| NORTHERN MICHIGAN – Several types of owls visit Michigan each winter, making January and February the best time to plan an owling trip to the eastern Upper Peninsula or search out snowy owls in wide-open spaces across the state. If you ’re lucky enough to see one of these special visitors, please keep a respectful distance and follow these best practices to keep them (and yourself) safe. Great gray owls are elusive and difficult to find, though they’re the tallest owls of North America. They breed in northern evergreen forests, where they hunt small mammals in meadows and bogs. These occasional visitors to the eastern U.P. can be found in trees at meadow edges. Check all levels of a tree to better see them; just remember these owls are sensitive to disturbances, so never use audio recordings to lure them. Northern hawk owls breed in the boreal (northern regions) forests of Canada, where they mostly eat voles, mouse-like rodents. This owl is a rare visitor to Michigan, staying mainly in the eastern U.P., where they supplement their diet with grouse. Northern hawk owls prefer a midday perch in solitary trees in wooded farmlands, lakeshores or pastures. |
 Snowy owls breed in the arctic, where they primarily eat lemmings, a small arctic rodent. When in Michigan, their diet can include rats, muskrats, waterfowl and fish. You’ll spot snowy owls statewide in fields, shorelines and other open areas. This owl’s penchant for perching in conspicuous places means you might catch a glimpse along high points like hilltops, fence posts and rooftops. (This image courtesy of Christian Tompkins, Audubon Photography Awards.)Boreal owls likely are our rarest visitor from the north. They breed in the boreal forests and high-elevation mountains of Canada, where they feed on small mammals, birds and insects. During winter, they enjoy the spruce-fir forests of the eastern U.P, where they occasionally can be found roosting 15-20 feet above the ground in aspen, birch or conifer trees. |
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