Nice, very nice, you would have thought that he would have had more sense and sheltered from the elements, but what does that say about the photographer ???
As a personal preferance the snow-frozen in movement instead of the streaks here but would still love an image like this in my collection
Dave
Posted by Ian Mason on February 2, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Yes, I'd be ecstatic if this were mine.
Posted by Vincent Jones on February 2, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Thanks for the comments
Am I reading right from above that some folks are a tad concerned because the Owl was brought out of it's cosy aviary to be used in these conditions to obtain a photograph, tut tut tut
Training captive bred birds to fly free gets the birds much fitter & healthier, even perching them out like this, gives them a taste of life outside the aviary, it does gets them out to experience the wild environment, thats for sure. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Every day & on a rota system, we do our best to train all our birds to be able to cope with all weather conditions, this is to be storms included.
Wild birds need to encounter all types of conditions so why shouldn't our birds be any different. They do get a taste of what a wild bird as to experience out there.
By using certain training methods in a moderate manner as not to cause any harm to the birds, this enables us to toughen them up so we as handlers know & we can visually see & understand that they are being trained to cope with what conditions the wild will throw at them.
Now we are settling at the new location, training during 2009 will be stepped up because of the wild farm environment they will be encountering, they need to be able to fly around the place feeling confident.
You never know, one day we might loose one or one could stay out for days. If out then the conditions they could enconter could be snow like today or stormy conditions or very wet days, always expect the worse when training birds to fly free.
Just because these are captive bred birds, don't be fooled by this, they can easily put themslves at risk if not environmental trained.
A captive bred species doesn't always mean that they live a retired lifestyle, all relaxed whilst kept 24/7 in the confines of a protected aviariy.
Get them out there is what I say & get working & learning more about the countryside they could loose themselves in. biggrin:
Discussion
11 repliesNot a great time for wild Barn Owls who are going to struggle in these wintery conditions.
Taken on the afternoon of the 2nd February 2009. (For record)
D2X
Nikon 200mm F2 VR
ISO 100
F5.6
1/125th sec
Handheld
(c) in title for captive bred
Thanks for looking
Doesn't look too impressed with the snow! Lovely colours, well composed.
Kevin
Excellent shot.
Dave
Am I reading right from above that some folks are a tad concerned because the Owl was brought out of it's cosy aviary to be used in these conditions to obtain a photograph, tut tut tut
Training captive bred birds to fly free gets the birds much fitter & healthier, even perching them out like this, gives them a taste of life outside the aviary, it does gets them out to experience the wild environment, thats for sure. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Every day & on a rota system, we do our best to train all our birds to be able to cope with all weather conditions, this is to be storms included.
Wild birds need to encounter all types of conditions so why shouldn't our birds be any different. They do get a taste of what a wild bird as to experience out there.
By using certain training methods in a moderate manner as not to cause any harm to the birds, this enables us to toughen them up so we as handlers know & we can visually see & understand that they are being trained to cope with what conditions the wild will throw at them.
Now we are settling at the new location, training during 2009 will be stepped up because of the wild farm environment they will be encountering, they need to be able to fly around the place feeling confident.
You never know, one day we might loose one or one could stay out for days. If out then the conditions they could enconter could be snow like today or stormy conditions or very wet days, always expect the worse when training birds to fly free.
Just because these are captive bred birds, don't be fooled by this, they can easily put themslves at risk if not environmental trained.
A captive bred species doesn't always mean that they live a retired lifestyle, all relaxed whilst kept 24/7 in the confines of a protected aviariy.
Get them out there is what I say & get working & learning more about the countryside they could loose themselves in. biggrin:
Heres for not being too being soft
Nice shot Vince, like it lots.
Andy...
Brett