{"id":34611,"date":"2015-12-31T05:45:33","date_gmt":"2015-12-31T12:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=34611"},"modified":"2025-05-23T09:22:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T14:22:32","slug":"farewell-to-2015-owl-see-you-in-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/12\/31\/farewell-to-2015-owl-see-you-in-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Farewell to 2015 &#8211; Owl See You in 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-146297 size-full\" title=\"Relaxed Burrowing Owl juvenile on a water trough, Box Elder County, Utah\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603.jpg\" alt=\"Relaxed Burrowing Owl juvenile on a water trough, Box Elder County, Utah\" width=\"850\" height=\"607\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27850%27%20height%3D%27607%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20850%20607%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27850%27%20height%3D%27607%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603-200x143.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603-400x286.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603-600x428.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603.jpg 850w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Relaxed Burrowing Owl juvenile on a water trough &#8211; Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n<p>2015 has been a simply wonderful year. Sure there have been bumps in the road for me but there have been many joys and accomplishments too.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t know how many hours I have spent in the field photographing birds and wildlife this year but I know that every moment has been special and I treasure that. I&#8217;ve grown as a photographer, a wildlife advocate, and as a person.<\/p>\n<p>I remember well the day I photographed this juvenile Burrowing Owl in Box Elder County this past July. It was scorching hot and the mosquitoes were ravenous but as I sat alone with my window of my Jeep down taking images of this young owl I felt connected to something much deeper than myself.<\/p>\n<p>You might even say I felt the pulse of nature and through it the world. Any time a person can do that it is what makes life good.<\/p>\n<p>Life <em>is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n<p>I wanted to thank all of you who read my blog and share your thoughts, insights and knowledge with me and the other people who come to my web site. You are all a gift I treasure. Thank you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Owl See You in 2016.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Life<em> is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n<p>Mia<\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/burrowing-owl-images\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Burrowing Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n<p>Please check out the <a href=\"http:\/\/burrowingowlconservation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Burrowing Owl Conservation Network<\/span><\/a> which has changed its name to the <a href=\"http:\/\/urbanbird.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Urban Bird Foundation<\/span><\/a>. They are doing great work for Burrowing Owl conservation. Their new vision is \u201c<em>Birds. People. Communities. A better, sustainable living for all.<\/em>\u201d<span style=\"color: #808080;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I don&#8217;t know how many hours I have spent in the field photographing birds and wildlife this year but I know that every moment has been special and I treasure that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146297,"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":[27,1148,52,26],"tags":[55,2663,4214,4067,4071,3967,4455,294,5119,4156,2254,2315,14775,4516,4193],"class_list":["post-34611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-burrowing-owls","category-utah","tag-athene-cunicularia","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-burrowing-owl","tag-immature","tag-juvenile","tag-owl","tag-owlet","tag-owls","tag-relaxed","tag-resting","tag-species-of-concern","tag-summer-3","tag-water-trough","tag-western-burrowing-owl","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8603.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-90f","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26957,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/07\/27\/it-is-tough-being-a-bird-photographer-when-it-comes-to-burrowing-owls\/","url_meta":{"origin":34611,"position":0},"title":"It Is Tough Being A Bird Photographer When It Comes To Burrowing Owls","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 27, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"You might wonder why I think it is tough being a bird photographer when it comes to Burrowing Owls.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Burrowing Owl perched on a watering trough, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-watering-trough-mia-mcpherson-8630.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-watering-trough-mia-mcpherson-8630.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-watering-trough-mia-mcpherson-8630.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-watering-trough-mia-mcpherson-8630.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":98321,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/12\/20\/aba-bird-of-the-year-2022-the-burrowing-owl\/","url_meta":{"origin":34611,"position":1},"title":"ABA Bird Of The Year 2022 &#8211; The Burrowing Owl!","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"It was announced yesterday that the Burrowing Owl is the 2022 ABA Bird of the Year! Burrowing Owls are small, long-legged, sandy-colored, charismatic owls with bright yellow eyes.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antelope Island State Park&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Burrowing Owl on a stump in soft morning light, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/burrowing-owl-immature-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-7693.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/burrowing-owl-immature-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-7693.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/burrowing-owl-immature-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-7693.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/burrowing-owl-immature-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-7693.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26817,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/07\/21\/more-juvenile-burrowing-owls-from-box-elder-county\/","url_meta":{"origin":34611,"position":2},"title":"More Juvenile Burrowing Owls From Box Elder County","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I think I could photograph juvenile Burrowing Owls for two months straight and not get bored with them.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Burrowing Owl stretching on a fence, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-wing-lift-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-wing-lift-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-wing-lift-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-wing-lift-mia-mcpherson-5403.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26026,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/07\/01\/a-bundle-of-western-burrowing-owls\/","url_meta":{"origin":34611,"position":3},"title":"Bundle of Western Burrowing Owls","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I thought I would share some images I have taken of Western Burrowing Owls that I took over several days spent with them in Box Elder County, Utah.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Burrowing Owl about to land on a barbed wire fence, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-flight-mia-mcpherson-8669.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-flight-mia-mcpherson-8669.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-flight-mia-mcpherson-8669.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-flight-mia-mcpherson-8669.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45424,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/03\/09\/young-burrowing-owl-on-a-post-in-morning-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":34611,"position":4},"title":"Young Burrowing Owl on a Post in Morning Light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Two years ago in July I photographed this young Burrowing Owl on a post in morning light and I relaxed and let a smile form on my lips.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Burrowing Owl on a post, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-post-mis-mcpherson-0023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-post-mis-mcpherson-0023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-post-mis-mcpherson-0023.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-post-mis-mcpherson-0023.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39411,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/05\/12\/juvenile-burrowing-owl-balancing-act\/","url_meta":{"origin":34611,"position":5},"title":"Juvenile Burrowing Owl Balancing Act","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 12, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed this juvenile Burrowing Owl balancing act last year in northern Utah not long after the sun came up","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Burrowing Owl flapping its wings on a wire, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8915.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8915.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/burrowing-owl-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-8915.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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