Nesting
Snowy owls nest on the ground. The female will dig out a shallow hallow with her claws, at the top of a hammock or a rock. They may even use the nest of abandoned eagles. Nests may be made with vegetation pieces and feathers. Nesting sites usually are on the ground because here are very few trees in that area of the world. The nest are located on a dry raised area, such as a mound, ridge or hummock. The female incubates while the male hunts and feeds her. When the mother is breeding she remains on the nest the entire time until her eggs hatch and the little owls are born. The farther supplies her with food and guards the nests. After months the owls are ready to be on their own. It takes them eight weeks until they are capable to feed themselves and ready to leave the nest area. Summers in the Arctic are very short and if they were incapable to feed themselves they would not be able to survive in their habitat.
Snowy owls nest on the ground. The female will dig out a shallow hallow with her claws, at the top of a hammock or a rock. They may even use the nest of abandoned eagles. Nests may be made with vegetation pieces and feathers. Nesting sites usually are on the ground because here are very few trees in that area of the world. The nest are located on a dry raised area, such as a mound, ridge or hummock. The female incubates while the male hunts and feeds her. When the mother is breeding she remains on the nest the entire time until her eggs hatch and the little owls are born. The farther supplies her with food and guards the nests. After months the owls are ready to be on their own. It takes them eight weeks until they are capable to feed themselves and ready to leave the nest area. Summers in the Arctic are very short and if they were incapable to feed themselves they would not be able to survive in their habitat.
Movement
Snowy owls are very nomadic, and their movements are dependent on the number of their primary prey species. During years when lemmings decrease in numbers and availability, the snowy owls leave the breeding grounds. Therefore they must move to other places such as Canada and the Northern US every 3-5 years. These incursions often bring snowy owls far as North California and South Carolina, with records as far South as Bermuda. The smallest and lightest of the males tend to move the furthest, the largest adult females tend to move the least. The number of snowy owls during winter in the US reached it's climax periodically, which may take part of the lemming cycles further north. During the irruptive years, snowy owls can move south through the lower 48 states, as far as south as Texas and Florida in extreme years.
Snowy owls are very nomadic, and their movements are dependent on the number of their primary prey species. During years when lemmings decrease in numbers and availability, the snowy owls leave the breeding grounds. Therefore they must move to other places such as Canada and the Northern US every 3-5 years. These incursions often bring snowy owls far as North California and South Carolina, with records as far South as Bermuda. The smallest and lightest of the males tend to move the furthest, the largest adult females tend to move the least. The number of snowy owls during winter in the US reached it's climax periodically, which may take part of the lemming cycles further north. During the irruptive years, snowy owls can move south through the lower 48 states, as far as south as Texas and Florida in extreme years.