Northern Hawk Owl

Irruption of a natural population: to undergo a sudden upsurge in numbers especially when natural ecological balances and checks are disturbed

You may have heard the word irruption recently in connection with the Great Snowy Owl appearances in eastern Canada.

The appearance of Northern Hawk Owls in our area is described either as an irruption or a rare and irregular visitor. It’s nesting range is the boreal forests of Northern Canada, in forest fire clearings where there are rodents, open areas and perches. They are not uncommon here; recently they have been seen in the high country and in the Creston Valley. They hunt during the day primarily for voles. Their eyesight is exceptional, said to be able to detect prey at 800 meters. In flight they look remarkably like a hawk.

This owl was surveying a field adjacent to the highway near Salmo.