In Search of Owls
Today I took a drive up Minnesota’s north shore of Lake Superior. I was hoping to get a photograph of an Owl(s) not commonly seen in this area. In recent weeks, species such as the Boreal, Snowy, Great Gray, and the Northern Hawk Owl have been migrating. They are moving from their winter habitat in the Canadian Shield into northeastern Minnesota. This movement is known as an irruption. However, I was in for an unexpected[ wildlife encounter.
Irruption
The irruption (not eruption) of owls involves a sudden and irregular migration. This usually happens due to natural cycles in prey populations. When there is lack of common prey in Canada, these owls move south in search of food. The phenomenon can occur every few years to decades apart.
I drove all the way to Two Harbors, Minnesota without seeing a single owl. On the way back to Duluth-Superior area, I stopped at a coffee shop. I had been wanting to check it out. The owner advised taking the 4-lane highway back. He said to keep an eye on the grassy medium and check the berm areas for owls. He also mentioned taking a few side roads for a mile, or so, then back to the highway.
The unexpected encounter
For miles I saw no owls. I decided to take one side road before giving up and heading back home. A few hundreds yard down the road a slight movement caught my eye. I stopped and I glanced quickly towards the movement. The Gray Wolf in the featured image above was watching me intently. I quickly grabbed the camera a snapped a couple of photos without worrying about the settings – hoping for the best. I looked down at the camera to change the settings to manual focus. When I looked up, the wolf was gone.
I said to myself, Well, I came looking for owls and found a Gray Wolf. I’ll take it!
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