American Barn Owl flying over a playa in morning light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I always feel fortunate when I am able to photograph winter American Barn Owls in flight during daylight hours but that means that these gorgeous owls are struggling to stay alive and that is a concern for me. During the winter when our temps in Utah are cold and there is heavy snow on the ground these nocturnal owls can be seen hunting for prey to obtain the calories they need to stay warm on long winter nights.
Yesterday I photographed two American Barn Owls that were up flying and hunting at Farmington Bay WMA and they actually concerned me more than the American Barn Owls I have photographed in previous winters because right now there isn’t a thick layer of snow on the ground at the WMA which could mean they are having difficulty finding prey or that their prey’s population has crashed.
Daylight flight of an American Barn Owl – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
This American Barn Owl was up and actively hunting in the vegetation between the road, the playa and the marsh yesterday. I’d seen it take off from a sign post to fly north then it circled back and flew towards the south in front of me.
American Barn Owl in flight during daylight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The American Barn Owl was looking and listening for prey as it flew past in the beautiful morning light giving me great views of it as I photographed it.
American Barn Owl flying over a frozen marsh – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I wasn’t going to process this photo at first because the owl’s eyes were partially closed but I kind of like that sleepy-eyed look.
American Barn Owl diving after prey – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
This photo made up for the one I missed recently of a American Barn Owl diving for prey because there was a stupid fence post in the way, this time I had the owl out in the open with nothing obstructing my view. If I get another chance to photograph a American Barn Owl diving for prey I hope the photography gods allow me to also get a catch light in the owl’s ebony eyes.
American Barn Owl flying next to the road – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Even while I photographed the American Barn Owls yesterday I worried for their well being because for them to be flying during the day I know they have to be very hungry and stressed.
Note: American Barn Owls will also fly during daylight hours to feed their hungry chicks when they have large broods.
Morning light and an American Barn Owl in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I hope that these American Barn Owls find all the nourishment they need now so they can survive until their breeding season begins and spring arrives.
I do have some guilt within me when I photograph these striking owls in flight during daylight hours because we humans are without a doubt making their lives harder by destroying their habitat, poisoning them by using rodenticides and by not doing enough to slow down climate change.
Close up of an American Barn Owl in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
My last American Barn Owl photos from yesterday were taken when one of the American Barn Owls flew in so close I clipped wing tips in most of them, this is the only one where I didn’t but wow, it was close!
Even though American Barn Owls are one of my favorite avian subjects to photograph I simply can’t forget that they are up and flying during the winter because they are hungry.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Barn Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wow! What a wonderful study of the barn owl in flight. I marvel at the detail you are able to capture even with a moving subject. Every single shot is fascinating. Thanks Mia.
So cool!
WHAT A FANTASTIC SERIES!!!!!!!!!Each one is my Favorite!!!! I HATE hearing about the decline of these beautiful, star dust sorinkled birds( kestrels and others)…could you please include tge specs for their bird houses one of these times..I didn’t know they used them until know…Thanks…also specs on where to hang them….
Patty, this is from the UK but the boxes would work well here in the Un-United States plus there is more information available on the page.
https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-nestbox/barn-owl-nestboxes/
The Barn Owl in flight photos are excellent! I’ve been to Farmington Bay recently and have been able to get some nice photos of Bald Eagles, Northern Harrier Hawks, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Red Wing Blackbirds, Pelicans, Crows, Gulls, Ducks,….. but have not been able to capture a Barn Owl. Great photos! I enjoy your blog! Very enlightening.
We all but lost our barn owls years ago in RI as farms went out and farmlands turned to scrub, but we found some nesting on Block Island, nesting in burrows in maritime cliffs. Where large glacial boulders eroded out of these terminal moraines and left pockets, the barn owls moved in. And Block Island still had its farms then.
Beautiful Mia, the diving photo (5th photo) is spectacular. Yes there are many barn owls out at the bay in daylight, someone even posted in a forum, a photo of a Northern Harrier trying to take a barn owls vole. As you know I like to walk and ride the dikes, in December there were many voles scurrying along the roads as I walked, but lately I have not seen them or their tunnels entrances along the dikes. I have guilt photographing the owls even when I try not to be invasive or chase them as they fly. The last time I was out there the photogs were so aggressive it made me sick!
Nice pictures. It is strange to see these birds fly. Reminds me of a war plane with the flat nose where the gun riders sit. lol
Hi sweetie! I so loved Owls all my life! These photo’s are so wonderful and give every detail of flight,color and they are amazing! Thanks for sharing! Great shooting! love mom
Amazing photos Mia.
Beautiful photos. Warm temps are coming up in the next week to hopefully melt a lot of the snow so maybe this will aid these guys in finding more prey and not being so stressed from the cold!
Seeing a Barn Owl diving for prey is amazing– good shots!
Video of Stacey O’Brien, with Wesley, a Barn Owl that could not be released. Her book, Wesley the Owl – The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl – is very worth a read. Among many other things we learn that Barn Owls have facial muscles used to express emotion — unlike probably any other bird.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vufEqpZZql0
Fantastic shots!!
I agree with you about guilt, but all we can do is try to convince others, especially those who are on the fence, not to use poisons/rodenticides. I feel for my grandchildren with climate change, but hopefully enough young people get the message and do better than we when they get change. Sorry for the downer.