The white dome of the US Capitol shines through the night, illuminating a small group huddled down the hill, bundled tightly against the winter cold and carrying long-lens cameras and binoculars. The motley crew are not there to photograph Washington’s famous monuments — they have their sights set on a rare creature that flew in from the Arctic: a snowy owl.
Birdwatching, or birding as it is also known, is a popular pastime in the US, with hobbyists typically hiking through forests or camping in rural areas to spot different species of birds. So the majestic owl’s appearance a week ago in the city, much further south than its usual habitat, has proven a magnet. “You can see the Capitol,” said Rose, wrapped in a big winter coat and accompanied by her partner. “It’s arresting to have the contrast, the wildness with the city — but especially DC where it’s so … monumental and iconic.
Users had pinpointed the snowy owl near Union Station, a bustling transportation hub just down the road from the Capitol, where a line of taxis curls around a grassy park, criss-crossed with walkways and spotted with tents set up by the homeless.
A beautiful snowy owl glides inches above the snow as it hunts for voles in Ottawa Ontario, Canada. Photo: VCG
