A new analysis of over 70 years’ worth of shorebird population data suggests that climate change has altered the migratory birds’ Arctic safe haven to such a degree that it is now helping drive rapid declines in their numbers. After studying data from 38,191 nests found across all seven continents and belonging to 237 populations […]
Tag: lemmings
Arctic Fox and Snowy Owl Filmed Doing Strange ‘Dance’ – But Why?
Tourists in Hudson Bay, Canada, are usually most eager to see polar bears. But in November of 2012, it was a snowy owl and an Arctic fox that stole the show. Over the course of about a week, the fox and owl were seen repeatedly dancing around each other, almost as if they were playing. […]
Snowy Owl faces frosty future: classed as Vulnerable for the first time
Striking, widespread and widely recognised, thanks in part to the Harry Potter books, the Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus was previously listed as Least Concern, the lowest threat category of the IUCN Red List. However, this assessment was based on earlier figures that estimated the global population to number around 200,000 individuals, and the absence of […]
Lemmings fuel biggest snowy-owl migration in 50 years
For the lowly Arctic lemming, life is cruel. In a flash before death, often the last things a lemming sees are the deadly talons of a majestic snowy owl. A mass sacrifice of this rodent with stubby legs probably gave rise to what scientists are calling the largest snowy-owl irruption in at least half […]