{"id":44451,"date":"2017-01-18T06:27:47","date_gmt":"2017-01-18T13:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=44451"},"modified":"2024-11-08T03:56:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T09:56:30","slug":"wild-versus-captive-birds-in-photography-keeping-it-real-keeping-it-honest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/18\/wild-versus-captive-birds-in-photography-keeping-it-real-keeping-it-honest\/","title":{"rendered":"Wild versus Captive Birds in Photography – Keeping it Real, Keeping it Honest"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GooseGoose the Peregrine Falcon – A HawkWatch International education bird – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/13, ISO 2000, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 200mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

When I was at HawkWatch International last week to see and photograph Galileo<\/span><\/a> the Short-eared Owl that I had a small part in rescuing Nikki Wayment<\/span><\/a>, who is the Education & Outreach Director at HawkWatch International, also introduced me to some of the other education birds they have there. One of those birds is Goose the Peregrine Falcon and I took a few images of her in her mew. To learn more about Goose and how she came to be an education bird at HawkWatch please click here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Goose is a beautiful bird and I love this portrait of her, being able to be this close to a Peregrine Falcon is amazing and thrilling and I loved being able to photograph her up close in person as much as I enjoyed photographing Galileo. I’ve made it clear on my post about Galileo and in this post about Goose that they are education birds and in my photo galleries I have included this symbol (C) to indicate they are captive birds.<\/p>\n

In fact in my photo galleries the only two<\/em> captive birds found there as of this date are Galileo and Goose. The reason I place the (C) is because I do not want to deceive or confuse anyone viewing those images into believing they are wild and free birds. They aren’t and it would be totally unethical for me to omit the fact that they are captive.<\/p>\n

But some photographers do just that with birds and animals. They omit the fact that they are captive birds or animals which is not real, not honest. And some of those people try to pass off images of captive birds and animals as wild on social media and in print. Whether they are in zoos, aviaries, or game farms those birds and animals are not truly wild and free.<\/p>\n

Some time ago a person living in Florida posted a photo on a nature photography site of an owl I knew to be a captive education bird from a park I used to go to when I still lived there. Given that the rules of that site were that no captive birds\u00a0were to be posted and the guy was new to the site I tried to be nice and asked if the bird was captive and stated that there were rules about them not being posted. He denied it.<\/p>\n

Look into the right eye of Goose above and you will see a reflection of the structure of the top of her mew in her eyes. That owl also showed a similar reflection of its mew in its eyes. When confronted with that “fact” by someone other than myself the guy got angry, nasty, defensive, and bad mouthed me and others when caught in his lie.<\/p>\n

Since then I have checked out the guy’s Facebook page and he misleads people all the time by posting captive birds and animals without telling people they are captive and even goes so far as to (poorly) clone in more natural looking backgrounds in an effort to be even more deceptive. People comment on his images and tell him he “must be a bird whisperer” and he thanks them for it all the while knowing those birds are captive and even brags that he is “the bird whisperer”. To be fair at this point, I know he does photograph some birds in the wild and they are mixed in with the captive birds in his galleries.<\/p>\n

It is just wrong to mislead people in that way.<\/p>\n

I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with photographing in zoos, aviaries, or education centers where birds and animals are captive. They can be great places to practice photography and learn more about our subjects.<\/p>\n

I admit that I do have many issues with game farms which I won’t go into now.<\/p>\n

I believe that all captive animals and birds, even those photographed and held temporarily captive while being banded, should be labeled as captive any time or any where they are posted on line to keep it real and honest. To not label them as captive is deceptive and disingenuous.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Peregrine Falcon photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve made it clear on my post about Galileo and in this post about Goose that they are education birds and in my photo galleries I have included this symbol (C) to indicate they are captive birds. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136428,"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":[27,1134,709,26],"tags":[2663,5609,5234,711,4285,4078,5634,4279,5561,5205,11789,1135,5595],"class_list":["post-44451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-peregrine-falcons","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-captive","tag-education-bird","tag-ethics","tag-falco-peregrinus","tag-falcon","tag-falcon-images","tag-falcons","tag-hawkwatch","tag-hawkwatch-international","tag-misleading","tag-peregrine-falcon","tag-rescue-bird"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-goose-mia-mcpherson-6111.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-byX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44327,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/12\/a-visit-with-galileo-the-short-eared-owl-at-hawkwatch-international\/","url_meta":{"origin":44451,"position":0},"title":"My Visit with Galileo the Short-eared Owl at HawkWatch International","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Galileo will be an education bird at HawkWatch International and he will help show people, young and old, in class rooms and community centers the importance of having owls and other raptors in our environment.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Close up of Galileo - HawkWatch International's newest education bird (C), Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5949.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5949.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5949.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5949.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43971,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/12\/17\/meet-galileo-the-short-eared-owl-who-soon-graduates-to-education-bird\/","url_meta":{"origin":44451,"position":1},"title":"Meet Galileo – The Short-eared Owl Who Soon Graduates to Education Bird","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Nancy Blech Matro, outgoing Hawkwatch International Board Chair, contacted me yesterday to share news with me about Galileo the Short-eared Owl I had a small part in rescuing.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Galileo - the Short-eared Owl","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/galileo-thumbnail-hawkwatch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/galileo-thumbnail-hawkwatch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/galileo-thumbnail-hawkwatch.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47379,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/06\/19\/one-year-since-the-rescue-of-galileo-the-short-eared-owl\/","url_meta":{"origin":44451,"position":2},"title":"One Year Since the Rescue of Galileo the Short-eared Owl","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"One year ago today I became part of an amazing group of people who rescued, rehabbed and trained Galileo the Short-eared Owl after finding him hung up on a barbed wire fence","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Galileo the Short-eared Owl outside, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5969.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5969.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5969.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/galileo-mia-mcpherson-5969.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49472,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/11\/18\/side-by-side-prairie-and-peregrine-falcon-comparison\/","url_meta":{"origin":44451,"position":3},"title":"Side By Side Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"There are other differences in plumage between Prairie and Peregrine Falcons that show in my photos but by using just their heads it is possible to make a quick ID in the field.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison, Prairie - Box Elder County, Utah, Peregrine - Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44630,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/28\/peregrine-falcon-in-the-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":44451,"position":4},"title":"Peregrine Falcon in the Snow – My Best Find of the Day","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"My best find of the day was a Peregrine Falcon in the snow perched on a colorful boulder with a snowy background.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Peregrine Falcon in snow, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37143,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/03\/16\/peregrine-falcon-in-flight-in-front-of-a-sandstone-cliff-face\/","url_meta":{"origin":44451,"position":5},"title":"Peregrine Falcon In Flight In Front Of A Sandstone Cliff Face","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I was able to photograph this Peregrine Falcon in flight in front of a brightly colored sandstone cliff face with the light of the setting sun on it. I was delighted.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Peregrine Falcon in flight with a sandstone background, Wayne County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/peregrine-falcon-flight-mia-mcpherson-8549.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/peregrine-falcon-flight-mia-mcpherson-8549.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/peregrine-falcon-flight-mia-mcpherson-8549.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/peregrine-falcon-flight-mia-mcpherson-8549.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\/44451","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=44451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}