Distinctly Montana Magazine

PAM MORIARITY northwestern Montana, and those three hotspots in Somers, Polson, and Ronan. Although the event was unusual, it wasn’t unique. Snowy Owls swept into the Mission Valley in winter 1996- 1997, with about 20 owls present and accounted for. In the winter of 1966-1967, 50-60 owls migrated into the Mission Valley. During this event, many of the owls were shot and mounted by local taxidermists. The 2005-2006 irruption was also marked by a high volume of shooting; however, the shots were fired from cameras rather than guns. People poured into the sites to witness the Snowy Owl event. They came from all over western Montana, and folks even flew in from outside the state. “Every weekend, there were lines of cars stopped on the road,” said Holt. “There were school classes, Audubon trips, and numerous people—not just wildlife people, but people in general, just wanting to see the owls.” Perhaps the most notable presence was that of Steve Zetterberg. During the irruption, he was working as a field supervisor for Highway Technologies. His construction job on Highway 93 was adjacent to one of the main Snowy Owl sites in Polson. On lunch breaks, he and folks from the Mon- tana Department of Transportation kept track of the owls. “We did it because we were interested,” said Zetterberg. They also noted numbers and behaviors of owls, as part of an Owl Research Institute study, for which Zetterberg eventually became a co-investigator. As the study progressed, there was also an irruption of questions, most predominantly “Why here?” and “Why now?” A potential answer lay in the fact that many of the owls were in their first year of life. Summer 2005 could have been a prolific breeding season, with the owls pro- ducing a large number of young. With a swell in popula- tion, the juveniles might have had to fly south to find new hunting grounds and food. The research team also found that there were good reasons to choose western Montana: In winter 2005-2006, it was an all-you-can eat delicatessen. Actually, it was more like an all-you-can-eat hot dog stand, for the menu was fairly limited. The Snowy Owls ate almost exclusively voles—rodents, rather similar in appearance to mice, but with fuzzy coats and short tails. To be absolutely accurate (thanks to another Owl Research Institute study), Snowy Owls consumed 99.7% voles at Polson, 97.9% at Ronan, and 90.9% at Somers. Among the remains was also the occasional bird—here a Ring-billed Gull, there a Northern Harrier—a smattering of Pocket Gophers, and a weasel. These exacting percentages emerged after collecting more than a thousand owl pellets (what owls regurgitate after swallowing their prey) and dissecting them to examine the www.distinctlymontana.com 27 OWL TOURS Consider a Montana Owl Workshop with Wild Planet Nature Tours! This five-day tour, centered on the Missoula and Mission Valleys, will provide ample opportunity for owl watching. With some luck, you will observe 5-8 species of owls during the workshop. You will also have ample opportunity to observe field research of Long-eared Owls, collect and dissect owl pellets, and learn extensively about the natural history and adaptations of owls. You will also assist with systematic checks of natural cavities in trees, for Northern Pygmy and Northern Saw-whet owls. One evening (weather permitting), will be used to “owl prowl.” Other evenings, there is a possibility of observing the sky-dancing courtship display of Short-eared Owls. However, please remember that the schedule, locations, and numbers of owls can change, depending on prey species populations and the timing and whereabouts of owls. TOUR LEADERS: Denver Holt and Megan Fylling TOUR DATE: Apr 21 - 25, 2011 For more information, visit www.wildplanetnaturetours.com. PAM MORIARITY

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