On Thursday night, February 4th, I had a Zoom meeting and then ate dinner. I saw reports of the Snowy Owl being seen again in Central Park, so I decided to visit the park around 9:00 pm.

I ran into a person who I’ve met a few times at the Evodia Feeders and one of the Barred Owls. This person said the owl had just left and was headed north.

I tried to think like an owl and thought a large snowy field would be a likely spot to relocate the owl. After some walking around, the person I had bumped into by chance found the owl. Wire fencing was in the way of our view, and we started to walk towards a low fence. The snow had an icy crust and the crunch was enough to make the owl move on. (I felt horrible that I had flushed the owl, but we had been more than 150 yards away and I didn’t realize the snow was crunchy. Accidents like this happen even if you’re careful!)

It would have been great to just have seen the owl for a few seconds, but luck was on our side. We walked around the area and scanned the fields. My new acquaintance said, “There’s the owl, oh sorry it’s a snowman.” But I had already lifted my binoculars and I said, “Yes that’s a snowman, but the owl is right next to it.” Luckily the heavy markings of this bird make it easy to pick up in snow.

The Snowy Owl was eating a Brown Rat in the snow. The light was very dim, and we were about 250 yard away but somehow my camera was able to pick up the owl in the low light. The images won’t win any awards, but they will give you an increadible insight into what this owl is up to in the park.

We were about to watch the owl for over an hour and twenty minutes. It took its time eating the rat. It then cleaned its beak and talons in the snow and then did some playful short flights before flying off.

I’ve been lucky to have had many magical moments with nature. But this ranks in the top ten. To see a Snowy Owl eat a rodent, in the middle of Central Park was unreal. If I hadn’t recorded it, you won’t believe me if I told you the adventure.