It’s been a tough summer for me with Burrowing Owls. Normally I spend a lot of time photographing them but this year they’ve been mostly uncooperative to the extreme – too skittish, too far away, too buried in vegetation and too scarce.
But I had a pleasant surprise two days ago on Antelope Island.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
I was just about to head for home after another frustrating morning when I saw what I thought was a meadowlark landing right next to the road. I slowly stopped and looked more carefully and it turned out to be a Burrowing Owl. And it didn’t fly off, which amazed me! The bird allowed me to spend 9 minutes with it until a young lady on a bicycle came up behind me and scared it off. It didn’t give me much pose variety so I’m only posting one shot but what fun that this considerate bird finally allowed me to relieve my Burrowing Owl “itch”.
You’ll notice that this bird is banded. I’m aware that park staff (and others) banded quite a few juveniles on the island two summers ago. It would be interesting to know if this bird was one of the juvies that was banded last year and returned this year. I’ve done some inquiries and sent some close-up images of the bands (some numbers can be read) but haven’t yet heard back…
I’m always struck by just how small Burrowing Owls are, especially after such a long hiatus from them…
Ron
Great photo! The banding effort continued on AI this year in conjunction with the Global Owl Project. I believe 50-60 owls were banded. The majority were juves, but there were a number of adults as well. The birds were split about equally between natural and artificial burrows. I don’t recall any getting banded on the left leg, so perhaps this is indeed one from last year. It’s too bad the federal leg bands all look the same, unlike your MT Prairie falcon! I’ve heard of eastern US migration sites feeding eagles after banding and prior to release, but it’s not a common practice.
Thanks very much for the info, Mike. A lot!
Mike: I’m guessing your referring to juvenile or older Balds that were fed after banding not the more impressionable eaglets.
Bill
Yes- birds caught and banded during migration. I believe it’s done primarily with juve Goldens. Not because they’re treated any differently than adults or sub adults, but because it’s uncommon to catch wise old eagles at migration sites.
Good show! Any evidence of Burrowing Owls doing well simply makes my day better!
Fantastic shot, Ron, even though your opportunities for additional perspectives were limited.
Thank you, Wally.
I feel like an echo this morning. It is a little after six, and your post (and Mia’s) have given me beauty. And wonder. And an education. Again.
Thank you.
That kind of echo works perfectly for me, Elephant’s Child. 🙂
I, like Alison (and I suspect many others ) enjoy waking up to your incredible photos every morning…it’s become a ritual…the very first thing I do. Not only do I get to start my day looking at something beautiful, but also get to learn something interesting about their habitats, lives and behaviors. I appreciate and enjoy the birds and other animals I see even more when I’ve learned more about them. As I said before, it’s like Christmas Morning every day, thanks to you and Mia. How wonderful it must feel to know you touch lives, hearts and minds, in such a positive way for so many people in so many different parts of the world! It’s the old “pebble dropped in the pool” effect, when what we learn from you and your followers gets passed on through us to others. As they say. “It’s all good”.
What a nice comment, Patty. You made my day…
I love these owls! They always make me laugh or smile…what a great way to start my day…You mention how small they are…how small are they? I don’t like wearing a watch…never really “get used to it, even when I wear them very loosely. Although I understand the goal of banding, I wonder if any of the banded birds feel the same.
Burrowing Owls are approximately 9 1/2″ tall with a wing span of about 21″. They weight about 5 oz. The females are larger (reverse sexual dimorphism). I can give you more detailed measurements if necessary. They are not N.A. smallest owl (Elf – 5 3/4″ x 13″) but considerable smaller than our largest (Great Gray- 27″ x 52″)
Birds being banded is about like human’s being vaccinated. Not an enjoyable experience but beneficial to the species. Realizing they (the owls)aren’t capable of rationalizing the benefits.
Bill
I don’t know of any bander that feeds the birds they are banding unless it is used as a means to trap the bird. (Otherwise, personally, I would consider it unethical.) So their is no process like hand feeding to help a bird overcome its “fear” of humans. Raptors don’t generally become “tamer” with contact from humans (in the beginning) but rather they become defensive and attempt to avoid contact. This of course is age dependent and health dependent. Different birds have different personalities and different space tolerances. Some birds will actually show a greater level of “fear” to the same person depending on that person’s appearance and show varying levels of “trust” toward difference people.
Bill
Thanks, Bill – for backing up what I thought was the case.
I also eagerly look forward to your posts first thing in the morning, Ron. In addition to treasured glimpses into the animal world with the insights you provide, I so appreciate that I witness an encounter in the wild – serendipity with your patience and skill.
Thanks very much, Alison – nice of you to say.
Fantastic shot Ron! Don’t you just hate it when someone comes along to ruin your opportunity to take shots? I’m sure they are just thoughtless.
Charlotte
Yes, I do hate it, Charlotte. Most of the time it can’t be helped but I still cuss the gods of chance when it happens…
I was thinking exactly as Diana, that your photos and comments are joining the NYT in starting my day. It’s interesting that this banded bird allowed you so much time to photograph him. I recently photographed a young, newly banded Connecticut warbler who allowed me more than the usual .002 second to take his picture (maddeningly ruined by scrub in the foreground). I wonder if the experience of banding, being held and possibly being fed before release, has an unintended effect on young birds’ attitudes toward people. Your shot is pristine, beautiful, even the background.
“Connecticut warbler who allowed me more than the usual .002 second to take his picture”
That brought a smile to my face, Kelly. All bird photographers know the feeling!
I don’t believe the banding experience would make the bird less fearful of people. In fact it would be my guess that it would have the opposite effect – it’s pretty stressful for them. And I’m fairly sure that they don’t feed them during the banding process. I suspect that this bird simply became acclimated to vehicles (I nearly always shoot from my pickup). The owl spooked when the bicyclist was still quite a ways away from it.
Will watch for info about the band. But banded or not your photo helped me start my day. Thanks
Thanks, Diana. Banded birds sometimes frustrate me but that’s a selfish reaction and I try to remember that banding is done for the good of the birds.