Snowy owls flock to western Sweden
More than a dozen snowy owls have been seen nesting in western central Sweden, the largest number in more than 30 years.
Swedish Radio’s local channel in Jämtland county reports that conservationists are happy with the discovery.
“The snowy owl is one of the most charismatic species we have,” said Anders Wirdheim, information officer at the Swedish Ornithological Society.
The reason so many owls are nesting in the area is that there are plenty of lemmings and other small rodents for the birds of prey to feed on.
“It has attracted the snowy owls from Russia, which have sought to enter the Scandinavian mountain range to breed here instead,” Wirdheim said.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Fighting to protect bird habitat in North America’s boreal forest (SLIDESHOW), Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Finland: Municipality files for permit to shoot geese, Yle News
Norway: Rapid growth in Svalbard walrus population, Barents Observer
Sweden: Arctic foxes making a comeback in Sweden, Radio Sweden
United States: Banned pollutants turn up in Alaska fur seals, Alaska Dispatch News
