Its owl season
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Thanks Terry.
Once you get past the weeks of waiting, and then endless hours of watching, it's pretty easy. These owls have groupies. As evidenced by this mobile phone shot. And this was only a few of them.
Bill, Our owls nest in a hole in the trunk of a maple up near where the tree forks or "Y's" maybe 40 feet up. The Barred is a cavity nesting bird so, look for a hole in a tree.
Also, the adults will perch, in the cedar and maple trees not too far from the nest. my guess, judging by your spring owl pictures is that you are probably in the area near the nest.
Monday afternoon Terry and I + another birder made another fruitless search for the nest in the area where I think it is located. I returned in the evening and got some great photos of what I believe is the male, but still no signs of a nest. I'll post the photos up later.
Is forty feet off the ground a typical height for a barred owl nesting cavity?
I'm sure it varies. I'm sure the owls take what they can get as long as it is up off the ground a little ways.
I kept hearing a nervous robin when Terry and I were searching for the owl in the afternoon, so I suspected the owl was nearby. The sounds of nervous robins continued when my son Daren and I returned to the same area in the evening. We missed the owl on our first walk through, but robins buzzing a branch led us to it on the return lap.
The owl followed by its robin-tourage flew to the trees on the south side of the ravine adjacent to the service road, stayed there a minute or two, then the flew back to a tree above the boardwalk close to its original location. The owl had captured what appeared to be a baby bird, possibly a robin. I have some rather graphic photos of the owl eating part of the bird. If anyone wants to see them, send me a PM with your e-mail address.
Bear in mind that this drama is unfolding amid a chorus of agitated robins, some of which are strafing the owl. Here is a series of three shots which show how difficult it can be to spot the owl without the help of the robins or crows. This is a relatively open part of the bottom of the ravine. I have seen and photographed the owl nearby where the foliage is much denser and the owl more difficult to spot.
5D Mk III + 100-400L telephoto zoom, 100mm, uncropped
5D Mk III + 100-400L telephoto zoom, 400mm, uncropped
5D Mk III + 100-400L telephoto zoom, 400mm, cropped
Documenting the story taking priority over shooting the perfect photo is pretty much my philosophy as well. That is a great story about the owl chasing the vole right in front of you.
Do adult barred owls allow their young to remain in their territory after they have fledged and are on their own?
Apparently. There were three adult owls that appeared to be feeding the youngsters, or at least defending the territory. Whether or not this is typical, I don't know.
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Thanks Terry.
Terry: everyone is getting great owlet shots except for you and me.
Once you get past the weeks of waiting, and then endless hours of watching, it's pretty easy. These owls have groupies. As evidenced by this mobile phone shot. And this was only a few of them.
photographmemories
New Member
Bill, Our owls nest in a hole in the trunk of a maple up near where the tree forks or "Y's" maybe 40 feet up. The Barred is a cavity nesting bird so, look for a hole in a tree.
Also, the adults will perch, in the cedar and maple trees not too far from the nest. my guess, judging by your spring owl pictures is that you are probably in the area near the nest.
Monday afternoon Terry and I + another birder made another fruitless search for the nest in the area where I think it is located. I returned in the evening and got some great photos of what I believe is the male, but still no signs of a nest. I'll post the photos up later.
Is forty feet off the ground a typical height for a barred owl nesting cavity?
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photographmemories
New Member
I'm sure it varies. I'm sure the owls take what they can get as long as it is up off the ground a little ways.
I kept hearing a nervous robin when Terry and I were searching for the owl in the afternoon, so I suspected the owl was nearby. The sounds of nervous robins continued when my son Daren and I returned to the same area in the evening. We missed the owl on our first walk through, but robins buzzing a branch led us to it on the return lap.
The owl followed by its robin-tourage flew to the trees on the south side of the ravine adjacent to the service road, stayed there a minute or two, then the flew back to a tree above the boardwalk close to its original location. The owl had captured what appeared to be a baby bird, possibly a robin. I have some rather graphic photos of the owl eating part of the bird. If anyone wants to see them, send me a PM with your e-mail address.
Bear in mind that this drama is unfolding amid a chorus of agitated robins, some of which are strafing the owl. Here is a series of three shots which show how difficult it can be to spot the owl without the help of the robins or crows. This is a relatively open part of the bottom of the ravine. I have seen and photographed the owl nearby where the foliage is much denser and the owl more difficult to spot.
