MCHENRY (WBBM Newsradio) – The snowy owl that drew nationwide attention to McHenry County last winter is now being remembered in song.
Crystal Lake singer-songwriter Cass Cwik wrote “Snowy White Owl” after following the story of a young male owl that appeared in a farm field south of McHenry in early December 2024. Photos and videos of the bird spread rapidly online, turning the rare visitor into a social media sensation as birdwatchers and photographers flocked to the area for a glimpse.
Traffic lined nearby roads as crowds gathered near the owl’s resting area, prompting repeated reminders from conservation groups to maintain a safe distance so the bird could hunt and rest undisturbed.
Less than two weeks after it was first spotted, the owl was found dead after being struck by a vehicle. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources later said the bird was malnourished and may have been suffering from pneumonia at the time of its death.
The rise and loss of the owl became the basis for Cwik’s folk-style tribute, which reflects on the public fascination surrounding the bird and the unintended consequences of that attention. The song, titled “Snowy White Owl,” is featured on the Cass Cwik Stringband album Throop Street Blues and is available to stream on YouTube and Bandcamp.
Snowy owls typically hatch above the Arctic Circle and migrate south as winter approaches to search for food before returning north in spring, according to the migration tracking group Project SNOWstorm.
The song’s release comes as new snowy owl sightings are being reported along Chicago’s lakefront. A pair of owls has been spotted near Montrose Pier this winter, prompting the Chicago Park District to temporarily close access to the pier and ask the public to stay at least 300 feet away to protect the birds as they rest during their seasonal migration.