Snowy Owls generate interest anywhere they are sighted, and you can learn more about the nesting ecology of this Arctic species by referring to the live recording of Denver Holt’s presentation (photo by Paul Konrad).

A surprise sighting of a wayward Snowy Owl in a residential suburb of greater Los Angeles – Cypress, California – provided a life bird sighting for hundreds of birders who were drawn to the Cypress neighborhood where the Snowy Owl perched on the roof of local houses and other sites. So much excitement was generated by this super-rare Arctic visitor by birders and the public alike, that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife partnered with the Sea and Sage Audubon Chapter and the Bolsa Chica Conservancy to host a speaking event by Snowy Owl researcher Denver Holt, director of the Owl Research Institute.

More than 300 people attended Dr. Holt’s presentation in the Cypress Community Center, plus more than 500 people watched live online, adding up to more than 850 people total as Denver Holt shared research insights about his 30-plus years of research on nesting Snowy Owls at the northern tip of Alaska.

One of the best things about the Cypress Snowy Owl story is that there is a recording of Denver Holt’s presentation, entitled “Breeding Ecology of Snowy Owls,” which is now available online at Breeding Ecology of Snowy Owls - By Denver Holt - YouTube

The rare sighting of the Snowy Owl in Cypress was reported here in The Birding Wire in our weekly Rare Birds report in the November 23 issue, and the sighting is an interesting example of how a rare bird that migrated much farther south than normal can stimulate a birding community into building on its popularity and the excitement it generated.

For more information about the Owl Research Institute, centered in Charlo, Montana, including a wealth of information about all species of North American owls and on-going research projects, refer to Owl Research Institute

And to learn more about Sea & Sage Audubon see What’s New – Sea & Sage Audubon Society (seaandsageaudubon.org) and check out the Bolsa Chica Conservancy too, at Bolsa Chica Conservancy