Hoo hoo!!! Calling on the Great Horned Owls!!! It's time to check up on you all!
Owls are tricky birds to locate. However once you know where they like to nest, it's not hard to find these magnificent birds!
I am happy to report that the 5 sites(that I know about) have returning pairs of Great Horned Owls again this year. There are certainly more nests around Tucson as I hear people talk about their favorite neighborhood owls.
Once I know where they hang out, I like to keep their locations secret:)
Of course the moon and the owl go hand in hand. On this day, Kathie would spot the owl on the Saguaro! Both birder/blogger/friend Cynthia and myself were ecstatic. Now we knew they were there because Kathie has been keeping her eyes on them. I am currently watching on a daily basis two nests again....one at my work site and another at a favorite local patch of mine.
However many tourists were in the area and we directed our cameras from the owl while they passed us by. They didn't stop and our subterfuge worked! Usually, we get a "helpful" soul who ends up frightening the birds away. Or we get the question, "Whatcha lookin' at?" On a recent outing, I was trying to film a gnatcatcher while a burly man came by and blocked my shot asking loudly, "Looking for them hawks?!" Did it look like my camera was pointed at the sky??!!! The bird was on a bush! If it had been a lifebird, he would have heard a few choice words:) Thankfully I got the shots needed. So the moral of this story is.....direct your camera away from your subject while people are around. And if possible, direct it at a plant or at someone near you. When the danger has cleared, relocate your subject and film!
Once they left, our cameras went back to the owl again:)
It's now nesting time for our owls here in Tucson and Southern Arizona. I wonder "hoo" else is out there?:)
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So many people just walk by all the beauty and birds. Good idea to move the camera away from the real model. Glad your Owl is back by work.
ReplyDeleteThe best way to act...
ReplyDeleteWonderful collections...Have a nice wekeend...
ReplyDeleteI love owls, Cool photos! Great shots, Chris! Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteWho knew birdwatching was full of such strategy & subterfuge?!?!?! Love the owls - they look like a cross between a bird and a cat!! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteOhhhh!!!.. Just beautiful.. love it.. :-)))
ReplyDeleteHi Chris.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, owls are my favourites. I'm very envious of your Great Horned Owls, and having such brilliant perches for them is a real bonus too!! Great post!
Thanks for the good tip about deflecting unwanted attention!
The comment facility now seems to be working fine for me - perhaps it was just a glitch?
It happens to me from time to time with other's boxes. I think it might be from using different computers or just blogger in general. Glad you comment this time. Owls are my favorites as well:) That's how I found your site. You get the best flight shots! I'm waiting for that iconic Barn Owl flying over the fields:)
DeleteSome good advice from you there Chris. Not all the attentiopn directed at birds (and raptors/owls in particular) is of the welcome sort. Love the shot on top of the cactus. Looks like the Great-horned take to nest boxes?
ReplyDeleteHi Phil,
DeleteGHO are super um....relaxed when it comes to making their own nest. Which is something they don't do at all:) The nests we are observing right now have owls in a former Harris Hawk nest, Red-tail Hawk nest, a cement block, a small cave, and an actual owl box.
Hi Chris, the Great Horned Owl on the Saguaro is outstanding! I've been watching a handful of GHO nests as well; so neat to see how fast the owlets grow. Those are great suggestions for keeping the "helpful" passerbys from frightening away the birds!
ReplyDeleteYou are very lucky having such a wealth of exotic creatures around.
ReplyDeleteThe great horned owl is magnificent! Wonderful shots Chris!
ReplyDeleteI love it! That bird in the box is a spectacular shot.
ReplyDeletehe looks a little mad in the first two
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and images.....It was an awesome day - we'll do this again :)
ReplyDeletereally cool. and you are a patient man. :)
ReplyDeleteUwielbiam te śliczne ptaszki z "uszami". Świetnie wyglada na drugim zdjęciu i na czubku kaktusa. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
ReplyDeleteI love these beautiful birds with the "ears". Great looks in the second picture, and on top of a cactus. Yours sincerely.
Wow that is so cool that you get to see these beautiful birds in the wild. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are finding more Great Horned Owls in your area. You will have so much fun following them. They will soon get to know you --and become your friend... ha
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos.
Hugs,
Betsy
A little bird told me that it was someone's b-day!:) Happy birthday to George!!
DeleteNothing better than finding a GH Owl, the intensity of their eyes never ceases to amaze. Lovely shot of Kathie :)
ReplyDeleteYou mean I am not the only one that moves her camera away from my subject when touristy people, joggers or hikes come by?
ReplyDeleteLove the owl on the Saguaro!
Mia, I think you and I are on the same page when it comes to people. I've made an agreement with the birds and animals:) I don't reveal their locations and they come out for me to visit:) I had an issue recently with a photographer who used to bait as ransom for a hawk. That's not cool at all. Putting bird seed out at the feeders is one thing, but taking a hawk's meal and moving it to another location for better photos is a big NO NO in my book. And then there's the general tourists......:)
DeleteGreat photos of these lovely owls Chris :) It never ceases to amaze me how so many people fail to notice the beauty of the natural world around them!
ReplyDeleteFabulous owl shots! I am so glad you know where some are nesting! And I appreciated the advice to point your camera away from your subject while people pass by! :-)
ReplyDelete