Hey everyone,

While on my way home from a birding trip to NY, I noticed what turned out
to be a Snowy Owl laying face first about 50 feet out on the ice of Lake
Champlain in Rouses Point. I didn't notice anything specific that would
point to this bird being struck by a car, but it's certainly possible as
the roadway was only another 30 feet from the ice. Instead, I'm thinking it
may be another of the many emaciated Snowys being reported this winter
throughout the east.

I also just watched today a good documentary termed "NATURE: Magic of the
Snowy Owl" which can be found on Netflix that follows a pair of Snowys up
in the arctic throughout the breeding season. I wanted to report this
documentary along with the dead Snowy sighting to remind us VT birders that
while Snowy Owls are very majestic birds, they're on the brink of death
when they are forced to disperse to find food. The link below is to a shot
of the deceased Snowy in Rouses Point. It's not gory at all, but it is a
pretty sad sight.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85270080@N05/11241509806/

Justin