One more from a private site that sometimes has been known to have at least six birds all up in the air at once.
Their plight continues with much diveing for prey and not getting anything. Hopefully the better weather will improve things on the Vole front, but not until this weekend is over it seems.
D2X's + 600mm AFS + 1.4 conv.
1/80 @ f7.1
ISO: 320.
Ex Comp -0.3ev.
Colour Space Adobe RGB.
Colour Mode II.
Tone Comp less contrast.
Saturation: Normal.
She looks a tad on the skinny side hope things improve for them soon as well.....
The ones I've been photographing in your neck of the woods have had some success, thankfully...
Another nice portrait of a Barn Owl. I agree she looks pretty thin. We are predicting first egg dates this year to be about the end of April, a bit later than last year. Female's weighed in a study area are still under breeding weight, although one or two are showing signs of being intersted in egg laying(pellet shredding in the box). So hopefully the weather will improve and allow the male's to get them their food. Interestingly my pair have spent the whole winter away from their breeding site, and only come back on the 31st of March, for the last three evenings I have seen them come out of the box, sit on the ledge and do some rather touching bonding behaviour, rubbing their head on each others necks, preening each other around the head and neck and what looks like to be "kissing" (touching beaks), this final act of bonding would be followed by copulation, which I have seen them do for the last three evenings, then they will just sit on the ledge or in a branch, I have not actually seen them hunting yet! I expect my Female to be commited to the box in the next 7-10 days and first eggs by the end of April as I said earlier. Anyway...........nice shot!! Sorry about the ramble
Lovely shot Major. Have you thought about putting some day-old chicks out for them if things get too bad? The Barn Owls I'm seeing locally are sometimes out and about in the daytime which suggests they're also struggling for food.
Dave
Thats already being done Dave. I went last night and put some in the old control tower on the airfield I visit.
A pair of Barn Owls sat out in the adjacent field and screamed abuse at me because I was a bit slow in leaving. As soon as I walked out they imeadiately returned to the building flying off with the chicks. So every other night I go for the time being to feed.
Also for anyone interested there is a small strip of land here with spring Barley on and its soon due to be rolled. There are at least four pairs of Lapwing nesting. Have found and staked out three nest (all containg four eggs) so that Mr Farmer can go round them.
Major.
Nice shot, and it's good to hear about what is being done to help the birds. The ones that are around where I live have unfortunately not been seen this year. Keep up the good work!!
Dave
Posted by Rene de Heer on April 5, 2008 at 4:54 AM
Many thanks for that.
Went late this afternoon to put out chicks.
Not a single Barn Owl in site. Either I was a bit early or they were keeping out of the cold wind. Put some in the control towre and others on pernching posts that are scattered around the airfield.
Discussion
19 repliesTheir plight continues with much diveing for prey and not getting anything. Hopefully the better weather will improve things on the Vole front, but not until this weekend is over it seems.
D2X's + 600mm AFS + 1.4 conv.
1/80 @ f7.1
ISO: 320.
Ex Comp -0.3ev.
Colour Space Adobe RGB.
Colour Mode II.
Tone Comp less contrast.
Saturation: Normal.
Major.
Dave
The ones I've been photographing in your neck of the woods have had some success, thankfully...
Beautiful work Major....
Tony
Beautiful - the lighting is superb and the detail and BG are perfect!
David
It's just a shame the birds looks underfed
Beautiful image!
Another nice portrait of a Barn Owl. I agree she looks pretty thin. We are predicting first egg dates this year to be about the end of April, a bit later than last year. Female's weighed in a study area are still under breeding weight, although one or two are showing signs of being intersted in egg laying(pellet shredding in the box). So hopefully the weather will improve and allow the male's to get them their food. Interestingly my pair have spent the whole winter away from their breeding site, and only come back on the 31st of March, for the last three evenings I have seen them come out of the box, sit on the ledge and do some rather touching bonding behaviour, rubbing their head on each others necks, preening each other around the head and neck and what looks like to be "kissing" (touching beaks), this final act of bonding would be followed by copulation, which I have seen them do for the last three evenings, then they will just sit on the ledge or in a branch, I have not actually seen them hunting yet! I expect my Female to be commited to the box in the next 7-10 days and first eggs by the end of April as I said earlier. Anyway...........nice shot!! Sorry about the ramble
Regards
Rob
Dave
Tim
A pair of Barn Owls sat out in the adjacent field and screamed abuse at me because I was a bit slow in leaving. As soon as I walked out they imeadiately returned to the building flying off with the chicks. So every other night I go for the time being to feed.
Also for anyone interested there is a small strip of land here with spring Barley on and its soon due to be rolled. There are at least four pairs of Lapwing nesting. Have found and staked out three nest (all containg four eggs) so that Mr Farmer can go round them.
Major.
Dave
Rene de Heer
Frederic
Regards Chris
Went late this afternoon to put out chicks.
Not a single Barn Owl in site. Either I was a bit early or they were keeping out of the cold wind. Put some in the control towre and others on pernching posts that are scattered around the airfield.
Major.