As night falls in Washington, D.C., dozens of spectators watch through binoculars as cameras point to a young bird with white Arctic feathers perched on top of a statue near the Capitol.
Rumors have been circulating for days that the snow beast has arrived in the city.
Snow turns into an all-Washington DC sensation on January 7, 2022 – Photo: AP Photo / Caroline Castor
“There it is!”, One of the ornithologists (an ornithologist) shouted, and then the tripods looked for the best angle to capture its beauty.
“This is awesome!”, Melia Rose says excitedly. “I had a lot of time watching birds, and this is the first time I’ve seen a snow owl. I’ll add it to my list.”
Snow turns into an all-Washington DC sensation on January 7, 2022 – Photo: AP Photo / Caroline Castor
Many North Americans are passionate about bird watching, and the week-long presence of this tundra species in Washington has created a stir.
From here “you can see the Capitol … the conflict between wildlife and the city is remarkable, especially in Washington, all of these symbolic monuments”, she commented with her husband Alex. They left a baby at home with a nanny to enjoy this moment in peace.
Like many others, Rose discovered through eBird, a network aimed at passionate ornithologists raising awareness about the presence of rare birds in the community (200 million views by 2021 in 2021).
Snow turns into an all-Washington DC sensation on January 7, 2022 – Photo: AP Photo / Caroline Castor
At this point, the photographers are not hiding in the woods or on the shores of the lake, but in front of Washington Railway Station, Union Station and the busy Avenue, on a lake densely populated by homeless people. With rats, it is possible to fall prey to this snowman.
It is believed to be a young owl because of its gray and white feathers. Observing the top of the statue, she looks with yellow eyes across the Esplanade in search of prey, preferably a rat, which will be trapped in her claws.
Snow turns into an all-Washington DC sensation on January 7, 2022 – Photo: AP Photo / Caroline Castor
The audience includes the Swiss Ambassador to the United States and another fan of ornithology, Jacques Piteloud.
“It was a milestone to see an owl, and it was a special joy,” the diplomat told AFP, “the animal has been on his list for a long time.”
With their gigantic white wings, these “snow and ice birds” are “like creatures from another world,” says Kevin McGowan, a professor at Cornell University’s Ornithology Laboratory.
Snowman discovered in the US capital on January 7, 2022 – Photo: AP Photo / Caroline Castor
Snow owls usually inhabit the Arctic at the North Pole during the summer, and most birds migrate south in the winter, but usually live along the border between Canada and the US.
The ornithologist concludes that its presence in an area so far south is “like having a polar bear in the neighborhood.”
“It’s an interesting bird, and for bird lovers from the Washington area, its presence is very rare. It’s amazing!” North America, AFP.
71-year-old Edward Eder prepares his camera for this “Arctic Visitor”.
Snowman discovered in the US capital on January 7, 2022 – Photo: AP Photo / Caroline Castor
In his opinion, the number of bird watchers has “probably increased even more in the epidemic because it’s a hobby for you to keep a social distance and chart your own way …”.
Along with their parents in an attempt to see the bird they know through the Harry Potter movies, some children point fingers at the statue: “Owl” Hedwig, a faithful companion of the young magician, is a snow owl.
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