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LEO chicks
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LEO chicks

by Neil Rossmiller

Gallery: AvianPosted May 15, 2015255 views6 comments

The first reported sighting of Long-eared Owls here in Summit County, Utah was of these guys parents back in February of this year. My wife and I started hearing their repeated, monotonous single hoots in December of last year and through research, determined it to be LEO's. First time ever we have identified a species from sound before we actually saw the bird. A cure for insomnia one night was counting over 130 hoots in a row before regaining slumber. In March I discovered a collapsed Magpie nest occupied by a LEO female. She sat for 30 days before disappearing without ever seeing any sign of chicks. Heart breaking as it was, I would see an adult on the wing once in awhile and knew they were still here, somewhere, buried  deep in our Red Hawthorn thickets. An out of town guest saw the movement of a chick last week and to or surprise there are 4 young juveniles now. Here are two of the fist reported successfully reproduced chicks. Not that they haven't been here longer than people. They are wonderful new neighbors. 

Canon 7D ii, Canon 400 2.8 w/ 1.4 ext. 1/1600 sec. @ f10. ISO 800. tripod. processed in LR4 cropped for composition.

Comments always welcome.

Thanks for looking

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 15, 2015 at 11:52 AM

Sweet, Neil.  Nothing like baby owls for cuteness and the two poses here are great.  Excellent job getting the dof you needed.

devil

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by David Stokely on May 15, 2015 at 11:59 AM

Stunning detail of the feathers in the large view.  How nice to have a species return.  Very nice capture.

Registered on February 3, 2006, 71 Posts, 313 Comments
Comment posted by John Launstein on May 15, 2015 at 8:22 PM

That's awesome, Neil--both the story and the picture! Very fun frame. I would love to have a Long-eared nest somewhere nearby! We've seen ONE in Alberta but have heard them a few times over the years. Hoping to zero in on them sometime.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on May 16, 2015 at 12:55 AM
Loved reading your comment. The photo definitely gets a "Wow!" from me. Congrats on the shot and on having such fantastic new neighbors. A heart-warming story to hear that they have come back.
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 16, 2015 at 3:53 AM

Neil,

Wonderful capture in what appears to me not to be the best of light, always nice to hear some good news.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Todd Bauer on May 16, 2015 at 6:59 PM

Nicely captured engaging pose.

Registered on May 28, 2014, 50 Posts, 176 Comments