Last week I was talking with a man who has lived in Burlington for 40 years.
He claims that 15-20 years ago there was an enormous number of snowy owls in
the Burlington area, he said something around 100-200 birds. This seems
completely outrageous to me, but I let him continue his story. He also said
during that winter a snowy owl landed a dive a few feet from him and eat a
pigeon he caught. I thought maybe the bird eating a pigeon was a
gyrfalcon. Has anyone seen or heard of a snowy owl catching a pigeon? Also
does anyone remember anything about a large number of snowy owls or
gyrfalcons in Burlington in the 1980s? Both questions have been bothering me
for a few days.

Eric Cannizzaro
South Burlington