Some very good people are helping Burrowing Owls return to British Columbia, Canada and some of my images will play a (very) small part in that effort.
For some time I’ve been keenly aware of the plight of the Burrowing Owl in North America. Largely due to declining grassland habitats, populations of these adorable little owls have suffered drastically on the entire continent but the problem in western Canada is particularly serious. Burrowing Owls are officially listed as an endangered species in Canada.
Recently I received an image request from biologist Chris Gill in British Columbia. Chris and many others are involved in a project to release Burrowing Owls on the Upper Nicola Indian Reserve in southern B.C. and he asked to use some of my images for on-site signage, posters and press releases. I often donate images for conservation efforts and since Burrowing Owls are near and dear to my heart, of course I obliged. Besides, with my Canadian roots and affinity for all things Native American how could I not support such a project…
Some readers may recognize one or more of those images because I’ve posted each of them on my blog in the past. I’ve included them once again, below.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Banded adult Burrowing Owl on Antelope Island.
1/3200, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Young juvenile Burrowing Owls learning, and watching their siblings learn, how to fly in Box Elder County, Utah.
1/200, f/13, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Juvenile Burrowing Owl siblings perched on sagebrush on Antelope Island.
Thanks to extensive efforts from the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC, the Upper Nicola Indian Band, Chris Gill and many others the first owl release will occur tomorrow on the Upper Nicola Reserve. The Upper Nicola Band Chief, Band Council, other Band members, the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC and media have been invited to witness the release and attend a community potlatch afterwards.
For those interested in more information about the project I include this link.
Copyright Upper Nicola Band
This is a graphic of the signs that will be placed at the actual reintroduction site and at the Upper Nicola Indian Band office to highlight the project.
I sincerely hope this reintroduction effort succeeds over the long haul. Many things could go wrong, including the possibility that the owls won’t return to the reintroduction site after migrating south in the fall. But if you don’t try you have zero chance of success so I applaud the efforts of all involved and I suspect that most of my readers would do the same.
And damn, do I ever wish I could attend that release and celebration tomorrow!
Ron
They could not have found better images anywhere, Ron.
I’m interested in your Canadian roots???
Judy, My mother was a Canadian citizen (born in Glenwood, near Cardston, Alberta) until I was about 10 years old. I grew up on the Montana farm only about 30 miles south of the Alberta border and I spent so much time in Alberta visiting my grandparents and other relatives that to this day it seems like my second home. Much of my family history (both maternal and paternal) is Canadian and I’ve gone back often over the years (at least I used to until I had an unpleasant experience crossing the border – which was the fault of the American side, not the Canadian…).
I adore Canada. I even spent my (first) honeymoon there and it snowed on us on August 31st (maybe it was Sep. 1…)
Oh Ron, this is so wonderful! I love these images and I’m so glad to hear about the project and signage!
Thank you, Sharon. No question, it’s a great project!
Wonderful, wonderful news. Fingers and toes crossed. A big thank you to you, and to everyone else involved. I will never see a Burrowing Owl, but they have claimed a secure territory in my heart.
EC, I think it’s pretty neat that you’ve become so attached to some of our North American species even though you will never see them in Australia.
It makes sense to me. We only have one world. NOT caring about what is happening elsewhere is like being safe in the kitchen and ignoring a fire in the garage or bathroom. And anyone who can resist a Burrowing Owl has a heart of stone.
🙂 🙂
Congratulations, Ron! They can’t find any better images anywhere!! Now, let’s hope obey the signs and allow the little owls to flourish!
I understand your apparent concerns about the signs, Jane. One always wonders if signs draw unwanted attention to the owls or serve more to keep folks at a respectful distance. Hopefully the latter.
How exciting. Love the photographs. Keep us informed on how the project comes along.
I’ll report on any new developments if I can, Jean. Thanks.
Like Patty I am a very proud member of the Ron Dudley fan club.
Keep on doing your wonderful job. NATURE sure deserves it.
Thank you for your daily wonders.
“Nature” deserves all the help she can get, Jorge. Thank you.
Again, a HUGE thank you from myself and on behalf of the Upper Nicola Band!
High quality photos of wildlife, especially species that are critically endangered play a very important role in species conservation program.
Keep up the great work and please stay in touch.
Best,
Chris Gill
I love your efforts with these owls, Chris. Kudos to all involved with the project and best wishes for a spectacular success!
Good morning Chris (and Ron) – thanks for the link to this blog! Maybe we can arrange for some photos of tomorrow’s event to be shared with Mr. Dudley. 🙂
I’d LOVE for that to happen, Lynne!
I like the yellow flower in the juveniles flying shot. Grounds the electric yellow in their eyes.
Thanks Patricia. There were many more of those sunflowers just below the bottom of the frame.
CONGRATULATIONS RON ! How wonderful that you can contribute materially and inspirationally to this effort ! In communicating with these folks, you might mention a young peoples’ book on the subject
of helping save burrowing owl habitat–it’s fictional and exciting : ” Hoot ” , by the Florida journalist and author, Carl Hiassen . If these folks are establishing outreach to schools as part of their
effort , this book might be a good tool in the kit……a film version was made of this book, but it wasn’t good ; it’s no shortcut , so the book is much to be preferred….Hoot Hoot Hurray for the owls !
Thanks for mentioning the book, Kris. I’ll definitely look into it and perhaps others will too.
This is a fantastic project. I hope it succeeds. Owls have been my favorites for years. Great photos, the really represent these birds.
“This is a fantastic project. I hope it succeeds”
Ditto, Carol. In spades!
Wonderful photos, Ron and congratulations for such an honor. And, what Brent said.
Thanks very much, Dave.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Loss of habitat for a lot of wildlife is sad and at the same time inexcusable. Your blog, your photography is causing more awareness of the necessity we as a people and as a civilization need to put more care by providing space for wildlife. I am sure all of us are pulling for these Burrowing Owls to succeed and return next spring.
As we have told you over the years your pictures should go into a book – but this is an excellent trade off! More people in high place should be reading your blog!
Many thanks, and congratulations again – it is well deserved!
“your photography is causing more awareness of the necessity we as a people and as a civilization need to put more care by providing space for wildlife”
Dick, if you’re right about that then a big part of my life’s ambitions are being fulfilled. Can’t ask for much more than that…
Nope, you can’t, just keep plugging away at the injustice and plight wildlife is in with your phenomenal pictures!!
How wonderful that your photos can be used for projects such as these! I hope this adds a bit of ‘wind beneath your wings…” 🙂
That “wind beneath my wings” is nice, Alison but it’s my hope that most of it blows in the direction of the owls. And the folks mostly responsible for this effort.
Here’s that OH WOW! yet again, plus a long standing ovation for you! Yeah, I know you think yours is a small part of the effort, however, these things require a village of humans to come together in a team. So do NOT minimize your part of the team effort–not with me anyway!! Those photos are the bedrock of the education process while also inviting people to CARE about what’s going on around them! And that part of the effort is critical because humans are largely oblivious.
Burrowing owls are just outrageously wonderful! I watched several videos of a nest last year and the little ones made me laugh so many times as they figured out how to be big-kid burrowing owls. Until the video camera became part of their normal world, each one of them ran up to it and investigated it thoroughly with all the upside-down-head postures of their curiosity. That upside-down-head thing gets to my soul every time.
And yes, I’m easily amused with birds/critters. What of it? 😀 They’re ever so much more cool than humans! LOL! The big thing is they don’t destroy and poison their environment just because they’re in it. Instead, they’re one with it…what a concept!
Thanks for the kind words, Laura. I agree that education is key to encouraging support and appropriate respect for wild things.
I’ve seen the same adorable behaviors you describe of curious juvenile Burrowing Owls up close and personal through my lens. It’s something one never forgets…
CONGRATULATIONS,!!! This is. A BIG honor…and a privilege to do something like this to help these funny, cute, wonderful little guys! GOOD FOR YOu!!!
Patty Chadwick– a VERY proud member of the Ron Dudley fan club
Patty, Yes, it’s an honor that they asked to use my images. But my biggest hope is that the reintroduction is successful long-term. Thank you.
Cool! 🙂 They are neat birds and your wonderful photo’s should be a real asset to their efforts. 🙂
I sure hope so, Judy. Thank you.
Congratulations, Ron! From my perspective, nothing can be more fulfilling for a photographer than for images being used to make a positive impact. I hope the reintroduction project is wildly successful.
You’re absolutely right about that, Brent – that possible positive impact is right up there at the top of my list.
Good on ya’ Ron for playing a role in this worthy project. Excellent pics as always!!
Thanks, Zaph. My role is very small, especially when compared to the efforts of others, but I thought a blog post on the project might encourage similar efforts elsewhere or at least more support and consideration for Burrowing Owls in general.
What marvelous shots Ron! I to hope the project is very successful!
Charlotte
As do I, Charlotte. Thanks.