Great Horned Owl fledgling in Glacier County, Montana – Nikon D200, tripod mounted, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 272mm, natural light, not baited or called in
Currently throughout the breeding range of Great Horned Owls the owls have either begun to nest or have nested already. Great Horned Owls have a large range and are found in the U.S., Canada and Central America. Great Horned Owls can begin breeding as early as November in Florida and as late as May in the most northern part of their range.
This fledgling Great Horned Owl was photographed in the month of June in Glacier County, Montana in the window of an old granary, the strong winds in northern Montana have pushed the granary to a slant. Even at this young age the horns of the owlet were visible. Looking at this young Great Horned Owl I can visualize what it will look like as an adult and earns the nickname “Tiger of the Sky”.
*Because of Google’s changes it Image Search and how they have begun to hotlink to my larger images I will no longer post large versions of my files on my blog.
Fledgling Burrowing Owl – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
This is an image I created a few years ago of a fledgling Burrowing Owl on the way to Antelope Island State Park. The burrow was just off of the shoulder of the road so getting images while staying in the truck and using it as a mobile blind was easy.
This juvenile Burrowing Owl was just learning to fly at the time and wasn’t always great at landing. When I took this image it had made a soft crash landing into the Rabbitbrush and it was trying to get its balance back. I could not resist laughing as I watched the young owl flutters its wings but my laughing did make it hard to keep my focus locked on.
These Burrowing Owls are amazing and funny subjects that are tremendous fun to photograph.
There is finally some clearing in the clouds here so I’m heading out to find some birds to photograph, hope I remember how to use my camera!
Great Horned Owl fledgling perched in a granary window
Fluffy Great Horned Owl fledgling + knotty weathered wood + large yellow eyes = Wonderful!
It isn’t likely that I will have any new images of Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) fledglings this year because they breed so early in the season so I thought I would post one from two years ago that was taken in Glacier County, Montana while it perched in the window of an old granary that is wickedly lopsided. I’m most likely at that same location today (this post was scheduled ahead of time) trying to locate the adult owls.
I adore owls; especially juveniles, old barns, homesteads and granaries so this image always makes me smile when I see it.
Mia
More Great Horned Owl images
*I am away and this post was scheduled ahead of time, please feel free to share with your friends & family.
Let’s face it some butt shots aren’t very pretty but some can be awfully darned cute!
Butt Shot! – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
I’ve never been able to think of a great caption for this Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) image, if anyone has an idea for one, please leave it in your comment.
The juvenile had been preening and gave this wonderful pose, oh how I wish it had been facing me! Even though I didn’t have eye contact from the owl I simply couldn’t delete this file, it is too funny.
I’ve selected a few Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) images taken a few years ago to post today.
Burrowing Owl juvenile – Nikon D200, f8, 1/400, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
This juvenile Burrowing Owl posed very nicely in the light of the rising sun on Antelope Island State Park. I love those bright yellow eyes and the long rictal bristles surrounding the curved beak.
Adult Burrowing Owl – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/400, ISO 200, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
Adult western Burrowing Owls have paler plumage than the juveniles, lighter barring on the chest and always seem to me to be more serious looking than the juveniles who can at times appear to be quite clownish. I’ve heard them called the “Clowns of the western deserts”.
Peekaboo Burrowing Owl fledgling – Nikon D200, f8, 1/250, ISO 200, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
There used to be a burrow on Antelope Island State Park where Burrowing Owls could be seen and photographed frequently from the road but that appears to be no longer the case.
Last year there was an incident involving a few photographers walking on top of the burrow that may have caused the burrow to be abandoned, or worse; they may have crushed the burrow while walking on it and killed an adult that may have been inside because after that incident I only ever saw one adult owl near it and it seemed in distress for several weeks as it sounded frequent alarm calls from the tops of Sagebrush near the burrow. More about that incident can be read here and here.
It is my dream to find more Burrowing Owls to photograph this year. They are beautiful, interesting and entertaining owls to observe and photograph.
Great Horned Owl fledgling in Glacier County, Montana – Nikon D200, tripod mounted, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 272mm, natural light, not baited or called in 