5D Mk III + 100-400L telephoto zoom, 100mm, uncropped
5D Mk III + 100-400L telephoto zoom, 400mm, uncropped
5D Mk III + 100-400L telephoto zoom, 400mm, cropped
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The owl remained on the branch for a few minutes, then took off with what remained of the prey. By following this pair of barred owls for the past two weeks, I had a good idea as to where it was going. Daren and I followed the sound of robins to a tree in the clearing where I had photographed both owls last week. We waited in the hopes the owl would be joined by its mate or continue on to its nest, but it just sat there.
While the 5D Mk III does not have the insanely high ISO capabilities of the 1Dx, it doesn't do too bad when the lights get low. These shots were taken handheld with no flash at 400mm and cropped.
1/250, f/7.1, ISO 12800
1/125, f/5.6, ISO 25600
Last shot on our way out after it was too dark for good photos.
1/125, f/5.6, ISO 25600
While the 5D Mk III does not have the insanely high ISO capabilities of the 1Dx, it doesn't do too bad when the lights get low. These shots were taken handheld with no flash at 400mm and cropped.
1/250, f/7.1, ISO 12800
1/125, f/5.6, ISO 25600
Last shot on our way out after it was too dark for good photos.
1/125, f/5.6, ISO 25600
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I'll admit I had issues with light, branches, and little pine needles on spider webs. Just did not get the photo that I hoped for on these. For me, it's the story that counts.
Documenting the story taking priority over shooting the perfect photo is pretty much my philosophy as well. That is a great story about the owl chasing the vole right in front of you.
The local barred owlets have left the nest and are scrambling around the trees and branches. They can't fly yet so moving around is rather tough on them. Mom, Dad and Uncle are still taking care of them but they are moving deeper into the forest. They grow up so fast. It seems like only yesterday they popped out their fuzzy little heads.
I suspect this is the last owlet of the year for me. Taken earlier this evening of one owlet in a nearby tree and the other hungry owlet deeper in the woods. All I could hear is his begging call.
much like the one heard on this page. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/sounds
Good luck little fellow. Maybe I'll see you next year helping Mom and Dad with your little sister or brother.
much like the one heard on this page. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/sounds
Good luck little fellow. Maybe I'll see you next year helping Mom and Dad with your little sister or brother.
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Do adult barred owls allow their young to remain in their territory after they have fledged and are on their own?
Apparently. There were three adult owls that appeared to be feeding the youngsters, or at least defending the territory. Whether or not this is typical, I don't know.
I love those guys.
Your owlets may also be out of their nests also. You might find them easier to locate by listening for the babies begging call. Go to allaboutbirds.com and listen to their sounds. They are pretty distinctive.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Your owlets may also be out of their nests also. You might find them easier to locate by listening for the babies begging call. Go to allaboutbirds.com and listen to their sounds. They are pretty distinctive.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Friday (5/10) after lunch Terry, my son Daren, and I went to Yost Park in search of the owls. The funny thing about owl hunting is that the owl can be sitting nearby watching you without you ever knowing it. That may have been the case Friday afternoon, as we failed to see any owls in their usual haunts at the bottom of the ravine along Shell Creek.
I returned in the evening to the bridge over Shell Creek where I usually see the owls. I did not see any in the surrounding trees, but the constant distress calls of the robins told me one was close.
I finally found it perched in a tree adjacent to the path at the end of the bridge.
It was quite literally looking over my shoulder while I was searching for it. Unfortunately a tiny branch ruined any chances of a good portrait.
After awhile I sensed the owl was ready to take off.
I should have followed my first instinct to back off on the zoom, but I didn't. I was also experimenting with the silent shutter feature of the 5D Mk III. The shutter is truly silent, but it doesn't have as high a burst rate as the regular shutter setting. The result was a poor shot of the owl taking off.
Continued on next page.
I returned in the evening to the bridge over Shell Creek where I usually see the owls. I did not see any in the surrounding trees, but the constant distress calls of the robins told me one was close.
I finally found it perched in a tree adjacent to the path at the end of the bridge.
It was quite literally looking over my shoulder while I was searching for it. Unfortunately a tiny branch ruined any chances of a good portrait.
After awhile I sensed the owl was ready to take off.
I should have followed my first instinct to back off on the zoom, but I didn't. I was also experimenting with the silent shutter feature of the 5D Mk III. The shutter is truly silent, but it doesn't have as high a burst rate as the regular shutter setting. The result was a poor shot of the owl taking off.
Continued on next page.
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