Field Trip: Buena Vista Snowy Owls

Buena Vista Grassland is a premier birding destination in Wisconsin, harboring a number of unique grassland species that can be difficult to find elsewhere. One of which is the Snowy Owl, which can be found most winters utilizing this area. The presence of these birds is largely influenced by the vole population here and in Canada, which run on a 4-year cycle. Most years there are at least a few of these majestic birds around.

We will rendezvous at the Artist and Fare parking lot in Plover at 6:30AM and carpool from there. Early morning is the best time to encounter both Snowy and Short-eared Owls. This trek will mostly be by vehicle, but will include several stops where we will get out and scan. Walkie-talkies will be provided by ALAS so the caravan has a means of communication. Other interesting species we could encounter include: Greater Prairie-Chicken, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, and American Tree Sparrow.