Photographing Owls

[Dewald_Kirsten]

Hallo there

I really like to challange myself by the looks of things. If its not shooting my wife in a dark wine cellar its shooting owls

Anyway, I live on a farm outside Worcester and I am fortunate enough to have 2 species of nesting owls right outside my house. The one is a Barn Owl(Nonnetjies uil) and the other is either a Cape Eagle owl or a Spotted Eagle owl. The Barn Owl has a nesting pearch supplied by the farmer and has been nesting there for some time now, they raised 4 chicks this season. The Eagle owl is in one of the nearby trees.

Now for the tricky part, I want to do this at night, I hear them atleat 3-4 times per hour shreeking as the fly past, so they stay close by, now the other thing is I do not want to spook them with to much bright light etc.

Is there anyone out there that has done such a thing and I would really appreciate some tips. I am not looking to get them in flight, just while they are perched.

Thanks in advance guys and gals.

[j-ms]

The Eagle owl is in one of the nearby trees.

This suggests they are Spotted Eagle Owls. Cape Eagle Owls are cliff nesters (much more rare than Spotted Eagle Owls, even in the Cape!).

Flash is a problem with these birds because the big eyes are prime suckers for red-eye. Also, I have ethical concerns about flashing owls at night. This means you need to get them as they become active at dusk. Find out where they roost and try and get them used to your presence (but not so as to disturb them). Building a temporary hide might not be a bad idea (just a frame with some old canvas with a slit in, or even your motor vehicle if you can get it close enough).

[Dewald_Kirsten]

This suggests they are Spotted Eagle Owls. Cape Eagle Owls are cliff nesters (much more rare than Spotted Eagle Owls, even in the Cape!).

Flash is a problem with these birds because the big eyes are prime suckers for red-eye. Also, I have ethical concerns about flashing owls at night. This means you need to get them as they become active at dusk. Find out where they roost and try and get them used to your presence (but not so as to disturb them). Building a temporary hide might not be a bad idea (just a frame with some old canvas with a slit in, or even your motor vehicle if you can get it close enough).

Thanx for the reply, I am also not keen on using flash, not only because of red eye, but because it WILL spook them.

The good thing is that they are litterally right next to my house, 20m at the most. I am also contemplating a hide that I can sit in, but light might still be a factor. How about letting them get used to a spot light, or wouldnt you recomend that?

[Lance Groenewald]

How about letting them get used to a spot light, or wouldnt you recomend that?

Well Dewald, let me answer you question with a question...

How would you feel if you relied on your night vision to hunt for your (and your chicks) survival and a owl shone a spotlight into your face (especially for prolonged periods of time), thereby effectively blinding you and preventing you from hunting ?

[HiltonP]

http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/ind...e/306-tom-vezo

http://www.ukbirdphotographers.net/f...php?f=25&t=482

http://meadowblog.typepad.com/mblog/...hing-owls.html

[charlvnk]

If you want to take REALLY nice close-up pictures of owls in daytime, go to "World of Birds" in Hout Bay (Cape Town). They have a sanctuary there for owls, kept in really large cages with trees and plants inside. You can go in and walk around, so no wire or fence between you and the owls. There are several species. You can get as close as 10cm from some of them, and they will be just too happy to sit and pose for you ! You can even touch them if you dare, but I didn't try.

[j-ms]

If you want to take REALLY nice close-up pictures of owls in daytime, go to "World of Birds" in Hout Bay (Cape Town). They have a sanctuary there for owls, kept in really large cages with trees and plants inside. You can go in and walk around, so no wire or fence between you and the owls. There are several species. You can get as close as 10cm from some of them, and they will be just too happy to sit and pose for you ! You can even touch them if you dare, but I didn't try.

With all due respect, I think that Dewald wants to take nature photographs, not pictures of captive animals.

Dewald, I would still recommend trying to get your shots at dusk or dawn where the negative effect of flash on the birds will be reduced when compared to full night photography. Dusk/dawn will also allow them sufficient time to recover after the disturbance before hunting starts.

BTW, almost all the owl keepers that I have taken have been during full daylight hours.

[charlvnk]

I'm not trying to sound intelligent, no need to. Just saying it's nice to go there.

[Dewald_Kirsten]

Well Dewald, let me answer you question with a question...

How would you feel if you relied on your night vision to hunt for your (and your chicks) survival and a owl shone a spotlight into your face (especially for prolonged periods of time), thereby effectively blinding you and preventing you from hunting ?

Well that is why I asked the question and its no need to get sarcastic, a simple No would have sounded better.

How about leaving a spotlight on outside the barn, so they have to fly through it when they leave the roost?? I am sure this will not bother them to much...maybe I should goout onenight and just sit and observe them for some time to see their flight paterns etc and to see what they are doing and then set up something to work from. Any avid birders in Cape Town that might be keen on such a challange, you are welcome to join me.

[j-ms]

I'm not trying to sound intelligent, no need to. Just saying it's nice to go there.

Hi Charl. My apologies if I sounded snooty - I have a mental block about caged animals. I think I understand your good intentions.