Juvenile Burrowing Owls Checking Each Other Out

Juvenile Burrowing Owls are just as interested in and curious about their own siblings as they are everything else in their environment.

 

burrowing owl 3093 ron dudley

 1/1600, f/10, ISO 1250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

They’re constantly watching each other’s antics or waiting for them to begin. These two, photographed about 6 weeks ago in Box Elder County, kept such a close eye on each other that one was nearly always watching the other but I had some difficulty timing a shot that caught reciprocal gazes. The visual interaction is part of what I like about the image.

As one might expect, their curiosity occasionally gets them in a little trouble.

 

 

burrowing owl 3134 ron dudley

  1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 1250, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

At this location they like to perch on both the fence posts and the wire but the wire is a precarious perch so they have more trouble with it, especially in a breeze. The problem is compounded when one of their siblings takes off on a practice flight because the perched birds like to watch those in flight. As we all know from our own experience, maintaining one’s balance while looking up isn’t easy. This bird had great difficulty staying on the wire as it watched its sibling in the air but its struggles gave me some interesting wing positions that I like.

Some might think that the image needs rotation because of the angle of the wire but this is its true angle as evidenced by the vertical bracing wire. These photos were taken soon after sunrise so the light was still low, thus the high ISO’s.

Burrowing Owls populations have been struggling in recent years but this seems to have been a banner year for them in northern Utah. One day a few weeks ago I estimated that there were about 100 owls in an area of roughly 500 acres near this location. I hope that trend continues.

Ron

 

18 Comments

  1. It’s exciting to know that you are seeing more of them. That’s a good trend.

  2. Oooooh.
    As soon as I see a post title which includes them I know that the treat will be HUGE. And it was.
    Thank you.

  3. One of these days I hope to see a burrowing owl!! Your images put a smile in my heart!

  4. I hope the trend of increasing Burrowing Owls increases, too. They provide some of the best entertainment in the world. As usual, these photos made me smile. Thank you.

  5. That first shot is so funny! I always love the expressions on these little feathered clowns…they don’t have to do anything to be funny and make me laugh.

    • Great to hear they’re doing so well this season–so far. Sure hope their success continues…

      • Seems like they often choose perches that are surprisingly small and narrow…with barely enough room for both feet….

    • “they don’t have to do anything to be funny and make me laugh.”

      I feel the same way, Patty. I often find myself smiling just in anticipation of their next silly move, expression or pose.

  6. Hi Ron, Great images, and I especially like your words: “…100 owls in an area of roughly 500 acres”. Good (and heartening) news!
    Cheers,
    Dick

  7. Wow! Both are great shots. Thank you for sharing!

  8. Charlotte Norton

    Beautiful shots Ron!
    Charlotte

  9. Love the photos especially the first. Love how the colors of the owls blend in with the colors of the weathered post and wire. I wonder how many birds have landed on that post. It looks pretty worn! And the eyes can tell quite a story. You nailed that!

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