Snowy owls are a unique and special visitor to Cheyenne Bottoms and Kansas during some winters.  Snowy owls are an arctic species. However, some years, depending on their food supply and reproductive success, snowy owls can be pushed south into the United States.  This year as many as three snowy owls have been observed at Cheyenne Bottoms.
During the winter of 2011-2012, Kansas was invaded by snowy owls.  The Kansas Ornithological Society documented over 130 reports of snowy owls.  “Because this many owls had not been seen in Kansas for over 30 years, I decided to spend extra time attempting to document the sightings,” explained Paul Griffin, a retired aircraft design engineer and videographer from Wichita.  “After investigating 22 different snowy owl reports over more than three months, I was able to find and video 10 different snowy owls, which I compiled into a documentary.”
Griffin will present his video ’10 Snowy Owls’ at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to the public on Sunday, April 6 at 3:30pm.  A question and answer session will follow.  The program is free and open to the public.  During the video, KWEC staff will also offer kids a program on owls with the opportunity to do an owl craft project.
For questions about this program, please call the KWEC at 877-243-9268.