Webb Garrison: Snowy Owl

Artist: Webb Garrison
1944 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1978
Image Size: 11.75 by 12.25 inches
Overall Size: 14 by 15 inches
Medium: Water Color on Hot Press Illustration Paper

Barren tundra regions north of the treeline are home to the beautiful Snowy Owl. At first glance, the male bird appears pure white, yet small gray flecks mark wing margins. The female, a larger bird measuring twenty-one to twenty-six inches in length, is barred in slate-brown. Though normally sedentary birds, the Snowy Owls migrate far to the south of their normal home once in four or five years. A sudden decrease in Lemming population, the Snowy Owl's main food source, causes this irruption. The irruptions are massive when Lemming and Arctic Hare populations crash simultaneously over extensive areas. Fortunately, the diet of the Snowy Owl is not confined to these two species. These large, powerful birds are opportunistic predators capable of taking a variety of prey including squirrels and ducks. Though the Snowy Owl prefers night hunting, the long days of the Arctic summer require him to hunt by light. The average clutch size is between five and eight eggs, but the Snowy Owl is known to lay between three and thirteen eggs. These eggs are laid by a rock base often as early as mid-May. Female incubation begins immediately as each egg is laid, so the brood eventually consists of young of different size and age. Very few Snowy Owls live to adulthood as predation by foxes and skuas is heavy. The young often die during the winter, for the short Arctic summer has given them little time to learn essential hunting skills.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Combination Cover for the U.S. 15¢ Owls of America stamps issued August 26, 1978.

Artwork Copyright © 1978 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05470

US$ Price: $1,500.00

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