Pennsylvania Snowy Owl irruption information

PA Snowy Owls 2011-12

Reports from researchers up north indicate that this past breeding season was a record year for Snowy Owls, with loads of young successfully raised. As these birds run out of food resources or face more competition from the increased population, they are being forced southward. Many other states have been reporting Snowy Owls for over a month now, and finally Pennsylvania is starting to get its share of the fun. Here we will be trying to keep an updated account of all the Snowy Owl activity in Pennsylvania during this irruption year. Please leave any comments and updates in the comments below. So far there have been seven Snowy Owls in Pennsylvania that we know of with 5 confirmed.

Chester County

Spring City
12/20 - 12/25
Seen Tuesday and Wednesday by the land owners and then refound on Friday the 22nd. Alex got photos of this bird on Friday, 12/23. This bird seemed to spend its time hanging out either on top of RV's near S&W Race Cars or on top of the roof of the PJAX Freight Service building, nearby. It was last seen on Christmas Day.

: closeup by Micheal Weney the day he found it.

: tail detail (Marian E. Quinn)

: in flight (Marian E. Quinn)

Cumberland County

Shippensburg

1/11- present
Al Guarante found a Snowy Owl near Shippensburg near the intersection of Duncan and Mud Level Rds. It has been seen from the sub-station parking lot. Alex saw it on 1/16. Google Map of area

: Cumberland Co Snowy Owl (Lou Carpenter)

: perched on fence (Gordon Dimmig)

: never close (Alex)

Delaware County

Rumors of a bird somewhere on private property in Delaware County. We'll keep this updated if access opens up and we get more details.

Erie County

Presque Isle State Park
Two different birds. First one was seen at Gull Point on 12/17 and the second at breakwater 57 on 12/20. Photos of the second owl, taken by Katie Andersen, can be seen at this link.

Philadelphia County

Northeast Philadelphia Airport

12/14/11-1/6/12? - Originally seen Dec 14 by airport security, it was not refound until Jan 6. eBird checklist.

Somerset County

Somerset

1/12/12 - Report by Mike Lanzone to PA RBA text alert of an owl perched on a barn at Kline and Geiger Rds. It was not refound later in the day on 1/12 or the next day despite several people looking for it.

Extralimital

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey

11/2011-present
There has been an immature female Snowy Owl at Merrill Creek Reservoir since early November, and it is still being seen daily. Alex took some photos soon after it was first discovered. Check the New Jersey Birding listserve for updates.

Alison Fetterman

Just got back from the area, no sign of the bird unfortunatley! Hopefully someone else spotted it!

Alison Fetterman

Sorry…the Spring City area that is!
http://drewweberbirding.com Drew Weber

Thanks for the update Alison. Hopefully it is refound. I’d like to go look for it sometime late next week.

http://nemesisbird.com Drew

Thanks for the update Alison. Looks like it hasn’t been seen recently.
http://wildlifebyfred.com/ Fred

I am looking for information on the Shippensburg area Snowy Owl for photography purposes, if anyone has any current info and would like to share it you can email me at fred@4fredthompson.com

Thank you—Fred Thompson
wildlifebyfred.com
http://nemesisbird.com Drew

It is still being seen. You can use directions on the PAbirds listserv and the map above to find it.

Ratherbeinitaly

Is the snowy owl still being seen in Shippensburg?

http://nemesisbird.com Drew

Yes, it is still being seen. You can check the listserv for the latest updates at
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/PENN.html
http://nemesisbird.com Drew

It is still being seen. You can use directions on the PAbirds listserv and the map above to find it.

Jenniferhs

Hello Drew–

Jennifer Schrock here from Merry Lea. I am trying to reach you for a brief interview about what you are currently doing for the Merry Leaflet. We are running a series on our “alumni.” Can you email me at MLevents@goshen.edu with your contact info?
Greg Martin

I believe that I saw a Snowy Owl back in Oct. 2011. It was on Mud Level Road between Britton Road and Newburg Road. It was on the roadway snacking on a roadway kill.

http://nemesisbird.com Drew

October would be exceptionally early for a Snowy Owl in Pennsylvania. Most reports start in January with some in December as well.

Erica

late Dec 2011. my husband and i saw this bird very high up in a tree by the Philadelphia Art Musuem (around 25th and Art Museum Drive). I got out my binoculars, thought it was a snowy owl, but thought that was impossible. We were there for a while and left assuming it was some bird with white feathers we never knew of. Now, after reading all about the influx of snowy owls from up north, there is no doubt in my mind that is what we saw.
calicorose12

I have been told that the Snowy Owl in Shippensburg, PA on Mud Level Road has not been seen since they plowed the fields. Can anyone confirm that? I was there on Monday, February 6 and did an extensive search, but found no signs of the owl.

http://nemesisbird.com Drew

Reported on the listserv this morning -

All, I just received a call from Bob Koontz stating that he refound the Mud Level Rd Snowy Owl this morning at daybreak. The bird was currently behind the amish school house near the three-silo farm. This would be west of the Mud Level and Duncan Rd intersections.