Overview
- Two snowy owls remain the main draw at Montrose Point, with hundreds gathering to watch, and a third was briefly reported at Rainbow Beach.
- The Chicago Park District has restricted access to a section of the Montrose pier and posted signs instructing people to keep their distance.
- Experts say the birds arrived earlier than the usual mid-to-late December window, which could point to an irruption year, though that is not yet certain.
- Conservation monitors report the owls shifted from the protected beach to the pier as crowds and dogs increased, and they note local peregrine falcons have harassed the birds.
- Wildlife organizations cite scarce prey and juvenile dispersal as drivers of southward movements, with the notable 2017–18 irruption serving as recent context for today’s sightings.