ottimista Loc: Gold Coast Australia

Today's bird is the common Barn Owl (12"-14" long). Best known of all the owls in the world. So named due to it's habit of roosting in barns & church steeples. In Australia it nests in large tree hollows. Often seen at night perched on roadside fence posts. The eyes large and forward facing, they may
account for one to five percent of the Owl's body weight. They give it the impression of being wise. Unlike humans, their eyes are stationary and the owl must move their head from side to side in order to have depth perception. The barn owl lives on a diet of small rodents and an occasional small bird.
A Barn Owl can locate a rodent underground, or traveling under several feet of snow by tracking just the sound of it's heartbeat.
During their 3 month nesting period, a family of Barn Owls can consume over 1000 rodents. With completely silent flight, the sound of their wings does not interfere with the locating of their prey. The feathers on the owls wings are not waterproof, so they are more like down. Owls have asymmetrical ears; one is found higher on the head and points up, while the other is more level with their nostrils and point down. One of the most unique attributes about Barn Owls is their ability to make facial expressions to enable them to communicate with their mates and chicks. When one mate dies, the other becomes immensely depressed and wills themselves to die.

These photos were taken at a Free Flight Bird Show (Cheating ?) with a Canon Rebel T3i. CC welcome.

Ottimista

Barn Owl


Barn Owl


Barn Owl

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I have always wondered if zoos, shows etc are cheating, NO

Think about it, you are not trying to show a wild bird and cheating by going to a zoo, you are showing a sharp, clear, stunning photograph of an animal.

ottimista Loc: Gold Coast Australia

Hi JR1. Thank you for the Positive comments. Without Zoos etc. the chances of seeing our wonderful fawner is remote for most of us. Cheers, David

Nancy J Loc: lower North Island, New Zealand

These are stunning, how far away were you? And, how does he keep those feathers so clean? What a great opportunity, thanks so much for sharing with us. Cheers from Jean. Cheating, never!!!Take every chance you have in life to get the shots you want.

ottimista Loc: Gold Coast Australia

Hi Nancy J, Thank you for the compliments. The owl was only a few feet away and posed like a pro probably due to the treat it had just been given. David

Barn Owl with treat in beak.

ottimista Loc: Gold Coast Australia

Kia ora Jean. Tena quai? If you come to the Gold Coast I recommend a 2 hour trip to O'Rielley's Plateau. Ka nui te pai. Lots of birds and other wild life up close. The Crimson Rosella shot is straight from the camera using a 300mm lens. They eat out of your hand. Lots more like this. David

Crimson Rosella

Nancy J Loc: lower North Island, New Zealand

Hi, I will fly across the ditch, great place to get superb photos, will need to see if there is anything as good as that in NZ!!! Thanks for all the photos and words. cheers from Jean

ottimista Loc: Gold Coast Australia

Hi Nancy J, Jean, Thank you for your interest. The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to get up close to the animals & birds also. I had a good day today locally with photos of birds and kangaroos. Will post some tonight.
The Auckland Zoo is a great place to photograph wildlife. Don't know about the South Island. Cheers.
Pakeha David.

Nancy J Loc: lower North Island, New Zealand

David, the South Island has the most super scenery, lakes, mountains, rivers, rocks, birds, with kea specially. but we live in the N Island. Lovely places up here too, your bird pics are superb. Cheers from Jean.( Nancy J is my internet, and also my nickname from some older friends, but I am happy with either )

ottimista Loc: Gold Coast Australia

Hi Jean, Yes the South island is beautiful, been there twice, loved it.
David