Photographing owls

I have been photographing a pair of great-horned owls that I found recently. They are usually out and about around an hour to a half hour before sunset. They have established a nesting site in an old hollowed out tree. A lot of activity is now taking place in darkness or near darkness with the male bringing food to the female, mating etc. I am thinking about setting up a flash aimed at the nest cavity and using a pocket wizard to fire it but I was wondering if the flash would disturb the owls or effect their night vision or in any way be harmful or disturbing to them. I have seen quite a few owl pictures where flash was used in books and mags but still I am wondering if others on this forum have tried it and if my fellow nature photographers think that it would be OK and not harmful or disturbing to the owls. If anyone has any knowledge or experience with this matter I would be very interested to hear your opinion.

Thanks,

Robert Bunch

My personal choice is no flash on owls when it is dark. Why risk doing something that might interfere with their normal night vision just for a photo?

I agree that any activity around or near the intended nest site may dissuade the owls from completing nidation at that site. However, after the eggs are laid great horned owls are "hard to the nest" and photoflash from a reasonable distance can be used without fear of nest abandonment. Be aware, however, that close approaches to a great horned owl nest can elicit fierce attacks by the adult owls. Raptor biologists working with nesting owls are thickly jacketed and gloved with the neck and head well protected. If you ever experience a great horned owl attack you'll never forget it. I have...and haven't, respectively.

Another aspect of GHO biology that should be considered if actual contact with the owls is possible is that they are the principal predator of skunks...both striped and spotted. Skunks are among the common wildlife reservoirs of rabies virus and the GHO has been demonstrated to be susceptible to infection with rabies virus without demonstrating clinical disease. They thus may be asymptomatic carriers. An owl infected by feeding on a the carcass of a rabid skunk seroconverted but was asymptomatic. Corticosteroid treatment induced shedding of the virulent virus in the owl's conjunctival and oral secretions (confirmed by reproducing rabies infection with the shed virus in innoculated suckling mice )

J Wildlf Dis. 1976 Jul ;12 (3):444-7 Experimental rabies in a great horned owl. R D Jorgenson, P M Gough, D L Graham

J Wildl Dis. 1976 Jul ;12 (3):392-5 Rabies antibodies in sera of wild birds. P M Gough, R D Jorgenson

Just thought y'd like t'know.

Dave Graham, Estelline, SD

Robert, I feel the same way that Rich does about interfering with their night vision. Think about how long it takes for your eyes to really adjust to the darkness and see all the stars when you go outside from the bright light indoors. For a species that relies on its night vision to survive, to me it seems unethical to disturb or undermine that ability. While those flashed shots can look dramatic, they also look very unnatural, and have little appeal for me these days.

I'm in agreement with others that flashing them is not really cool and should be avoided. Your desire to flash them is purely selfish (unless there's some biology/scientific study behind this which you would have indicated). There's nothing wrong with that - but it may seriously screw up these owl's efforts to feed, nest and raise their young.

What I would do if I were you is setup a camera on a tripod at dusk and hope the bird sits still... I've done it before and it's really the best way. If you really need some additional light - you can use an LED flashlight (off to the side - not directly aimed at the bird) to assist your camera in intial focusing or in adding a touch of light to the scene (again, I've done this).

Here's a photo of a screech owl in my backyard where the exposure was EIGHT seconds long.

screech owl no flash

Robert,
I think, if you are patient and they successfully hatch a brood of chicks at this site, you will be rewarded by their increased daytime activity.
My experience has been that once the chicks hatch there is almost nonstop hunting by the adults to provide for the growing youngsters and plenty of light to fulfill your image desires without resorting to strobes.
Just my $0.02 worth.
Neil

Flash photography of wildlife is prohibited nearly anwhere an organization has to power to stop it. It's no different that someone shining a spotlight in your eyes, only their eyes are MUCH more sensitive in the dark.

BUT: I'm glad you had the sense to ask! Kudos!

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I posted my question on this forum specifically to find out if flashing the owls would disturb them or cause them harm. The last thing I wish to do is cause any problems for these owls. I have already got many great shots of these beautiful birds and if I don't get any more I can't complain. Hopefully Neil is right and I will get a chance to get more photos in better light and some shots of baby owls as the days grow longer.

I have always loved owls and desired to photograph them probably because they are nocturnal and not easily seen and because of the mysterious and superstitious reputation surrounding them. Owls are way cool birds and I am really enjoying watching this pair even well after dark when I can no longer take pictures. I have never had an opportunity like this and just observing them is great.

Thanks again for your replies!

Robert Bunch

good for you, Robert. I feel fortunate to feel the same as you--sometimes just watching what is happening is satisfaction enough.

The owls thank you for giving a hoot.