• Tuesday-What'sUP February 24 - 04:22 pm

This has been the week for owls here at the Pasty Cam. First came the top photo from Laurie Bashaw, who spotted this owl hanging around her yard in Ishpeming and actually killed a cottontail that had been eating fallen bird seed under her feeder all winter. She said it was very skittish and in order to get the photo, she had to slowly open her door, stick her camera outside and snap the photo. She was afraid if she stepped outside the door, it would have flown off right away. We aren't sure, but Laurie thinks it may be a barred owl and I tend to agree.

The next three photos come from Philip Odum and were all taken on the eastern end of the U.P. where Philip says there are as many as 30-plus snowy owls hanging around the Pickford area. He spotted this one, sitting atop a power pole giving him "the look" with those yellow eyes.

He also captured a Pine Grosbeak, busy with lunch consisting of some winter preserved crab apples. Not only are these trees beautiful when they bloom, but they're very practical for providing winter food for our feathered friends.

Phil's last photo has nothing to do with owls or birds, but the subject was mentioned last week in talking about St. Ignace and the ice bridge that originates from there, over to Mackinac Island. Phil stopped and snapped a photo for us to get a look at that trail across the ice that folks use to get to the Island and back to the mainland this time of year. The dark things marking the trail are actually Christmas trees, which help the travelers stay on the trail.

** Please note this warning from Assistant Mackinac Island Fire Chief, Jason St. Onge:
BE SAFE and REMEMBER: "Nobody checks the ice bridge daily, it is cross at your own risk every day…. this is the Big Lake, it's moving, the conditions change all the time. Every time you get on that ice you're taking a risk."

Government regulation is a lot like catsup__
you either get none or a lot more than you want!_

Owls are cool!

Bob & I years ago rode our snowmobiles across the 12 miles ice bridge from Bayfield Wis. to Madeline Island and back to Bayfield. Never have tried ice bridges again, did not want to push our luck.

Nice pix! There is a documentary on PBS about the ice bridge: Ice Bridge: Mackinac Island's Hidden Season

I love owls. And I don't care how safe they say
that "bridge" is, I would NEVER cross it. Ice can
turn to water just like that. I'll stay on the
main land, thank you very much!

Great pictures!

Hi
Alex, I've seen that documentary, and I found it very entertaining. Some of the behavior of some of the folks captured on film makes me understand why the asisstant fire chief worries.

The same sort of warning could be stated whenever we go out boating. It comes down to what my grandpa called "respecting the Lake". Don't be too afraid to enjoy it, but keep an eye on conditions and use some sense.

I love owls.....except when they kill rabbits!:-/

Janie, that Kipp is growing fast. So cute.

When I was crossing the Bridge on my way to the Soo in
February 1974, I heard on the radio that a snowmobiler
had broken through on the St. Ignace-Mackinac ice
bridge and was presumed drowned. I don't trust ice
either.

Janie T, such a nice cat. Seems the dog sort of wishes he could chase. We have a Siamese who is 18 years old. Doing fine but we worry. Sure will miss her when she goes. I know, I shouldn't be saying that yet.
We still have snow owls here in Green Bay. My wife took a few pictures of one on a streetlamp on the busy freeway right near the airport. It lives in the area and often can be seen perching on one of the street lamps. Neither the vehicle traffic nor the airplanes landing and taking off seem to bother it. Amazing adaption to it's chosen environment.

Great picture selection today. The Snowy Owl is my favorite bird in the owl family. They haven't printed enough money to get me to cross the ice bridge to Mackinac Island. I don't even like to cross the ice at the hockey arena.

One more owl to add to today's mix. This one was sent in by Brenda Leigh. She was out in search of the Snowy Owls reported to be in the area around where she lives in Brimley and this was the only one she spotted! :-)

Mavis is quite the character like most Siamese. 8 times out of 10 rumble tumbles she starts it. And then give off an expression I did not do it. Mavis & Kipp are so closely alike in their behaviors, they keep us on our toes and young in heart!

LoL, Mary. Leave it to Brenda.;D

That Snowy Owl Brenda spotted must have been sitting there for a while:)

Probably still is, Bob.;>

Hi
Speaking of docuemtaries, did anyone else catch Nature on PBS last week? It featured owls, particularly a couple of barn owls being raised by humans.

Nice bird pics, and I like how the ice bridge is marked with Christmas Trees (only 303 days, 8 hours, and 24 minutes 'till Christmas).

Thanks mary for posting..think
spring...good afternoon folks...

Duane, you made me laugh out loud :-)

PAT-GLENDA---GOOD ONE

Seeing that today is "Owl Day" it's time to bring back this very neat video (from October 12, 2011) of an Eagle Owl, in slow motion, coming toward food (and a camera). At 1000 fps, it's a pretty smooth video clip, and only 60 seconds!

It's an aeronautical marvel, maybe even better than flying with Neil. Beautiful!

Click the link below: Scroll down a little, then click on the little X mark at the bottom right corner of the video frame to view it full screen. It doesn't look like it's moving at first because the camera is so high speed, but just keep watching the bird.

Click → Eagle Owl video.

Impressive bird, impressive video!