NYCkayaker An arctic visitor off Piermont

Sun Jan 28 16:16:58 EST 2007

Could be a great horned.  Very large and white.  About twice the size of a
crow.

Joy

:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: nyckayaker-bounces at rockandwater.net [mailto:nyckayaker-
:::bounces at rockandwater.net] On Behalf Of Erik Baard
:::Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2007 3:59 PM
:::To: Richard Clifford; nyckayaker at rockandwater.net
:::Subject: Re: NYCkayaker An arctic visitor off Piermont
:::
:::Several of us sighted an owl (I dare not say "spotted" in the same
:::sentence with "owl" lest older green get fired up) on the Harlem River
:::by Swindlers Cove twice in different years. It was rather large and
:::appeared white, though that could be in contrast with the dark nights.
:::
:::Anyone out there have an idea what species it might have been, if it's
:::so unlikely to be a snowy owl?
:::
:::Hootingly yours,
:::Erik
:::
:::> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
:::>
:::>  From today's Journal News:
:::>
:::http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/NEWS01/
:::701280350/1229
:::>
:::> P.S.Water on the Long Island Sound was fabulous this AM. 14 mile trip.
:::> Our constant Western wind was right where it belongs this time of year
:::> and at the right strength. No huge rollers coming down the Sound with
:::> Eastern winds kicked out by storms. RCC
:::>
:::>
:::>   An arctic visitor off Piermont
:::>
:::> By LAURA INCALCATERRA <MAILTO:LINCALCA at LOHUD.COM>
:::> THE JOURNAL NEWS
:::>
:::> **Arctic visitor to Hudson Valley**
:::> A snowy owl has been seen in Piermont over the past three weeks.
:::> *Facts about the species:*
:::> - about 2 feet tall
:::> - wing span of about 50 inches
:::> - males mostly all white
:::> - females usually have some color
:::> - hunts for rodents in the day
:::> - roosts at night
:::> - breeds in the Arctic tundra, in the far northern hemisphere
:::> - builds its nest in indentations on the ground in the treeless tundra
:::> *Information*: Learn more about the owl in Rockland at
:::> www.rocklandaudubon.org <http://www.rocklandaudubon.org>.
:::>
:::> Source: Audubon New York
:::>
:::> *Related news from the Web*
:::> Latest headlines by topic:
:::> . Global Warming
:::> <http://www.topix.net/news/global-warming/?p=7063&s=PB&co=1>
:::>
:::> Powered by Topix.net <http://www.topix.net/>
:::>
:::> (Original publication: January 28, 2007)
:::>
:::> PIERMONT - Birdwatchers have been treated to views of an owl rarely
:::> found in the Lower Hudson Valley.
:::>
:::> The snowy owl has been spotted over the past three weeks in Piermont,
:::> sometimes around the pier and the marsh.
:::>
:::> A Rockland Audubon Society member was the first to see the white bird,
:::> and word quickly spread to others in the club. The group posted
:::> photographs of the owl on its Web site, under the "Rockland Rare Bird
:::> Alert" listing.
:::>
:::> "It's extremely rare in Rockland County, so it's a big deal," said
:::Della
:::> Wells, the society's president. "It's a really neat bird."
:::>
:::> But one most often found in the Arctic tundra, said Jillian Liner,
:::> coordinator of the Important Bird Area program for Audubon New York,
:::the
:::> National Audubon Society's New York chapter.
:::>
:::> The Arctic tundra is in the far northern hemisphere and encircles the
:::> North Pole. The word "tundra" refers to areas where the subsoil -
:::> permafrost - is permanently frozen soil. No trees grow there and only a
:::> few types of plants do.
:::>
:::> The region's birds migrate in winter to find food.
:::>
:::> Liner said snowy owls typically migrate south only to the St. Lawrence
:::> Seaway, Lake Ontario and the coast of Long Island.
:::>
:::> So finding one in the Lower Hudson Valley, Liner said, was "definitely
:::> unusual."
:::>
:::> The local menu for the snowy owl probably includes moles, voles and
:::> mice, she said.
:::>
:::> Apparently, they also like rats. Wells said the owl was recently seen
:::in
:::> the Hudson River after eating one.
:::>
:::> "It had gotten blood on its feathers and was washing it off," she said.
:::>
:::> Wells, who has a degree in zoology and works as a director of quality
:::> assurance for a computer software company, said club members think the
:::> owl is female, due to its brown markings. Liner said that was likely
:::> because male snowy owls were mostly all white.
:::>
:::> Despite their beauty, little is known about the number of snowy owls or
:::> the overall health of the population, Liner said. That's because they
:::> are based in such a remote area.
:::>
:::> "We don't know because it's so hard to monitor them," Liner said.
:::>
:::> Some scientists say the tundra that hosts the snowy owls is threatened
:::> by global warming, which may be contributing to the melting of the
:::> permafrost.
:::>
:::> That in turn may impact which species can continue to survive in the
:::> region, which is also home to caribou, the arctic hare, the arctic fox,
:::> lemmings and, in the extreme north, polar bears.
:::>
:::> The melting permafrost also releases carbon in the form of carbon
:::> dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas and further contributes to global
:::> warming.
:::>
:::> As recently as the 1970s, the tundra absorbed carbon; today, it is a
:::> source of carbon.
:::>
:::> Liner said the snowy owl was likely to make its way back north by
:::March.
:::>
:::> The species is one of many protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,
:::> which implements various treaties and conventions between the U.S. and
:::> Canada, Mexico, Japan and the former Soviet Union. The act declares
:::that
:::> all migratory birds and their eggs, nests and feathers are fully
:::> protected. Under the act, taking, killing or possessing migratory birds
:::> is illegal.
:::>
:::> Alan Wells, a member of the Rockland Audubon Society and the husband of
:::> Della Wells, said the last time a snowy owl was seen in Rockland was at
:::> least 15 years ago.
:::>
:::> He said he has been lucky enough to view the species during fields
:::trips
:::> to Jones Beach on Long Island. He photographed the snowy owl that has
:::> been visiting Piermont for the Rockland Audubon Society Web site.
:::>
:::> "This is very unusual, to see one here," Wells said. "Seeing a snowy
:::> owl's always impressive."
:::>
:::> /Reach Laura Incalcaterra at lincalca at lohud.com
:::> <mailto:lincalca at lohud.com> or 845-578-2486./
:::>
:::>
:::>
:::>
:::>
:::>
:::
:::Erik Baard
:::
:::LIC Community Boathouse
:::http://www.licboathouse.org
:::
:::Nature Calendar
:::http://www.naturecalendar.com
:::
:::@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
:::
:::Join our low volume email Announce only list, learn about special
:::events and other occasional announcements.
:::http://licboathouse.org/mailman/listinfo/announce_licboathouse.org
:::
:::Get more involved and join our discuss list, ask/answer questions of
:::the LIC Boathouse Community, plan trips, etc. Remember, it's your
:::Boathouse!
:::http://licboathouse.org/mailm
:::**********************************************************************
:::The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, and is a
:::public service offered to the kayaking community by the Hudson River
:::Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at www.hrwa.org
:::
:::To unsubscribe or change delivery options:
:::http://www.rockandwater.net/mailman/listinfo/nyckayaker