Snowy owl increasingly casting its spell over North American skies

[Panich52]

Snowy owl increasingly casting its spell over North American skies

www .theguardian.com - The elusive snowy owl, rarely seen outside the Arctic, is turning up more frequently in the skies of North America than it does in the pages of a Harry Potter book, data from the National Audubon S...

http://tinyurl.com/mdcm278

[Dont call me Shirley]

1. The Polar Vortex?

What is a Polar Vortex?

By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

November 12, 2014; 2:25 AM ET
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"The polar vortex is not a recently discovered phenomenon; in fact, it has been talked about in the meteorological world for decades," AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.
A polar vortex is a large pocket of very cold air, typically the coldest air in the Northern Hemisphere, which sits over the polar region during the winter season.
The frigid air can find its way into the United States when the polar vortex is pushed farther south, occasionally reaching southern Canada and the northern Plains, Midwest and northeastern portions of the United States.

A large, powerful high pressure system originating in the Eastern or Western Pacific and stretching to the North Pole is required to displace the pocket of cold air.
"These high pressure systems can reach Alaska, but it is not typical to stretch all the way to the North Pole," according to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
The vortex is capable of delivering subzero temperatures to the United States and Canada for several days at a time.
When the strong air from the Eastern or Western Pacific weakens and falls apart, the polar vortex will retreat into place near the North Pole.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/what-is-a-polar-vortex/21793077

[bigwillq]

2. There's been quite a few down in CT

in recent years. I have never seen one in person, but the local paper has snapped photos of several owls on area beaches.

I would love to see one. I love owls!

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I gather something is happening to their food supply.

What might be happening to small boreal mammals?

[Demit]

4. We had an irruption in New Jersey last year.

Beautiful birds.