Announcing the Bird of 2024
Ready for it? Here it is!
Thank you for your votes! The collective favorite Bird of the Month for 2024 is our January bird, the hauntingly gorgeous snowy owl, with runners-up and honorable mentions going to the endearing red-bellied woodpecker, the stunning summer tanager, and the ever-elegant sandhill crane.
Let’s close the year by taking a look once more at the bird that kicked off 2024 for us. Spending their summers hunting lemmings and fish during 24-hour daylight in the Arctic Circle, snowy owls are irregular (irruptive) migrants to the contiguous United States in the winter, meaning that one never knows exactly how many birds will show up or when or where. When they do show up, onlookers are captivated by their thick, white plumage, yellow cat-like eyes, fierce talons, and mighty (four- to five-foot) wingspan.
The appearance of a snowy owl is so striking that sightings often make the news. Here is a brief rundown of some recent news stories from across Canada and the United States about where snowy owls have been sighted so far during the 2024 – 2025 winter. May you have the good fortune of seeing one yet this winter, and may you have an immensely happy and healthy new year.
December 30, 2024: Snowy owl rescued from car grille by Minnesota woman
December 29, 2024: Snowy owls are back in Alberta
December 27, 2024: Windsor-Essex Christmas bird counters spot a few different owls
December 20, 2024: There's been an increase in snowy owl sightings in Wisconsin
December 18, 2024: Snowy Owls Arriving To Great Lakes Early This Winter
December 20, 2024: Snowy Owl Hit, Killed By Vehicle In McHenry, Ill., County
December 9, 2024: Snowy Owl Spotted Near Chicago Lakefront On South Side
December 6, 2024: Snowy owl makes rare appearance in Ohio
November 20, 2024: Friendly snowy owl joins Great Lakes ship crew