Burrowing Owl – Nonchalance In The Presence Of Danger

Burrowing Owls are like humans. When they’re teenagers they think they’re invincible.

 

1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in

Several years ago this young Burrowing Owl and “his” siblings spent much of their time on or very near this old and rusty barbed wire fence. These fences are a clear and present danger to a variety of birds, grouse and owls in particular. I know from experience that a single barb is all it takes to snag an owl and end its life slowly and miserably.

But based on what I’ve seen (and haven’t seen) in the field I suspect that the very small, quicker and more agile Burrowing Owls are somewhat less vulnerable to barbed wire than larger owls like Short-eared and Barn Owls. This youngster seemed to think so as he performed a wing stretch and brushed his left wing over the wire and barbs as if they presented no danger at all. His pose and attitude seem to be the epitome of nonchalance.

Some folks don’t even like to see photos of birds and wildlife that include barbed wire but that devil wire exists in vast quantities so critters have had to adapt to it as best they can. I try to look at photos like this as evidence they’ve been able to adapt with at least some success.

The alternative to adapting to the fences and even using them to their advantage when they can would be much worse.

 

 

Here’s an alternative composition of the same image. I see strengths and weaknesses in both of them so I couldn’t make up my mind which one to post.. Aesthetically I like this vertical composition better but the horizontal crop includes more of the wire and barbs that play a significant role in part of the subject of this post – the danger barbed wire presents to birds and wildlife.

So perhaps in this context the horizontal is preferrable.

Ron

 

Happy Easter to all!

 

 

31 Comments

  1. The intro about the bravado (or stupidity) of human teenagers followed by scrolling down to our young burrowing owl made me burst out loud laughing.

    Almost as if he’s saying, “Who me?”

  2. This owl reminds me of my view in my classroom (multiplied by the 37 kids). I definitely don’t miss that defiant gaze and behavior from my students! 😛

    Happy Easter to those who celebrate and to the rest, have a wonderful Sunday!

    • Marty, your comment reminds me of how lucky I was for most of my teaching career. Except for my first few years in the classroom I had mostly advanced classes with kids who wanted to learn and do well so I had very few attitude problems. With few exceptions they were nice kids too. I still keep in touch with quite a few of them all these years later.

      My students brought out a side of me I never really knew existed. By nature I’m withdrawn, almost a classic introvert, but in the classroom I was very animated and involved. It made it a lot of fun for all of us and I owe it largely to them.

  3. OWLS!. And a heartmelting burrowing owl at that.
    Many thanks Ron, this is the perfect antidote to a painful night.
    And yes, devils wire it is. I am so very glad that most birds and animals adapt to it (and mourn for those that don’t).

  4. An Easter Owl! I love it (though not the perch). And I do prefer the vertical image because that intense gaze is my primary interest, with enough barbs showing to get that point across. What nasty stuff. But thanks for this little fella! 😍

  5. For art, the vertical. For encouraging getting rid of barbed wire, the horizontal.

    Happy Easter to you too.

  6. I like both images a lot. The barbed wire actually makes me think that this owl is the tougher of the two. And I like that fierceness I get from that thought.

  7. Happy Easter.

    I like the vertical, it is a stunning photo, it represents where these birds are, they like to hunt from the advantage height of the posts. All the angles of the fence add interest and guide the eye to the owl.

  8. Ron,

    Happy Easter to you as well.

    Stephen

  9. I love the Owl’s sharp eye’s in both photos as he stares directly at you. Nicely done!

  10. Happy Easter to you too Ron. I like the vertical best of these two. He is certainly not the first or only one to sit on that wire at that spot based on the amount of poop showing up there. 🙂
    I think most birds can land on barbed wire ok, but I think the greatest danger would be to fly into it when having to fly off very quickly.

    • Yes, that’s the greatest danger, Everett. They can’t see that wire very well in low light and when they’re flying at speed it gives the barbs a much better chance to snag them. Barbs snag feathers very easily.

  11. His expression says it all…great disdain for the wire under his feet. Fortunately I haven’t seen very much around here but I remember crawling under this stuff as a child getting my hair or clothes caught on the stuff. Supposedly snow for tonight…4″ to 8″ of it…and then followed by a bout of cold temps. Perhaps a drive later this day will reveal more new arrivals…my first female RedWing yesterday and was lucky enough to catch a pair Eastern MeadowLarks sparring for territory! Nice to find new!

    • Kathy, as a kid in Montana I had to cross lots of barbed wire fences. I never knew whether to go between the wires, under them or try to straddle the top wire and go over the top of all of them. Whatever I decided the wire usually snagged me in one place or another. It was always aggravating and often painful. Sometimes bloody.

      Hunters crossing barbed wire fences with their rifles or shotguns is another story altogether! Given his track record I suspect Dick Cheney never had to do it or he wouldn’t have survived. Or his hunting companion wouldn’t have…

  12. The tangle of wire perversely(?) balances the composition.
    The Owl’s expression pretty much says it all. I feel guilty
    and I’ve never built a barbed wire fence.

    • Lyle, I’ve repaired barbed wire fences but never constructed them. I’ve torn a few down though – old fences that were no longer needed and just caused problems. Snagging old barbed wire in a plow behind a tractor is no fun, believe me.

      Barbed wire is nasty stuff to deal with no matter what you’re doing with it.

  13. P.S. +5 and sunshine this lovely Easter Morn after sideways snow yesterday! Happy Easter!

    • It’s pretty nice here too, some clouds though. Decided to stay home this morning and not fight the crowds in the field on an Easter morning when folks aren’t supposed to be going to church or visiting with extended family and friends.

  14. Teenagers! Guess that’s just how it is in all species – otherwise what would “change” or be found “new” without the sometimes reckless abandon they bring to life during those years.? 😉 On the other hand, it DOES come at a horrible cost for some…..

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