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Secret Nest
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Secret Nest

by Jim DeWitt

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted April 18, 2016292 views3 comments
Canon 1D-X, 500mm f4, handheld
f5.6, 1/500, ISO200

For some years, there has been a Great-horned Owl nest partially hidden in the trees against the wall of the old gym at the Malheur NWR Field Camp. Mom was on the nest, Dad was two trees down. The wall of the gym creates a shady area in the searing hot sun.

80% of full frame. Selective sharpening of the bird; cloned out some hot spots.

​C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 18, 2016 at 2:19 PM
Great shot Jim - I love the like of disdain on the owls' face.  Yesterday I observed an Owl and its chicks on an old osprey tower/nest in the middle of a Marsh and there's another nest I've photographed where the bird took a hollow on an old defunct pier above 10' deep water and called it home.  They sure are crafty
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on April 19, 2016 at 11:44 AM
Hey Jim,
Nice environmental image that tells a story of how these Owls have learned to coexist with man's continual pursuit of reducing habitat for wildlife. You had some very difficult lighting conditions here it would appear.
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 29, 2016 at 6:02 PM
I remember this nest from my last visit. Now that I'm back in Oregon, I have no excuse to not get to Malheur spring and fall (as long as the radicals don't close it down again).
Great owl and full-face view.
The nest seems a little bright, and a program (now FREE) like Nik's Viveza would allow selective darkening with no abrupt edges.

Love it - congrats on the EP!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments