Arctic Stare Down

This image of a female Snowy Owl was taken in December 2013 at the Grand Rapids International Airport, during a snowy owl "irruption" year when many of the owls, especially young of the previous summer, move south of their normal territories in search of food. Tied to lemming population ebbs and flows, the "feast" of large lemming populations allows more snowy owls to be born and survive, which results in the owls moving to new territories. It appears that 2021 has been another irruption year, but I have not had the opportunity to see any snowies.

A female Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) regarding me over her back. (Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Sigma 150-500mm, at 500mm, f/8). © C.A. Mullhaupt

As a photographer, I want to make two important points. First, I was in a public parking lot where I was not trespassing--or interfering with airport safety. Second, I was a very, very long way from the bird, although her intense stare gives the impression that I was just below the lamp post. I did not want to harass her or spook her--there was a distance at which she would tolerate my presence, and I respected that.

Even the original photo (below) makes it seem much closer than it was, because I was shooting with a 500mm telephoto lens that allowed me to "zoom in" for the shot. It's a tribute to the owl's amazing eyesight that she is very aware of me--although I had no idea her eyes were on me until I processed the photo. Without the camera, all I could see in the snowy haze was a bump on a distant lamp post, so I kept shooting.

Original image of Arctic Glare, before processing. © C.A. Mullhaupt

As someone who loves owls, it was bittersweet to have them appearing locally, because they often choose airports as habitats similar to the arctic tundra. But the proximity of owls and planes creates danger for both. Airports usually have programs to trap and move, but sometimes circumstances require more lethal approaches.

Snowy Owl watching plane as it taxis to the runway. © C.A. Mullhaupt

After several years of snowy irruptions resulted in large numbers of the owls staying at airports in Michigan and around North America, several programs were initiated to find better solutions through research, including Project SNOWStorm, Project SOAR Snowy Owl Airport Rescue, MASS Audubon Snowy Owl Project, and Hawk Mountain Global Raptor Conservation.

Snowy Owl atop a utility pole. © C.A. Mullhaupt

Although you can find many beautiful photos of snowy owls online--far better than my blurry, distant images--it still thrills me to look at my mementos of their stirring presence. Someday, I will be able to zoom in more expertly and catch them coolly regarding me with that icy stare. (Good thing I'm not a lemming!)