How to welcome the Snowy Owl in Stoumont, Liège, Belgium
Bubo scandiacus · Strigidae
Seen in Stoumont, Liège, Belgium
Stoumont is located in Belgium. Approximate coordinates: 50.409, 5.829.
About the Snowy Owl
The snowy owl, also known as the polar owl, the white owl and the Arctic owl, is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra. It has a number of unique adaptations to its habitat and lifestyle, which are quite distinct from other extant owls. One of the largest species of owl, it is the only owl with mainly white plumage. Males tend to be a purer white overall while females tend to have more extensive flecks of dark brown. Juvenile male snowy owls have dark markings and may appear similar to females until maturity, at which point they typically turn whiter. The composition of brown markings about the wing, although not foolproof, is the most reliable technique for aging and sexing individual snowy owls.
Source: Wikipedia
Three ways to help
- Install a nest box — Free species-tailored construction plans and video tutorials.
- Install a feeder — Choose the feeder and seeds based on the bird's feeding habits.
- Grow a natural pantry — Native local plants that sustainably feed this bird and biodiversity.
Natural pantry — recommended native plants
To support the majestic Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) in the Stoumont region, it is essential to create an open landscape rich in its prey by planting a variety of native Belgian flora. The focus is not on feeding the owl directly, but on establishing a robust habitat for the small mammals, such as voles and mice, that constitute its primary food source in winter.
🌳 Trees and large shrubs
Snowy Owls are hunters of open country and require elevated perches with wide views. Plant trees sparsely to avoid creating a dense forest.
- Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine): This conifer provides an excellent year-round elevated perch for the Snowy Owl to scan the landscape for prey.
- Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan): A small, open-canopy tree whose berries attract insects and other birds, enriching the overall biodiversity of the habitat that supports the owl's prey.
🌿 Shrubs and hedges
Dense, low-growing shrubs are vital for providing cover to small mammal populations, protecting them and allowing their numbers to grow.
- Juniperus communis (Common Juniper): Its dense, prickly foliage offers superb protection from predators and nesting sites for the voles and mice hunted by Snowy Owls.
- Calluna vulgaris (Heather): This classic heathland plant forms a dense mat of cover, creating an ideal microhabitat for the small mammals on which the owl preys.
- Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberry): This low shrub provides both food and cover for rodents, supporting a healthy prey base for the owl.
🌾 Low plants, perennials and grasses
This layer is the most critical for small mammals, offering food, shelter, and nesting material.
- Deschampsia flexuosa (Wavy Hair-grass): This grass forms tussocks that provide essential cover and nesting material for field voles and wood mice.
- Molinia caerulea (Purple Moor-grass): Its large, dense clumps create a perfect, sheltered environment for voles, forming the foundation of the owl's pantry.
- Festuca ovina (Sheep's Fescue): The dense, low tussocks of this grass offer excellent shelter for rodents, while its seeds provide a food source.
💡 Planting tips
- Create open spaces: The key is to mimic a heathland or moorland. Plant in scattered clumps with wide open areas between them, rather than creating dense thickets or a closed woodland.
- Promote tussocks: Allow native grasses to grow tall and form dense tussocks. Avoid frequent mowing; a single cut in late winter is sufficient to manage the area without disturbing wintering prey populations.
- Planting season: Plant bare-root trees and shrubs during the dormant season (November to March) for the best chance of successful establishment.
- Use local ecotypes: If possible, source plants from local nurseries that specialise in native species from the Ardennes region, as they will be best adapted to the local soil and climate.
- Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) — This conifer provides an excellent year-round elevated perch for the Snowy Owl to scan the landscape for prey.
- Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) — A small, open-canopy tree whose berries attract insects and other birds, enriching the overall biodiversity of the habitat that supports the owl's prey.
- Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) — Its dense, prickly foliage offers superb protection from predators and nesting sites for the voles and mice hunted by Snowy Owls.
- Heather (Calluna vulgaris) — This classic heathland plant forms a dense mat of cover, creating an ideal microhabitat for the small mammals on which the owl preys.
- Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) — This low shrub provides both food and cover for rodents, supporting a healthy prey base for the owl.
- Wavy Hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa) — This grass forms tussocks that provide essential cover and nesting material for field voles and wood mice.
- Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) — Its large, dense clumps create a perfect, sheltered environment for voles, forming the foundation of the owl's pantry.
- Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina) — The dense, low tussocks of this grass offer excellent shelter for rodents, while its seeds provide a food source.
Sources and credits
- Observation data: eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, ebird.org)
- Source: Wikipedia