Snowy owls are famous for their striking white feathers — a perfect camouflage for their icy northern homes.
But when wildlife photographer Julie Maggert heard rumors of an orange snowy owl flying around Michigan’s Thumb region, she could hardly believe it.
“I’ve photographed snowy owls for years,” Maggert told The Dodo. “But I’d never heard of anything like this.”
Driven by curiosity, Maggert packed her camera and drove two hours to the reported sighting area. When she finally spotted the owl perched in a distant field, her heart skipped a beat — the bird truly was a warm shade of orange.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” she said.
Maggert waited all day for the owl to land close enough for a clear photo, but as dusk fell, the bird disappeared into a tree. Every picture she took that day was unusable. Still, she refused to give up.
Over the next few weeks, Maggert returned again and again — four times in total — logging nearly 900 miles and 30 hours of patient waiting in her car.
Finally, on her fourth trip, the owl landed gracefully on a utility pole, and Maggert captured the photos she’d dreamed of.
“I went home feeling on cloud nine,” she said. “I’d worked so hard for this moment.”
Maggert affectionately nicknamed the mysterious owl Creamsicle — a fitting name for her orange-and-white plumage. But even as the photos amazed scientists and bird enthusiasts worldwide, no one could explain why Creamsicle looks the way she does.
Kevin McGraw, a biology professor at Michigan State University, suspects the owl’s coloring may have been caused by an environmental factor or genetic mutation — but nothing like this has ever been documented before.
As for Maggert, she’s simply grateful to have witnessed such a rare wonder.
“It may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I’m just honored I got to see her and share her with the world.”
You can see more of Maggert’s wildlife photography on her Instagram and Facebook pages.
