{"id":34929,"date":"2016-01-19T05:42:23","date_gmt":"2016-01-19T12:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=34929"},"modified":"2025-10-14T07:11:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T12:11:40","slug":"an-adult-burrowing-owl-in-early-spring-on-antelope-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/01\/19\/an-adult-burrowing-owl-in-early-spring-on-antelope-island\/","title":{"rendered":"An adult Burrowing Owl in early spring on Antelope Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AnAn adult Burrowing Owl in early spring – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/640, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

It won’t be long before spring migration and the birds that come to the Great Basin to breed will arrive in great numbers, among those spring migrants that I most look forward to seeing are the Western Burrowing Owls.<\/p>\n

They are small terrestrial owls with long legs, short tails and immense appeal for photographers, birdwatchers and nature lovers.<\/p>\n

They are active both during the day and night and quite often can be found standing outside of their burrows or perched on bushes near it.<\/p>\n

In Utah Burrowing Owls are listed as a Wildlife Species of Concern and probably for a good<\/del> obvious reason, habitat destruction.<\/p>\n

If public lands are removed from public hands this species may see even more of a decline in population than they are having now. Another reason to keep federal lands out of the hands of western states.<\/p>\n

The adult Burrowing Owl in the image above was photographed in early spring on Antelope Island State Park<\/span><\/a>. At the time I photographed this owl I believe it was looking for a mate or waiting for it mate from the previous year to arrive.<\/p>\n

A pair of Burrowing Owls did successfully rear young at this burrow last year.<\/p>\n

Several times last year I saw people walk right up to this burrow because it is close to the road and their lack of nesting bird ethics bothered me.<\/p>\n

I didn’t photograph this burrow much after this image was taken because I felt the owls at this burrow were under a lot of pressure and I simply didn’t want to add to it.<\/p>\n

There were enough people already doing that.<\/p>\n

I’m looking forward to seeing Burrowing Owls soon.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my Burrowing Owl photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

Some of the owls in Utah and beyond have already begun to think of nesting or are nesting so I don’t feel it is too early to post this information on the ethics of being around or photographing nesting birds.<\/p>\n

Ethics on photographing nesting birds:<\/strong><\/p>\n