[mou] Marked Snowy Owls

[Laura Erickson]

Mark is right that marking banded birds under continued observation can be 
very important for research.  But I wonder how much of this Twin Ports 
research is published--I know of no recent publications at all about this 
project.  I also wonder how much research has been done on the tundra to 
see if marked Snowy Owls have any difficulties attracting mates.  As you 
undoubtedly realize, Snowy Owl males, as they mature, develop more and more 
white feathers.  These help to age Snowies in the same way as, 
statistically, the red tips on waxwing secondary feathers help distinguish 
older birds from younger ones.  Waxwings mate assortatively--meaning ones 
with more red tips prefer mates with more red tips, too.  (Older birds tend 
to be more successful at raising families than younger, less experienced 
ones.)  I suspect that Snowies marked on their heads, particularly males, 
may appear less desirable as mates than unmarked ones, and they don't molt, 
replacing the dyed feathers, until mid-July.

If I were researching Snowy Owls, barring definite evidence that they are 
selected as mates as readily with as without dyes on their head feathers, I 
would use color markings only on the wings or tail.

Laura Erickson
Duluth, MN

Producer, "For the Birds" radio program
<http://www.lauraerickson.com/>

There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of 
birds.  There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of 
nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.

                                 --Rachel Carson