People often ask us what we do for fun on the island during the cold winter months? Nantucket is beautiful in every season, so we try to get outdoors as much as possible. When I can squeeze some time in between running my 12 and 14 year olds to their various winter sports, I love to find and photograph snowy owls. But it’s not as easy as you might think!
Read on to find out tips to spot these beautiful creatures from Joelle Bouchard.
Where to Find Snowy Owls on Nantucket
These stunningly beautiful birds migrate here from the North and are usually found on waterfront Conservation Land. Most sightings have been found on Smith’s Point in Madaket, or heading out to Great Point Lighthouse and Coatue. Although, I have been lucky enough to find them in Miacomet, Quidnet and even Jetties Beach! It’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. I have always had luck spotting them in the early morning or right before sunset.
“The aptly named Snowy Owl is mainly a circumpolar species, which means that individuals live and nest in the far north regions around the North Pole. In the non-breeding season, this species also can be found in areas of southern Canada and the northern United States, as well as parts of Asia and Europe”. They are part of the Rapture family of birds, with adult males being almost all white, and females having dark markings on their wings and breasts.
You can usually find them nestled in the dunes, so look for “puffs” of white while you are out searching. Good luck and don’t forget your camera!
