Monday in Nature Weekly Photo Dec. 23, 2013

[stemked]

Thom,

Apparently we are having an invasion year for Snowy Owls. There are at least 4 in Indiana this year. I haven't gotten a

chance to go out and see them yet, but I do see regular posts in IN-Bird. If you are not having any luck in Ohio, maybe

you might have a little better luck here.

[Laura Weishaupt]

<p>Doug, Thom, one of the biologists at Hawk Mountain conducts research on Snowy Owls. He recently said that they are still moving through and may not settle down for another couple of weeks. I don't know if that is the case in your locations. We're having sightings for a couple of days in places, then they're gone. However, yesterday I heard about one nearby that has possibly been in place for 3 weeks. This is almost impossible to verify due to the location, and is contrary to other activity. But, nature being nature, it's also quite possible. All of our snow is gone and the sun is out. Snowy Owl road trip anyone?</p>

[kts]

<p>Doug, Laura......we've had them here along the lake the last two weeks but they don't stay in one place for very long.....just a matter of luck to be where they are....there haven't been any sightings since the big thaw over the weekend so they might be gone for the season here</p>

[kts]

<p>i stand corrected....just checked E-Bird and there are still a few in our area and more than a few at Presque Isle in Erie, Pa. which is only 90 minutes away so i'm loading up the gear for a little road trip.......:)</p>

[Glenn McCreery]

<p>Ice fog descends on Idaho Falls, Idaho. It's beautiful, but not the powder skiing white Christmas that I am dreaming of.</p><div></div>

[hagar]

<p>Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to all</p><div></div>

[Bill C1664885404]

<p><br>

</p>

<p >Wish I'd had my better quality camera & lens with me but my little point & shoot at least catches the moment.<br />Thought I’d share it as such Turkey sightings up close in the wild are fairly rare.<br />While out deer hunting yesterday, this lone ‘Tom’ came scratching along and the bright sunlight really lit up the iridescent colors.<br />Size and thickness of that beard makes me guess he might be a 4-5 year old, 23-25lb bird.</p>

<p ><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/roundball/Hunting/Turkey/122413LoneTom033Crop3CCropped_zps67da5c12.jpg" alt="" /></p>