DOUGAL & FREDA
SNOWY OWL - Nyctea scandiaca
At the Haven we care for two snowy owls, Dougal and Freda.
We have been caring for Dougal since 1999. He was brought to us by the police when his owner moved house and left him behind. Dougal is a lovely placid bird and gets on well with Freda.
Freda came to the Haven in 2009 when her owner was no longer able to look after her. She is the larger of the two owls and has speckled feathers.
During the months of July and August the snowy owls moult heavily, particularly on the tops of their heads. This unusual look lasts for a couple of weeks until their new feathers grow through.
ABOUT THE SNOWY OWL
In the fictional Harry Potter series of books by J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter's pet, Hedwig, is a snowy owl.
The snowy owl is the official bird of Quebec.
Snowy owls may 'clap' their beaks if they feel threatened. It is believed that this sound is actually made by the clicking of the tongue rather than the snapping shut of the beak.
Unlike most owls, snowy owls are diurnal which means that they are active during both day and night. This is because the Arctic doesn't get dark at all during the summer months.
Snowy owls are 'still hunters', sitting motionless at a suitable vantage point. They have incredible hearing and eyesight which enables them to find prey under thick vegetation or snow cover even from great distances away. Their silent, rapid flight once prey is spotted means that their hunt is often successful.
Snowy owls have few predators and will defend their nests against all comers, even wolves! The main threat to their survival is human. Our activity in general has started to change their habitat. More specifically too we pose a threat as snowy owls can be injured or die by flying into power lines or fences or they may be hit by cars and lorries.
Common Name
Snowy Owl
Latin Name
Nyctea scandiaca
Conservation status
Least Concern
Habitat
They live in the Arctic although they are frequent migrants to Canada, northern United States, Europe and Asia. Lemming availability may determine the extent of southern migration
Diet
Preferred diet is lemmings, on average they eat 3 to 5 a day. They also eat a wide range of mammals and birds such as rabbits and rodents and a variety of waterfowl
