Photo(s) by Unsplash
With a wingspan of nearly 5 feet and piercing yellow eyes, snowy owls are magnificent. In the winter, some migrate south from their home in the Arctic, making snowy owl sightings in Michigan a wonderful possibility.
When do the birds migrate? And where are they typically spotted? Local expert Elliot Nelson is the Michigan Sea Grant extension educator for the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Michigan Sea Grant funds research, education and outreach projects about our state’s coasts and the Great Lakes. One of Elliot’s focus areas is birding trails, and he kindly agreed to answer my questions, offering tips on how to see a snowy owl and a reminder to always be respectful of the bird.