In a once-in-every-five-year-or-so event, snowy owls of the Arctic have been winging into the Lower 48 and turning heads.  The nearly two-foot-tall, predominantly white owls —Harry Potter’s Hedwig was a snowy — are hard to miss.  Most snowy owls normally live year-round in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other sites north of Alaska’s Brooks Range; a few overwinter in the Northern Plains and New England.  But last fall they were spreading across the U.S in great numbers.

Sharp-eyed folks at the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex report sightings there.  Other sightings come from as far east Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts and as far south as Kansas.  Snowies also were spotted in Connecticut, New York, Maine, Vermont, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington state.

Why do snowy owls sometimes fly south en masse?  Snowy owls’ favorite prey are small rodents called lemmings, which are notorious for boom and bust population cycles.  Biologists think the owls’ “irruptions” south from the Arctic occur when lemmings are in short supply.  Sightings of snowy owlers in the Lower 48 ere compiled on a  map from reports on eBird and state bird listservs.

Unlike many other owls, snowies are active in the daytime.  They tend to perch at high points overlooking open sites such as beaches and airports.  Exhausted from their long flights, some starve if prey is scarce.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has more information on snowy owls.

Photo: Pat Gaines, Creative Commons

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today the removal of a house, barn, grain bin, and dog kennel is nearing completion on the Root River Tract. The Root River Tract was acquired by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, in 2009 and is located near La Crescent, MN in Houston County east of Highway 26. Prior to acquisition, the tract was privately owned and managed as a shooting preserve.
In early 2009, in preparation for future habitat restoration efforts, the Service sold several buildings including a house, kennel, and silos that were present on the site. Work continued on the tract this summer and included the removal of building foundations and other structures, as well as the removal and/or recycling of approximately 55 tons of concrete and six tons of metal. Additional tasks completed included the stabilization of water crossings, invasive species treatment, and removal of a boat lift and docks.
The Refuge will begin a planning process in 2012 to develop a restoration and management plan for the Root River Tract. Preliminary information such as historical vegetation, hydrology, land management, and soils has been gathered. The plan will be developed with input from the public, and will include objectives for habitat restoration and consideration of public access. Public access may include hunting, wildlife observation, photography, and the other appropriate and compatible priority public uses.
The remainder of this year the refuge will control encroaching woody vegetation, such as willows and small trees, and continue mowing dikes. The tract will remain open for walking, hiking, photography, migratory bird hunting, small and upland game and deer hunting.
For more information on the Root River Tract, please contact Kendra Niemec or Paula Ogden-Muse at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, La Crosse District Office (608) 783-8405 from 7:30 to 4:00 Monday through Friday.
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The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the most visited refuge in the United States. The refuge extends 261 miles along the Upper Mississippi River from Wabasha, Minn. to Rock Island, Ill., protecting and preserving habitat for migratory birds, fish, and a variety of other wildlife.
In addition to being the most visited refuge in the country, the “Upper Miss” Refuge has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams, within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 200 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.

The 2011 – 2012 Duck Stamp was painted by James Hautman of Minnesota

Ever since the first Duck Stamp was issued in 1934, the annual Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp has been a popular collectors item for hunters and non-hunters alike.

Today, the Duck Stamp also serves as an admission pass for all refuges that charge an entrance fee.

Haven’t bought yours yet? Buy one today! The Refuge System—and all the birds and other wildlife that call them home—will thank you!

Budgetary threats to our already under-funded National Wildlife Refuge System have never been greater than they are now. At no time in NWRA’s history has the necessity to educate lawmakers about the importance of the Refuge System been more urgent. In early August, the President signed into law a bill that raises our nation’s debt ceiling and mandates more than $2 trillion in funding cuts over the next 10 years. And during “down time” on the debt ceiling debate, the U.S. House of Representatives considered the funding bill for the Interior Department for the next fiscal year (FY12, beginning Oct 1), which contained severe cuts to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System and most conservation programs. After passing the debt ceiling bill, both the House and Senate adjourned for the August recess, leaving Interior spending decisions on the table until after Congress returns in early September. NWRA has closely followed both the debt reduction and FY Interior budget debates, and the outlook for refuges and other key conservation programs is undeniably negative.

Draconian budget cuts will close many wildlife refuges to visitors and limit visitor services.

Debt Ceiling & Reduction Bill: The first $917 billion in spending cuts triggered in the debt-ceiling bill will be to discretionary programs, where all conservation programs fall, including the National Wildlife Refuge System. The second stage of reductions, more than $1.2 trillion, will be to both discretionary programs (which must be appropriated every year and are at the discretion of Congress) and mandatory spending (which is not subject to annual appropriations, such as entitlement programs – Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security), and will be determined by a “super committee” of 12 lawmakers, six from the House and six from the Senate, with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats. The Refuge System will need the help of NWRA, Friends, conservation partners, hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, wildlife photographers and other concerned individuals to ensure that members of the super committee understand the vital role refuges and all our public lands play in our nation’s economy and our health. We will keep you updated, and will be contacting you often to urge you and every other refuge supporter to take action on behalf the refuges you love. We’ll be counting on your help!

FY 2012 Interior Spending Bill: When the House returns, they will likely not have enough time to complete work on the Interior bill and will instead look to bundle it together with several other spending bills and pass them as an omnibus; alternatively, they could pass a short, one or two month, continuing resolution or “CR” awaiting the outcome of the Super Committee. That means that the current House-proposed funding level for the Refuge System, $455 million, will be the starting point when budget negotiations resume.
Based on the House bill that was being debated before the August recess, we believe that the Refuge System is in great peril unless refuge supporters take action. The House proposal would:

• CLOSE entirely or significantly reduce programs at 128 National Wildlife Refuges
• ELIMINATE 275 Refuge Staff Positions
• ELIMINATE virtually any new land acquisitions or conservation easements under the Land and Water Conservation Fund
• ELIMINATE 40 law enforcement officers (at a time when the Refuge System has only 213 of the 845 officers needed to patrol its 150 million acres)

We will continue to closely follow the budget negotiations, and will keep you informed of opportunities to make your voice heard. Right now, you can help by attending “town meetings” in your state during August to advocate for refuge funding, and by using our Refuge Action Network can contact your U.S. Representative and your 2 U.S. Senators to urge their support of the Refuge System.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge has launched a new webpage featuring the construction of the La Crosse District Visitor Center and Headquarters on Brice Prairie.

The webpage contains information about the new 12,000 square foot facility; upcoming tours of the site; and how to get involved in Refuge-wide activities.

The public comment period on the draft environmental assessment for the adjacent Sarazin property has passed. The final document will be available on the new webpage and will explain the types of activities that will be encouraged on site.
Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2012. Until that time, those interested in the progress of the visitor center may view pictures and read about the building progress at:  http://www.fws.gov/midwest/uppermississippiriver/LaCrosse_Visitor_Center.html or follow the refuge on Twitter by searching USFWSUpperMiss.

Pictures of Arrowhead Contracting Inc. cows, Bluegoose Bessie and D. Darling Daisy, can also be seen on the webpage