{"id":24227,"date":"2015-05-20T05:26:05","date_gmt":"2015-05-20T11:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=24227"},"modified":"2023-07-27T03:38:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T09:38:51","slug":"a-barred-owl-at-lettuce-lake-park-and-a-precautionary-tale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/05\/20\/a-barred-owl-at-lettuce-lake-park-and-a-precautionary-tale\/","title":{"rendered":"Barred Owl at Lettuce Lake Park and a Precautionary Tale"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BarredBarred Owl, Spanish Moss and Dappled Light – Nikon D200, handheld, f5.6, 1\/160, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 300mm, flash fired, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

When I lived in Florida I spent most of my time photographing birds on the coast so I didn’t have many opportunities with Barred Owls and usually when I did see them they were nearly hidden in the understory and hanging Spanish Moss. In October of 2008 I spent a morning with a few of my friends at Lettuce Lake Park<\/span><\/a> in Hillsborough, County Florida and we wandered the boardwalk looking for birds to photograph. The weather was comfortable and the company was great.<\/p>\n

\"BarredBarred Owl – Nikon D200, handheld, f5.6, 1\/250, ISO 640, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, flash fired, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

We found this Barred Owl roosting on a moss covered branch near the Hillsborough River next to the boardwalk. It didn’t open its eyes often and the situation called for the use of fill flash which I really don’t care to use, on owls especially. We were patiently waiting for the times that the owl opened its eyes on its own.<\/p>\n

But then another photographer walked up to our small group and started playing the calls of Barred Owls on his phone or an iPod. The guy kept playing the call over and over until the owl became visibly distressed and flew away. That guy robbed us all<\/em> of more photos of the owl and none of us were pleased.<\/p>\n

I never use calls in the field and that is a matter of my own personal ethics because I feel that birds have a hard enough time in the wild without photographers manipulating them by the use of calls or baiting the subject. But there are photographers who will use the calls over and over again to draw the birds closer or to bring them into what I call an outdoor studio that has been set up to provide a perch and backdrop and they do this even during the breeding season.<\/p>\n

The calls can bring birds out into the open where they are more visible to predators and they can cause birds on breeding territory to expend their precious energy looking for an invisible rival. The birds need every bit of energy they have to breed, brood and rear their young.<\/p>\n

In my opinion the over use of recorded calls is selfish and shows little regard for the living subject.<\/p>\n

There is never a time when the image is more important that the safety and well being of the subject.<\/p>\n

Ever.<\/p>\n

We could have spent more time with this Barred Owl and it may have eventually moved to a better location for us to get photos but because of one person ticking off the owl we didn’t get that chance.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Barred Owl photos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We could have spent more time with this Barred Owl and it may have eventually moved to a better location for us to get photos but because of one person ticking off the owl we didn’t get that chance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":114766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3755,27,25,2324,2570],"tags":[4004,970,3756,4021,2663,13609,711,4620,3758,3967,294,4104,3760,2283,3759,3757,13611,13732],"class_list":["post-24227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-barred-owls","category-avian","category-florida","category-hillsborough-county","category-lettuce-lake-regional-park","tag-adult","tag-autumn","tag-barred-owl","tag-bird-photography","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-epiphytic-flowering-plant","tag-ethics","tag-fall","tag-hillsborough-river","tag-owl","tag-owls","tag-perched","tag-recorded-calls","tag-roosting","tag-spanish-moss","tag-strix-varia","tag-tillandsia-usneoides","tag-unethical"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/barred-owl-lettuce-lake-mia-mcpherson-8697.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-6iL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":109403,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/01\/07\/my-birding-by-ear-affliction\/","url_meta":{"origin":24227,"position":0},"title":"My Birding By Ear Affliction","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"My birding by ear affliction isn't that I can't hear birds; it is that I can't not hear them. Even when I am on the phone with my friends.","rel":"","context":"In "American Crows"","block_context":{"text":"American Crows","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/jays\/american-crows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Crow on ice, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/american-crow-icy-marsh-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/american-crow-icy-marsh-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/american-crow-icy-marsh-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/american-crow-icy-marsh-mia-mcpherson-2040.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":115697,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/09\/07\/i-heard-barred-owl-calls-last-night\/","url_meta":{"origin":24227,"position":1},"title":"I Heard Barred Owl Calls Last Night","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Last night, around 9 p.m., I listened to Barred Owl calls. Before Utah birders get excited, I heard those calls courtesy of my niece, Kristal, from Virginia.","rel":"","context":"In "Barred Owls"","block_context":{"text":"Barred Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barred-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Barred Owl at Sequoyah NWR, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/barred-owl-baby-roadside-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/barred-owl-baby-roadside-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/barred-owl-baby-roadside-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/barred-owl-baby-roadside-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2188.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":142762,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/04\/10\/spring-barred-owl-at-sequoyah-national-wildlife-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":24227,"position":2},"title":"Spring Barred Owl At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I was very happy to spot this spring Barred Owl adult yesterday near the end of my visit to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. Very happy indeed.","rel":"","context":"In "Barred Owls"","block_context":{"text":"Barred Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barred-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Spring Barred Owl adult in a leafy tree, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/barred-owl-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-4503.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/barred-owl-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-4503.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/barred-owl-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-4503.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/barred-owl-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-4503.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113755,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/06\/12\/roadside-fledgling-barred-owl-with-a-crawdad\/","url_meta":{"origin":24227,"position":3},"title":"Roadside Fledgling Barred Owl With A Crawdad","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"There is an amazing story behind this photo of a fledgling Barred Owl with a crawdad, photographed at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In "Barred Owls"","block_context":{"text":"Barred Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barred-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fledgling Barred Owl with a crawdad, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/barred-owl-baby-with-crawdad-mia-mcpherson-2274.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/barred-owl-baby-with-crawdad-mia-mcpherson-2274.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/barred-owl-baby-with-crawdad-mia-mcpherson-2274.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/barred-owl-baby-with-crawdad-mia-mcpherson-2274.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":127064,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/04\/03\/save-owls-by-not-using-rodent-poisons\/","url_meta":{"origin":24227,"position":4},"title":"Save Owls By Not Using Rodent Poisons","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Since spring's arrival, people will be spending time outdoors, and more people will be seeing rats in their yards and gardens. Owls eat rats and other rodents.","rel":"","context":"In "Barred Owls"","block_context":{"text":"Barred Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barred-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Barred Owl fledgling in a willow tree, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/barred-owl-chick-in-willow-mia-mcpherson-3825.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/barred-owl-chick-in-willow-mia-mcpherson-3825.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/barred-owl-chick-in-willow-mia-mcpherson-3825.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/barred-owl-chick-in-willow-mia-mcpherson-3825.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":130213,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/07\/05\/young-barred-owl-images\/","url_meta":{"origin":24227,"position":5},"title":"Young Barred Owl Images","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I was especially thrilled to photograph young Barred Owls yesterday at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. There were two of them hanging out in some willows.","rel":"","context":"In "Barred Owls"","block_context":{"text":"Barred Owls","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/owls\/barred-owls\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Barred Owl perched in a willow tree, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/barred-owl-young-willow-mia-mcpherson-8908.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/barred-owl-young-willow-mia-mcpherson-8908.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/barred-owl-young-willow-mia-mcpherson-8908.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/barred-owl-young-willow-mia-mcpherson-8908.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}