Biography of the polar owl

Bubo Scandiacus, Nyctea Scandiaca, Bird of the Owing Family. Initially, the species was included in a separate genus Nyctea Nyctea Stephens, at the moment among experts there is an opinion that the view is part of the Bubo noodles. However, in the list of birds of the Russian Federation of the year, the authors of the koblk E. A, Redkin Y. appearance Polar Owls are the largest bird from the tundra detachment in the tundra.

The head is round, the iris of the eye of the eye is bright yellow. Females are larger than males. The body length of the male can reach 55-65 cm, the mass is 2-2.5 kg, females, respectively, 70 cm and 3 kg. The wingspan is on average - see patronizing coloring: adult birds are characterized by a white plumage with dark transverse films. White plumage of the polar owl masks it against the background of snow.

The females and young birds have more full ones than males. Brown chicks. The beak is black, almost to the end is covered with feathers - prisons. The plumage of the legs is similar to wool, forms “Cosmas” distribution in the Tundra zone of Eurasia, North America, Greenland and on some islands of the Arctic Ocean. Partially nomadic bird. The polar owl is the official symbol of the province of Quebec Canada.

The lifestyle and nutrition of the polar owl is widespread throughout the tundra zone. In the winter, in search of food, he will delegate to the zone of forest -tundra and steppes; It is rare in forests. On wintering adheres to open areas; Sometimes flies into settlements. Nomads begin in September - October; In the south, the owl remains until March-April. Some individuals remain in places of nesting and for the winter, choosing areas with a small coating of snow and ice.

The polar owl is an active predator. The basis of its nutrition is mouse -like rodents, primarily lemmings. For a year, one owl eats more lemmings. He also catches hares, food, small predators of ermine, birds of white partridges, geese, ducks, does not neglect fish and carrion. The owl does not hunt near the nest, so the birds willingly settle near the owls that protect their territory from other predators.

The polar owl hunts, mainly, sitting on the ground, preferably on the elevation, and rushing at the approaching prey.

At dusk, he sometimes hunts on the fly, trembling in one place in the air, like a deceased. Although a white owl is not a strictly night bird, yet hunting flights usually fall on an early morning or evening. The victim usually pursues in theft. The lords are swallowed in the whole, the large boot is carried away, the large is carried away and already in place is torn into pieces with claws.

Voice - jerky barking and croaking screams; In severe excitement, tall rings are published. Usually the polar owls are silent outside the reproduction season. The white owl is hunting for partridges, and especially for rodents-tangles. Propagation of the marriage season in March - April, accompanied by complex courtship. In some areas, polar owls have retained constant pairs for many years; In others, the couple remains together only for the duration of one nesting season.

Owls nest in elevated places and in low, but preference is given to high hills and dry ground, since the bird begins the masonry when the area is still covered with snow. The nest is a simple hole in the ground that the owl lines with a plant rag and fluff. Nesting territories vary from 1 to 6 km2; Owls attack predators already at a distance of 1 km from the nest.

Owls adhere to the old nesting places from year to year if the conditions do not force them to look for other hunting grounds. Laying eggs in May. The masonry is usually 5-8 eggs; In the feed years - up to 11 - intensive reproduction of the white owl is observed during the years of its main feed - lemmings; When there are few lemmings, the white owl sometimes does not nest at all.

The eggs are white, the female lays them one per day - two. In case of loss of masonry, the owl no longer nest this year. The female forces the masonry within 32-34 days, the male wears her and the brood of prey. The chicks hatch one per day, so the chicks in the nest are different and the younger ones often do not survive. With the hatch of several chicks, the owl begins to leave the feeding nest; In this case, the elders warm the eggs and younger chicks.

On the wing, the bindings become on 51-57 days. In nature live 9 years, in conditions of content - 28 years. Their natural enemies are foxes and shimniks, as well as arctic foxes who eat chicks and eggs. The status of a population and protection as a whole is a polar owl is a little, and in places on Wrangel island - a normal look. Reaches a nesting density of 40-55 pairs per km2.