Earlier this week I spent 59 minutes with this Barn Owl (a male I believe). This is early in the encounter when he was still getting used to me.
1/640, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 100-400 @ 365mm, not baited, set up or called in
Barn Owls are difficult to predict. Often they’re very shy (when you can find them at all) but this one was mostly unconcerned with my presence (in my pickup). Here he’s watching me calmly to make sure I’m no threat. He was right next to the road and very close – you can see from my techs that I’m even using my “baby lens” and shooting at only 365mm. It was cloudy and the light was relatively dim but I believe that was a major factor in his relative “tameness”. In addition there were virtually no other cars on the road for the entire hour so this wonderful owl simply went about his business. That business was hunting and he was very good at it as I observed him catch 3 or 4 voles/mice during the time I was with him. (recently I posted photos of this bird with prey here in case you missed it)
This bird was mostly hunting from the ground using his incredible hearing to detect rodents beneath the snow. When he heard something he’d typically fly the short distance to the source of the sound and plunge his feet or his face into the soft snow. Very often he turned up a meal. He was patient and deliberate in his technique so most of the time there wasn’t much action to photograph but it felt very special just to be in his presence and to be accepted.
This owl was thriving but every time I see a cold snap in the weather forecast I worry. With all the snow on the ground and the warmer days we’re now having, when daytime highs turn significantly below freezing there will be an enduring hard crust on the surface of the snow. When that happens these birds struggle to catch voles under the snow just at the time their demands for food increase because of the bitter cold.
Survival for these birds during our northern Utah winters is often a crap shoot. I wish them (and us) moderate weather.
Ron
Oh Barn Owls are my favorite raptors! I can’t believe I almost missed this post. You are so lucky!
Great pictures!
Please add me to your blog list so that I get automatically your new blogs thank you
Courtney, I’ll email you with instructions. I can’t do it on my end.
Never seen one of these except in Harry Potter-the markings are fascinatingand it will be important to watch the birds and see if they are struggling to find food and in need of help.
Ron, each time you post a Barn Owl photograph, I linger in going over the marvelous detail of the plumage on this magnificent raptor. I sure hope to find some nesting Barn Owls this year around here! They’ve been in serious decline for decades.
Hope your weather remains moderate!
Such a privilege to be able to spend time with this beautiful, beautiful bird. And thank you so much for sharing the joy.
Is this the same owl Mia captured? Same day?
Patty, Yup – same bird, same day.
Beautiful Portrait Ron !
Thanks, John.
Great shot Ron! I really like the composition of how the slope of the owl’s body, matches the slope of the hill-What a great looking and apparently friendly bird.
Good point about the composition and the slope, Bill. Thanks.
Hi Ron,
As a west coaster, I always look forward to your postings as part of my morning wake ups. This one is a beauty – great photo of a beautiful bird! And, your comments got ME shivering – had to warm my coffee! Here’s hoping for moderate weather all around!
Cheers,
Dick
Hope the coffee did the job, Dick. Thank you.
Beautiful! Love seeing these birds against the stark white snow.
I had the honor of a Great Horned Owl on our property this past August. It stayed for over an hour as I photographed it in the pines. A few months earlier a very large one simply sat just outside my office window on a split rail fence, and also didn’t mind me snapping photos of her.
It is amazing how these birds find food in the snow. Thanks for sharing.
I like them against the snow too, Patricia. And it’s often amazing how cryptic their colors are in a setting of phragmites.
Great shot Ron, what a neat time you had, a real enjoyment!!
You are absolutely right about the weather!!
Here in the East with the 5/8 inch of ice on the ground, along with ice on berries and seeds with no let up in temperature, it is doubly hard for all birds to find food. Why it is so important for humans to keep feeders full during these winter months.
Dick, I’ve seen Barn Owls attempt to plunge into crusted snow and barely make a dent in it. Then sit on top and shiver uncontrollably. It’s truly heartbreaking.
Gorgeous shot!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.