Travelers of all kinds take flight from the Albany Airport, but this winter, local birders have spotted a different kind of traveler winging it around the runways.
Snowy owls have landed at the airport and according to local bird club members, the creatures have been seen there for more than a month. Sightings throughout the greater Capital District are also said to be higher than average this year.
“We haven’t talked about anything else the last few weeks,” said Jory Langer, a Delmar resident and president of the Hudson Mohawk Bird Club. “I think there have been sightings in about 15 different locations, which is great. They’re beautiful birds.”
This isn’t the snowy owl’s first foray into the Capital District.
Langer said sightings happen about every four years because winter irruptions, or a sudden upsurge in population, bring the birds from the Arctic Circle into southern Canada and northern United States. However, this year’s irruption has been longer than expected, and the birds have reportedly flown as far south as Florida and to other warmer climates like Hawaii and Bermuda.
“All of their theories why have to do with food,” said Langer. “Either there is no food, or at one point there was too much food, which led to the hatching of more owls. Now there is a greater competition for food and they are flying south.”
Typically the younger, more inexperienced birds are the ones who fly the farthest south, according to Langer.
Most of the Albany International Airport sightings have been at Sicker Road, on the north side of the airport looking east. There are thought to be at least three different birds at the site. Other snowy owls in the area have been spotted near Troy, East Greenbush and Fort Edward.
Richard Guthrie, a member of the club, said airports are a favorite spot for owls because of the wide expanse of land and fields that typically surround the runways. They also like golf courses and beach areas.
“They’re not upset by the planes per se,” he said of the owls. “They can tolerate the noise and move away from it when need be.”
In December, a Connecticut-based animal rights group called Friends of Animals filed a lawsuit against JFK International Airport after it was learned airport workers had been ordered to shoot the birds. The order was reportedly given after an owl flew into an engine while it was on the tarmac. The Port Authority later said it would stop the practice.
Albany International Airport spokesman Doug Meyers said airport officials there are aware of the birds and are concerned for their safety, as well as that of passengers, but added the birds are “living in an area not conducive to their health.”
“We don’t want to see a bird strike the aircraft, and we discourage any type of nesting,” he said.
Meyers said Albany International uses harassing techniques to move the creatures away from the property and have been doing so for years with other types of birds. Operations crews do perimeter checks and use air cannons hooked up to propane tanks, which are shot off occasionally in an attempt to scare the birds. Sometimes a whistling pyrotechnic is used, and the grass is purposely kept long so it’s harder for the owls to spot rodents.
If the irruption lasts much longer, Meyers said, there are discussions being held to possibly call in a trapper to safely move the birds to a different location.
Guthrie said this practice is common and he himself has worked to help trap owls on occasion.
According to Langer, the security team at Albany International has been great about people stopping on the property to watch the birds, as they have in years past.
“I think they know there’s an interest,” Langer said.
Guthrie said seeing the owls might be of great interest to children and is a wonderful learning experience. Harry Potter’s pet in the popular children’s book series was a snowy owl named Hedwig.
It’s also a good first sighting for new bird watchers, however, spectators should remember to keep their distance.
“It’s a whole different experience because these owls come out during the day,” said Langer. “They are very accessible and very photogenic.”