Photographing Great Grey Owls in their own wild world is something I’ve dreamed about for years. Last week, I finally spent four days among them — four days of incredible shooting.
It was in the charred hollow of a burned-out tree where I found the nest with one owlet still huddled inside. The other owlet apparently had already fledged and was perched on a fallen log nearby. Above them, the female watched from a high branch, her massive face disk turned toward her chicks. She was constantly emitting soft chitters and gentle clucks, what I took as her communicating with the chicks.
Every couple of hours, the male would appear gliding on its five foot wingspan between the tree trunks with a vole or squirrel clutched in his talons. He’d pass the prey to the female, who would glide down to whichever chick needed feeding. She waited patiently as each owlet swallowed its meal whole, then leaned in to groom them, delicately cleaning their faces with her beak. It was tender, almost ceremonial. Sometimes the chick would lean away, as if embarrassed by all the fussing.
It was an incredible trip, one I won’t forget.
Louie, I know exactly how you feel !! I'm thrilled with your images, but even happier that you got live out something you wanted and dreamed about. To witness this behavior, for me that's the real prize. Don't get me wrong, I love getting great images. The memories in my mind are priceless. Congratulations on checking this one off the bucket list. You make it easy !! YGMV and admiration.
