feed on up to sixteen pounds of lemmings a day. Meaning the snowy owl eats up to two and a half times its body weight in an average