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Snowy Owls spend most of the year in the cold Arctic tundra, and they’re known as an “irruptive” species—meaning that when conditions shift in their usual range, many of them wander far beyond it and become nomadic. Around Thanksgiving last year, reports of sightings began appearing across the northern United States. So I made a last-minute trip to New York and headed straight for the seashore of Fire Island after landing. After more than two miles of searching along the sandy beach, I finally spotted one, resting after its breakfast. Seeing a Snowy Owl is always amazing, and this encounter is one I’ll never forget.