Bubo scandiacus - The snowy owl is a large bird, growing to a height of 52 to 71 centimeters with a wingspan between 125 and 150 centimeters. The adult male has a prominent white plumage; the female is covered with dark scalloping, except along the facial area. Nests are built on the ground. The female will typically deposit one egg each day during the breeding season with some nests containing up to 11 eggs. The size of the clutch is relative to the amount of prey available in the area.
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Latvia had been part of the Russian Empire since 1710. Following Russia’s defeat in World War I and the turmoil of the Russian Revolution and Civil War, Latvia proclaimed itself independent in November 1918. The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, signed by the Soviet Union and Germany, allowed the three Baltic states; Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to be absorbed into the Soviet Union. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Latvia again proclaimed its independence in 1991.
