BIRDQUEST2004

Today I decided to try a new owl finding method.  There are things to look for when searching, like pellets or whitewash but that doesn’t always mean you’ll find the owl.  Sometimes at night listening for their calls is also a good way.  I have tried most of these methods from time to time and have been successful.

Today I tried a new tactic…Looking for the tracks,  I don’t mean owl tracks I mean people tracks.

I followed the paths at the Old Quarry Trail near Eagleson and Robertson Roads and anytime I saw lots of tracks leading into the trees I followed them.  Well it didn’t take long, I found deer, turkeys and lots of people actually standing in the tracks..go figure.  Then I came to a spot where it looked like caribou had just migrated through and followed it into a stand of Tamarac trees, looked up and there it was the Northern Hawk Owl.

It was amazing, my method worked, I had found a new stratagy for locating owls…just follow the humans.  Why didn’t I think of it before.

Thanks Rick,  for helping me follow the tracks.  At times the 200 different footprints were hard to decipher but we survived.  I think I saw some OFNC prints, Nikon prints and even some Canon prints.

Oh yes I even found some lab mice carcasses, this is one content Owl…..but its another one to add to my 2013 list.  Yes I am a birder and lister.

No mice were sacrificed (not that I’m anti-baiting, I just wouldn’t do it) in the taking of this image and no tree limbs were removed.  I just moved around until I had an unobstructed view.

So to birders and photogs alike, it doesn’t matter if you don’t post the locations of birds or not…just look for tracks.

Ciao for now….

I had heard about the sighting of a Boreal Owl in the Fletcher Wildlife/Arboretum area before I went on vacation but never had a chance to get out to look for it.  I just got back and on Saturday afternoon I recieved a call from a good friend and photographer, Mike Cummings.  That he had searched and found the Owl.  I have many photos of Boreal Owls from Amherst Island but just wanted to add it to my winter owl list for 2013.

This image was a tough for many reasons, no light, branches in the way and tough to focus.

Not wanting to get too close, We set up and used  a friends 600mm lens from about 25 feet and a release cable (thanks Bill for use of lens,  Mike for cable release).

Using a +.3 exposure value setting, high ISO and VR (vibration reduction), we were able to get usable images in very low light.  It also helps that the Owl doesn’t move at all.  Photoshop helps to touch up some spots and adjust the lighting.

Thanks for the call Mike….

The image below is from today and the other is from Amherst Island in 2005, the Owl was sitting on a sumac branch in broad daylight.

Ciao for now…