While they're not currently here in the notable numbers of last winter, writer and field biologist Bryan Pfeiffer says there are snowy owls to be seen in Vermont in 2015. In his last blog post of 2014, Pfeiffer suggested his that readers "Start Your Year with a Snowy Owl."
In his blog, Pfeiffer links to an interactive bird range map from eBrid.org. The map shows snowy owls have been spotted in the Champlain Valley this winter. Pfeiffer calls the Champlain Valley Vermont's "snowy owl hot spot" and lists some specific places in Addison, South Burlington and Colchester to look for the winter visitor:
As usual, in Vermont, the Champlain Valley is the Snowy hot spot. Snowys like the wide open country — it sort of reminds them of their home in the Arctic. Reliable spots in the past few days include the Goose Viewing Area on Route 17 near Dead Creek in Addison and one mile south of there at the end of Gage Road. Snowys closer to Burlington included one near the intersection of Swift Street and Spear Street in South Burlington on December 21. The Sandbar Causeway was good for owls earlier in December, with fewer reports from there recently. An owl report came from the Colchester Causeway (cold and windy out there) on December 26.
In general, Pfeiffer recommends flatlands and shorelines if you're looking for snowy owls. He says that in addition to hunting rodents, the owls are known to hunt ducks and take fish from the water’s surface.
