Barred Owl

[Plumcrak]

For months, every time I am at my folks house I hear them but have never seen them. Well, this evening was my first sighting. It took a while to get close enough but shooting through the thick woods was tricky. They were very alert to every move I made.
Now that I know they are really close by I will have to try again

C&C welcomed

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

...and just like that, poof, he was gone.
6.

[Mike Buckley]

Coming upon this scene for the first time ever must have been especially rewarding. Hopefully the birders who know the best advice to give will speak up so you can take advantage of their suggestions in future captures. (If I ever seriously photograph a bird, it will surely be made of glass, perhaps broken glass. )

[Plumcrak]

After this evening I have come to the conclusion that I need a longer lens Now for the tricky part...convincing my wife of this fact

Mike, it was VERY rewarding. I tried not to make eye contact with the owl but every time I glanced at it he was just staring at me like a piece of meat. It is very cool (and kinda creepy) when he would turn his head almost 180 degrees around.

[FootLoose]

I think these are very good environmental shots, Jon. I have never seen one of these owls, they seem to have a very innocent expression. Good to fool their prey, maybe...

[rtbaum]

I think that you have already learned the first lesson.......you don't sneak up on birds

[Plumcrak]

Randy, I believe it is impossible to sneak up on these guys

[rtbaum]

Jon, Not only is an owls vision much more acute than ours, but they see in the UV spectrum. The ramification....rodents have no bladder control, leaving urine trails.......rodent urine fluoresces in the UV spectrum

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[John 2]

Nice set of captures. I have never yet come across a stationary owl in my wanderings. They must see me coming a mile away.

[Mike Buckley]

Jon,

If you were serious about the need for a long lens, you might want to check the weather forecast for a week or two and point your browser toward LensRentals.com. Much less expensive than buying even a used lens.

[chauncey]

A FWIW comment regarding shooting wildlife in general...they are a lot less skittish when you give them the impression that they are not your focus of attention.
As an example, I can shoot up close all day, from the confines of my truck with the radio blasting away, and they will ignore me. But, the second that I exit the truck...they are gone! The same applies to that silly scooter that I use.
It's almost like they're more comfortable with some type of barrier between you and them.

[IzzieK]

Those photoshoots are wonderful. I have only taken one blurred shot of an owl -- in Florida two years ago. But it was white. Don't know what sort of breed it was. But your shots here are really clear and I like your story too. It is nice to inject some humour to it. In fact, stupid as I may be, I like your #6 shot that accompanied your comment.

[Plumcrak]

A FWIW comment regarding shooting wildlife in general...they are a lot less skittish when you give them the impression that they are not your focus of attention.
As an example, I can shoot up close all day, from the confines of my truck with the radio blasting away, and they will ignore me. But, the second that I exit the truck...they are gone! The same applies to that silly scooter that I use.
It's almost like they're more comfortable with some type of barrier between you and them.

Chauncy, I figured that out the hard way While working in the yard it would just sit there and watch me but as soon as I looked at it, off it would go. Even with a truck between us, if I looked, he would fly.

[Plumcrak]

John, John and Izzie, thanks for the comments. Hopefully I will be able to find him and his mate tomorrow when we are there.
Oh, by the way, my Dad has named this one Herman!

[flashback]

Jon, great shots. Some years ago I knew a wildlife rehabilitator and had the opportunity to get up close to a barred, great horned and snowy owl. They are truly magical up close.

You might want to scout the area for whitewash on tree branches, trunks and on the ground. Often an owl will revisit a particular perch, either from which to hunt, or to consume its catch (or both). Finding a suspected perch scan the ground for owl pellets.

Regarding Randy's comment about hunting via UV urine trails, I know that kestrels do but I'm not aware of any owls that hunt in such a manner. Owls, with sufficient light will sight hunt, but are equally adept at finding prey simply from sound. Both ear size and placement are asymmetrical and are significant in allowing an owl to zero in on prey from sound alone.

I might suggest you get a recording of barred owls to play in the area you saw this particular one. They will often respond to calls and may come in to investigate, either out of concern if they are still raising young or just to defend their territory. If they are raising young and you are close to their nest site they are prone to buzz intruders, so heads up.

[Plumcrak]

Jack, thanks for the info, I hope it will help me. This pair has been on Mom and Dads property for several years now and Mom has gotten to the point where she can step out side, do her best Barred Owl impression and they will answer her. It is pretty cool.

[flashback]

Jon, that is cool. And given that barred owls don't migrate, and for that matter don't really move around that much it's likely the same pair that's been there for years. Look around and you might find the nest. If you do you'll have some great opportunities for shots of the young as they grow and fledge.

[wtlwdwgn]

You took good advantage of a great opportunity. Very nice images. Wish I could could find some to shoot!

[Plumcrak]

Thanks Steve. Come on out to N.E. Indiana, I will take you to the folks place.