Say Hello to Ookpik

      Ookpik is the name given to the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) by the Inuit people of the north, and it has a lovely sound to it. I have never quite understood why the indigenous birds of the Hawaiian Islands have been universally accorded their Polynesian names, yet elsewhere English names (for the English-speaking world of course) are used. Furthermore, it is easy to say Ookpik, whereas some of the names of Hawaiian birds are almost impossible to pronounce, let alone remember!

     Snowy Owls herald the beginning of spring for the Inuit as the birds return from the south to occupy the tundra where they breed. Here they are dependent on the Brown Lemming (Lemmus sibiricus) to feed themselves and their young, and the relative abundance of lemmings weighs heavily on their breeding success.

     When they appear in southern Ontario, as they do every winter, they are catholic feeders, taking any prey they can capture. Waterfowl feature prominently in their diet.

     This female at Bronte Harbour in Oakville, has captured a Mallard.

     Snowy Owls occupy a prominent place in Inuit oral tradition, and in the shamanism of these northern people. In some cultures they are believed to transport the spirits of deceased humans to the afterworld.

     Inuit artists have gained international recognition in recent years, and their work commands high prices at art auctions. 

     Lucky is the fellow who acquired a print or a soapstone carving before the market woke up its visual and creative beauty.

     Carvings in ivory made before it was banned are especially cherished. I have seen exquisite work worth more than my house!

     For Miriam and me a Snowy Owl is more than a handsome bird. There is a mystical lure attached to our annual quests to see these birds, and the first sighting (we saw two a couple of days ago) of the winter is a very special event. There is a majesty about a Snowy Owl not quite found in other birds.

     The big female shown above provided a unique kind of rapture for us for several weeks, and she could be seen no more than twenty minutes from our front door.

     It is not lost on us that the ability to see these magnificent birds regularly is a very special privilege.

     Most birders throughout the world will never see a Snowy Owl, and I know that it is on the list of the most-wanted species of the universal birding community.

     I have seen toucans and parrots, albatrosses and eagles, sunbirds, hummingbirds, hornbills and cockatoos, cotingas and manikins - and all are very grand and shine in their respective landscapes. But if I had to make a choice, with no avenue to avoid it,  Snowy Owl would top my list.

     I think that's what living in the north will do for you.

     Thank you, Ookpik, for all the joy you have brought me! See you again very soon!