Barn Owl

Gallery: AvianPosted May 15, 2011287 views18 comments

I'm a bit ambivalent about posting this one, because I feel a bit guilty about approaching the Owl so closely. I've been wishing for a daylight sighting of a barn Owl, but this is certainly not the way I wanted it to happen. Two barn owls, that looked sick were on the ground in our neighbor's yard this morning (we erected a box there last summer). We thought maybe they had been poisoned. A raven was hanging around and obviously knew there was something of interest in the area. After a lot of calling around and getting few answers, since it's Sunday, the best advice we could get was to capture them and take them to a local rehabber. Now it looks like they were the last of the current brood and had prematurely fledged. They look OK, but they'll be evaluated and should be released soon.

1DMkIV, 300mm f4 IS, hand held, f8, 1/160, iso 500, Av mode, no compensation, normal processing in CS4. Taken at 10:27 am today in light rain. Slight crop on top and left for composition (14MP of the 16MP original)

Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 15, 2011 at 10:48 PM

There's no way you could capture them and bring them in for evaluation without approaching them closely. Might as well grab a photo while you can so I don't see a big issue here.

The tall blade of grass that splits the eyes is perfectly placed (assuming it would be somewhere in front of the bird) to limit its distracting effects. The wet look is quite intriguing and it's a unique image.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 15, 2011 at 11:11 PM

I don't have any issue with what you did either. Nice shot and it rained up here, too!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 16, 2011 at 12:19 AM

I could tell from the thumbnail that this was a bird in trouble. Excellent job documenting this youngster's plight and great job getting him to a local rehabber Dennis

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 16, 2011 at 1:55 AM

He does look weak/sick, it happens. Good photo with excellent detail to document the situation, hope they make it. Hopefully they will be around later after recovery to see and photograph in good health. I'm glad they fell into good hands.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 16, 2011 at 2:00 AM

The youngest bird usually is fed the least and abandoned the soonest by its parents; you did well. Obviously distressed, I'm glad there was a rehab service available on a Sunday.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on May 16, 2011 at 5:52 AM

Hope they will do well poor things good you were there to help them

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 16, 2011 at 9:09 AM

I wouldn't feel ambivalent about posting this at all Dennis. You did well - both with the photo and dealing with the distressed owl. Hope you get your daylight sighting of a Barn Owl under different circumstances very soon.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 16, 2011 at 10:01 AM

Dennis,
you did well in my opinion to post this documentary image and let us know the story. I'm glad that they seem ok.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 16, 2011 at 11:31 AM

Dennis, you shouldn't feel ambivalent about this. You were trying to help the owl and getting a shot to document it at the same time is not a bad thing in my mind. As a matter of fact, I posted something similar last year of a Great Grey Owl in Teton which I had to leave a note to report at the local ranger station since they were not open yet. However, I did get one negative response, but everyone has their opnion and most were fine about it.

I am glad to hear the capture and rehab has been successful and hopefully these 2 owls will have a longer life because of you.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on May 16, 2011 at 11:48 AM

Obviously a distressed bird Dennis but that's part of nature and no shame in capturing it. Hope it recovers and that will give you some satisfaction. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 16, 2011 at 11:58 AM

I agree with all the other comments. Nothing else for you to do in this situation. Nice image as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 16, 2011 at 12:24 PM

Good man, Dennis.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 16, 2011 at 2:58 PM

Sounds like everything will turn out best for owls, and you made an interesting photo to go along with the story. Nice work Dennis.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 16, 2011 at 8:44 PM

Thanks for saving them Dennis. You were rewarded with a shot

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on May 16, 2011 at 11:17 PM

Don't see what you had to apologize for, Dennis. The image shows a vulnerable bird and you did your part to help it. Hope it reaches adulthood safely.

The image itself is very interesting. Aside from the cowering pose, I like the rain soaked feathers and soft light. The wet grass adds a good sense of habitat.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 17, 2011 at 7:26 PM

Excellent image Dennis. I do hope the owls will be OKAY.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 19, 2011 at 9:52 PM

I like the wet look, although it seems none too happy about its predicament.
Technically well done, love a bird story with a happy ending Dennis

Well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 21, 2011 at 6:48 PM

Update:

The two owlets were checked out and are OK. They have now been released in a barn where they immediately flew to the rafters. The barn is owned by a rehabber, who will ensure they have ample opportunity to learn to hunt.

Unfortunately, we had to leave town immediately after the incident, so I had no opportunity for follow-on pictures.

Note: A third fledgling was found on our neighbor's back porch after we left. She provided shelter for it and it returned to it's parents the next night. Not sure what's causing them not to go back to the box before daylight or find a good tree to perch in.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments