{"id":161923,"date":"2024-07-18T06:21:39","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T12:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=161923"},"modified":"2024-07-18T12:26:48","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T18:26:48","slug":"a-banner-year-for-burrowing-owls-on-antelope-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/18\/a-banner-year-for-burrowing-owls-on-antelope-island\/","title":{"rendered":"A Banner Year For Burrowing Owls On Antelope Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’m including some highly encouraging news about Burrowing Owls on the island.<\/p>\n

Each of these photos was taken within the last six days on Antelope Island. All of them were taken in early morning and the last eight were taken during or soon after sunrise, so the light was low and very warm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

On my last two visits to the island, recently banded Burrowing Owl chicks have been surprisingly easy to find. And they often turn up in unexpected places. This one and one of its siblings were occasionally joined by…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

one of their parents. I was never close to either bird so I tried to get flight shots, but it didn’t happen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This baby had apparently been watching me for a long time before I finally spotted it.<\/p>\n

Most owl burrows on the island aren’t close to a road so close-up looks at them are the exception rather than the rule.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

When I can get closer to one of them it’s always fun to get a few mullein flowers in the background. This adult was sleepy, so it never did completely open its eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I made repeated attempts at capturing a pose I like of this adult, likely the male parent of the half-dozen chicks at the burrow. But it was hard to…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

avoid photo-bombing babies with the zoomies. I just happened to take this photo as one of the youngsters raced by its father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The young bird had turned on its afterburners, as evidenced by the dirt\/sand it kicked up in both shots.<\/p>\n

The adult male didn’t stay here for long, apparently because the youngsters were feeling their oats and causing too much commotion on the burrow mound. So he…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

landed on a nearby sunflower stalk and looked down at them with what looked like disapproval. I recognize that look as one my mother used to give me when I was acting up as a little kid. Mom wore glasses that she looked over, which exaggerated her look of disapproval. I always got the point.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While the adult male watched from his lofty perch, two of the chicks spent a long time nibbling each other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

They seemed to take turns with the nibbling. I got dozens of photos similar to these but this is one of the few where either bird had its eyes open.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

All the kissy-facing from the youngsters appeared to be…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

too much for Dad to bear, so he hid is view of them with his wing and looked at me a little cross-eyed instead.<\/p>\n

All he was really doing was preening but it still made me laugh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I had a visitor on one of the mornings when I was photographing these owls. Wendy Wilson, Manager of Antelope Island State Park and a good friend, recognized my pickup so she walked over for what turned out to be a long and very enjoyable visit. Between that visit and a later conversation I had with Park Naturalist Trish Ackley, I learned some stuff about Burrowing Owls on the island.<\/p>\n