Were the eagle owls photographed at a forest feeder like the one Finnature runs near Oulu?
Yes in fact it was at Finnature's eagle owl hide, don't know of any other place you can photograph eagle owl from a hide. It was a 5 days trip with private guide, 2 nights at eagle owl.
randomguy wrote:
Yes in fact it was at Finnature's eagle owl hide, don't know of any other place you can photograph eagle owl from a hide. It was a 5 days trip with private guide, 2 nights at eagle owl.
That's what I thought. It is unfortunate that you're getting so much support for what basically amounts to photographs from a zoo - regardless of the ethical aspects of what Finnature do.
For those who don't know, these are baited owls - just like the golden eagles that OP got a Thread of the Week for previously. And this is how you photograph them; from Finnature's Flickr page:
OSP2017 wrote:
That's what I thought. It is unfortunate that you're getting so much support for what basically amounts to photographs from a zoo - regardless of the ethical aspects of what Finnature do.
For those who don't know, these are baited owls - just like the golden eagles that OP got a Thread of the Week for previously. And this is how you photograph them; from Finnature's Flickr page:
If it was a zoo you wouldn't need a hide. These are wild birds that feed on carrion put out in front of the hide in parts of the season, when they feel like it. Many species of wildlife here in Europe has been hunted to extinction or close over houndreds of year and thus are extremely shy of humans. So they are usually photographed from hides.
If you got a problem with that I can disclose that it is shot from a hide in the OP from now on so you can avoid it.
randomguy wrote:
If it was a zoo you wouldn't need a hide. These are wild birds that feed on carrion put out in front of the hide in parts of the season, when they feel like it. Many species of wildlife here in Europe has been hunted to extinction or close over houndreds of year and thus are extremely shy of humans. So they are usually photographed from hides.
If you got a problem with that I can disclose that it is shot from a hide in the OP from now on so you can avoid it.
Truth in advertising would be "Baited Owls from Finland"...
Hides are fine - baiting and other Finnature practices are an issue. Setting aside the ethical aspects - and I think it's completely disgusting when they kill an elk with beautiful antlers and lay him out in front of a hide so that people in office chairs could photograph animals having a feast - photographing baited animals or birds at a raptor centre is like shooting fish in a barrel vs actually fishing. With wildlife, you're never guaranteed a good setting, exciting action, etc. Baiting takes all variables out of the equation. Unfortunately, we have baiting workshops here in Canada and they guarantee that you will come away with perfect shots. If you want to support unethical practices - whatever, but there is a reason why reputable photo contests do not accept photos of baited animals.
OSP2017 wrote:
Truth in advertising would be "Baited Owls from Finland"...
Hides are fine - baiting and other Finnature practices are an issue. Setting aside the ethical aspects - and I think it's completely disgusting when they kill an elk with beautiful antlers and lay him out in front of a hide so that people in office chairs could photograph animals having a feast - photographing baited animals or birds at a raptor centre is like shooting fish in a barrel vs actually fishing. With wildlife, you're never guaranteed a good setting, exciting action, etc. Baiting takes all variables out of the equation. Unfortunately, we have baiting workshops here in Canada and they guarantee that you will come away with perfect shots. If you want to support unethical practices - whatever, but there is a reason why reputable photo contests do not accept photos of baited animals.
Just to make it clear, Finnature doesn't kill animals to use as bait, they use roadkill.
Good luck photographing non baited eagle owls and golden eagles, you will probably need it (unless you go at their nests, potentionally causing them to abandon it). And thanks for bumping my thread to the top.
Wow!... These are all pretty darn amazing!
I love seeing species posted that are not common in the United States.
The Ural owls are stunning... what a beautiful animal.
