Syracuse.com - Want to see a snowy owl at Syracuse airport? Go to the dedicated observation area

[HuntingNY-News]

"We know people want to see the owls. They're wonderful creatures .. but we also have an airport to run," said Christina Callahan, commissioner of aviation at the airport.

Interested in seeing a snowy owl at Hancock International Airport?

Nearly a half dozen of the migrating birds, whose home is the Arctic tundra, have been spotted at the airport during the past week. Two local wildlife photographers, Syracuse dentist Greg Craybas, and Paul Pflanz, of Syracuse, have sent in photos this week to syracuse.com.

Airport officials, though, are directing persons interested in viewing the birds to a single observation area as to not disrupt airport operations.

"We do have dedicated observation area where people can park and they have a view of our main runway, which is runway 10-28," said Christina Callahan, commissioner of aviation at the airport.

"We can't guarantee that they can see the owls. Our own staff have spotted them in other areas that are not accessible to the public. Going to the observation area, though, does not disrupt traffic or airport operations.

To get to the observation area, Callahan said, "As you're driving down the airport's main road toward the airport, you'll come to a traffic light. Turn right and you'll come to a stop sign. Take a left at the stop sign and continue and you'll see fire station on the right. The parking area is adjacent to the fire station.":

She emphasized, "We want to discourage people from pulling of the main road and parking, just for safety reasons."

Greg Craybas photo 

Meanwhile, I asked the two local photographers who sent in pictures to describe exactly where they took their photos.

Craybas noted: "The owls are typically on the light towers near FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS) buildings. The owls blend in very well to the surroundings," he said. " People will mistake them for seagulls on the light towers. The signs inside the fence area are common perching areas for the owls. It takes time to spot them."

Callahan responded: "Once again, we want discourage people for their own safety from parking on the side of the road and encourage them to bring binoculars." See more photos taken by Craybas.

Pete Davis photo 

Of the bird Pflanz photographed, he wrote: " We saw it in the first 100 yards or so after turning from the main entry road onto Air Cargo Road," he said. "This is a one way road going east. It was only just on the other side of the fence before the first building. I've also seen them in other years at the east end of Air Cargo Road before the viewing area / cell phone lot.

"Another good place in years past has been the North Access road which parallels the main exit road on the north side. It can be reached by a northward turn adjacent to the NYS Trooper Barracks, or by the first right turn as you depart the terminal area.

"Basically, you need to get as close to the fences that keep us off the runways as possible. There have also been reports this year of the on top of the various buildings lining both sides of the entry/exit roads, particularly the trooper barracks."

Pflanz concluded: "Good pictures are a matter of luck-like being at the right place at the right time. We had seen no owls. I got a call on my cell phone and stopped to answer it. Linda (his wife) looked out the window and there was the owl a stone's throw away. Without the call, we would have missed the bird."

Callahan responded: "It would irresponsible for us to promote those locations. The fence is a security fence and anyone found along those areas mentioned could be stopped by security and asked what they're doing.

"We know people want to see the owls. They're wonderful creatures, but we also have an airport to run. The safest area to see them is the dedicated observation area."

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog