Photographing these owls fighting over territory was the chance of a lifetime for me. I’ve posted about them before but most of these images have never before been published.
- Note: Many of these images are of documentary quality only. Shooting this kind of action with multiple birds in flight was difficult, especially since back then my photo skills left a lot to be desired. A few of them are of poor quality indeed.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed these birds in June of 2011 in southwestern Montana’s Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. This is the male who was already established on the territory and bonded to a female. But on this morning at least one other male repeatedly challenged him for that territory and/or the female. She just sat on the ground and watched all the action take place.
When this photo was taken multiple attacks had already occurred and he’s waiting for yet another approach from the interloper. He’s not watching me, instead he’s scanning the horizon behind me for yet another attack from the challenging male. He does seem to have an attitude.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
He usually waited on the ground for the attack to begin and if the challenger came in too close he would leap up and present his talons in defense.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This time he only did so half-heartedly because the intruder wasn’t particularly close but a few seconds later he…
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
took off and challenged the interloper directly. I really wish this photo wasn’t so dreadfully soft but you still get the picture…
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
One time the intruder came in very high (several hundred feet) so the established owl lifted off and flew up at a very steep angle to challenge him. I could barely see this owl in the grass before he took off and here he has his eyes on the interloper high above.
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
If the intruder didn’t come in too close when he approached low to the ground the defending owl didn’t rise up and present his talons and just watched as the other owl passed by so sometimes these encounters didn’t result in actual fights. But other times they did.
I’ve posted these last two photos before but they’re the best shots I was able to get of the action so I decided to present them again (if for nothing else than their entertainment value).
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I never did see these owls actually grapple with each other in the air but they came very, very close and the defensive bird was extremely acrobatic in how he presented his talons in flight – to the point that he…
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 Extender, not baited, set up or called in
sometimes looked pretty silly. This might be the most unusual raptor flight posture I’ve ever captured.
Now that my photography skills are better developed I’d give a lot to have another chance at these fighting owls. But these photos, flawed as some of them are, sure bring back wonderful memories of a spectacular Montana morning that will never leave me.
Ron
Ron:
Don’t apologize for the flawed photos. How can a viewer appreciate all the hard work that goes into a good photo unless you can see what led up to the good ones? I think your flawed photos make your website even more interesting. Thank you.
An AMAZING series!!!! How lucky to see it and even more so to capture it !!!!
I do love me some Shorties and you captured them nicely Ron!! Those last 2 pics are off the chain!! To that upside down owl, I say “go home Shorty…you’re drunk”. 😛 Wonderful post…thank you!!
WOWIEWOWWOWWOW!!! Ron, these are AMAZING shots — especially the last two! I got goosebumps! Here are some more exclamation points for coolness and degree of difficulty: !!!!!!!!!!
By any chance, do you recall how “Mr. Upside Down” came down? Did he complete the flip or did he go back the way he came?
Tremendous shots, Ron! 😀
If I noticed that little detail at the time I don’t remember it now, Marty. I do remember how quickly he did whatever he did though. Thank you.
Thank you so much for these incredible photos!!! Being involved in the WAfLS project for the first time this year is giving me a new appreciation for this fabulous owl. I’m one of the folks asking about territorial behavior in this owl, which lead Sheri to share your photo link with Rob which he then shared with all of the WAfLS folks. OUTSTANDING! Love rare photos like this of behaviors seldom seen. Being a digiscoping videographer myself, my first thought is, “Wouldn’t a video of this behavior be wonderful!!” 😀 But, your photos are priceless!!
I’m glad to hear the link got around to folks who are interested, Becky. And yes, video would have been wonderful too.
Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. And like Laura, a string of superlatives.
What amazing memories to hug to yourself in your mind in your heart. And thank you (so much) for sharing some of the wonder.
The natural world is sooooo inspiring. And sometimes hilariously funny (to even out the tragic).
Agreed, EC – it’s nice to have some “funny” occasionally to counterbalance all the other stuff we’re bombarded with these days.
Amazing final shot from a wonderful sequence!
Thank you, Brett.
You show great pictures of things most of us never get to see. The birds are so funny and when they use their feet, like we would use our arms. Really nice and enjoy them. I am home from my knee replacement surgery, and it will be 6 weeks before I can drive around and enjoy nature. So here is to you.!
Six weeks is a long time to be “grounded”, Trudy. I hope it passes quickly for you.
Trudy, allow me to butt in here as one with TWO new knees. Trust me on this–do the rehab exercises religiously, even zealously! If you do, you’ll have a terrific outcome. I LOVE my new knees, but with the second, I wasn’t quite as zealous on the rehab and I can tell the difference. It’s not a lot since I was only a little less zealous, but the difference is there. Other than that, I LOVE my new knees!
I’ll echo Laura. My mom was “bionic” (both hips; both knees) and there was a definite difference in outcome based on zealousness of rehab ex. Good luck and hope you’re back out among ’em really soon! 🙂
I have to come in as well. Also have two new knees. Told the rehabber I wanted to climb Mt. Washington in a month and she put me through my paces!! Best descion I could have made. I also LOVE my new knees. Have had them now for 8 years! Haven’t regretted having the surgery for an instant.
Last 2 pictures are more than documentary quality .. I say WOW!!! Yes shots of a lifetime!!!
Agreed, Marina. Overall those last two are the best of the bunch.
What excitement! A continuous mating season can also be quite competitive in us humans.
I can’t match the WOW’s of your other readers, so I’ll just agree with them.
Hope you are feeling better and sorry for pouring out my soul yesterday.
No worries, Alice. Thank you.
Here we go with ridiculous redundancy again (and again and again). Oh WOW!
I got to witness one of those defensive encounters when I was out with Mariah one day near Dallas. The resident female came in hot with Mariah (female RTHA) perched on a power pole. Mariah raised up, talons pointed to the aggressor (in HER mind) and defended her right to be there. Since it was early January and nesting activities hadn’t started in earnest, the resident female let it go at that warning–thankfully. I’m also thankful that another falconer with a camera and the ability to use it was out in the field with us that day and caught two shots of that action! I will always treasure those two photos.
“I will always treasure those two photos.”
I’ll bet you will! Thanks, Laura.
I won’t say that I’m “happy” that these images are not up to your usual excellence, but I will admit that it makes me feel a little less “inadequate” on my own attempts, seeing that you experience similar results as my own. I find the unbelievable aerial positions of battling raptors to be the most fascinating and photographically illusive moments in BIF photography. Thanks for sharing these. They are exciting to look at and remind us of how far man has to go, to even come close to the flight skills found in nature.
Thanks, Everet. I sure wish I’d had better photo skills back then!
The last one was the clencher for me. Loved this! And that last one needs to be captioned “Gravity. You can’t resist it.”
Arwen, it was amazing how fast that bird righted itself after that shot was taken.
It must be one of those indelible memories. 😀
I want to say Wow also, but that last picture made me burst out laughing. Thanks for this morning’s chuckle. (I must have a weird sense of humor)
Nope, that one makes me laugh too, Jonelle.
The theme of these pictures from everyone is WOW , so I’m going with it❗️ Just beautiful shots😃
Have a great day ❗️
Works for me, Diana. Thanks.
Amazing series of shots, thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Richard.
WOW— the shots are stunning for their behavioral documentation……..at that time, could you get a sense as to which– the defender or the aggressor– was going to win the lady ?
Yes, I’m pretty sure it was eventually the defender, just as it usually is (though not always).
WOW! Exceptional shots Ron! I was fortunate to witness this behavior from some distance years ago before I started bringing my camera with me wherever I go! Being witness to this behavior is, to me, spiritual and engrossing! I sat there with bins until the intruder got the message. It was a wonderful experience and thank you for helping me recover that memory.
“Being witness to this behavior is, to me, spiritual and engrossing”
I couldn’t agree more, Dick. An experience such is this is about as spiritual as I ever get.
Probably shouldn’t admit this, but I have always wondered where some of my genes come from. I have been more in tune with the Natural World all my life. The American Indians “Great Spirit” and the love and identity to the natural world have always been a spiritual draw.
Ditto…
“Thritto”
Add me to the class of ittos.
Ditto for me, too. The Native American “Great Spirit” concept has always been the one that resonates in my soul. It’s the only worldview that makes sense to me.
Sometimes I feel we were born too late.
Ron…one of my favorite birds and the best pictures yet. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Jerry.
Ron, your photos and stories continue to astound. The blog deserves a book.
Thanks very much for your confidence in my images Chuck but don’t think the book is going to happen. I can barely keep up with doing my daily blog…
WoW!!! What a wonderful series, what incredible birds! These photos reaffirm how amazing, fascinating and beautiful the world of nature is. (Lest I forget when I get so embroiled in my work-a-day world). Can’t wait to get back out and take a hike Once again, thank you so much.
And the “soft” pics just give me a bit of reassurance as I make my way along Nature Photography’s long learning curve. 🙂
Yes, that curve is a long and challenging one for all of us, Joanne. Thank you.
How are you this morning, Ron? That is pretty interesting how the upside down Owl didn’t come crashing to the ground. I welcome this post even though you say basically that the pictures are soft. Yesterday I mentioned the bird looking like an American Wigeon but instead of a green split headcap(we call it such in the cat fancy) it had a red head with the white section down the center, well our local photographer was able to give me an identification, Eurasion Wigeon which is normally a coastal bird. You take care Ron be back tomorrow!
I’m hanging in there, Shirley.
Yes, Linda Berkemeier replied to your comment yesterday and suggested that your bird might me a Eurasian Wigeon.
WOW!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Amazing capture even if not technically perfect! Amazing how acrobatic they can be and how it didn’t land on it’s head after that exercise is beyond me! See they both have their nictitating membranes covering their eyes in the last shot and love him looking skyward in the 5th shot. A challenge to capture any of it for sure! 🙂
“they both have their nictitating membranes covering their eyes in the last shot”
Good eye, Judy. Yes, that often happened during these encounters, just as we’d expect.
Oh gosh, that last photo! Truly a treasure!
Thank you, Nancy.