From January:

From Huron Daily Tribune

Over the winter, social media was bombarded with photos and news about a brightly colored snowy owl. This owl, seemingly one of a kind due to it’s reddish/orange coloration, was particularly popular in Huron County, because it decided to winter here.

Snowy owls are not uncommon in the area during winter months. They travel from their home in the Arctic to Michigan and beyond, partially due to reduction in prey in the Northern climate. Huron County seems to attract a number of these birds, most likely because snow-covered farm fields are similar to their home territory.

This particular snowy owl, which was first spotted in a barn in western Huron County, subsequently frequented open farm land close by. Photos began appearing on social media sites, creating a frenzy. Numerous people speculated on possible causes ranging from a natural mutation to theories of accidental exposure to paint from construction sites, fire retardant from wild fires in Canada, or seemingly the most popular cause, deicer at an airport. Experts were stymied in their attempts to identify the anomaly.

Known locally as “Rusty,” this snowy owl has garnered a lot of attention, including being featured in national and regional magazines, such as “Birds & Blooms” and “Woods N Water News.” Rusty also found his way to local newspapers, as well as the science section of “The New York Times.” In addition, the featured article in the “New York Times” went national, making Rusty somewhat famous and getting Huron County mentioned as the owl’s location.

Recent photos seem to bolster the theory of accidental exposure to an outside source as the cause of Rusty’s coloration. Unless there is another “colorful” snowy owl, which doesn’t appear likely, Rusty seems to be losing his rust.

Traditionally, the end of winter causes snowy owls to return to their summer home in the Arctic. Since snowy owls tend to return to the same general location year after year, it is hopeful Rusty will return to Huron County next winter. Unfortunately, we may never know if the same bird comes back, because snowy owls molt, which means to shed their feathers.

According to the website, https://www.birdful.org/do-snowy-owls-change-plumage, “like all birds, snowy owls molt and replace their feathers periodically. Molting is the process where old worn feathers are replaced by new feathers. Snowy owls have a complex molting cycle and molt throughout the year. However, their main molting periods are late summer to fall and late winter to spring.”

So, if Rusty returns next winter, he may look like every other snowy owl.

Regardless of whether or not Rusty simply becomes just another snowy owl, she is a beautiful bird. Her abnormal coloration certainly made her stand out from the crowd, and gave Huron County residents something to talk about. Rusty, the reddish/orange snowy owl. One of a kind.