Great Gray Owl

[newfoundlander61]

[MEGHAN]

Nice set Paul.
I love the second one.
I was wondering if you would make the drive. With the amount of birds out there it is worth it.
Going myself in the next week or so.

Meghan

[BoboBird]

WOW!
This is so cool. Excellent shots.

[newfoundlander61]

Hi Meghan, there are at least 3 in pretty small area. If this species is not on your list or if you have never seen one before then a drive down the highway would be fun. Not sure how far you are exactly from there but try and get a sunny day and be there around sunrise if possible. They seem to go back into the thicker forest around mid day for a few hours of rest. Thanks BoBoBird for the kind words, they are an intense owl to eyeball thats for sure.

[Reg]

Fantastic set Paul

[Photoman]

Outstanding photos Paul, what a great set.
Hope to get out there in a few weeks.

Clemens

[MEGHAN]

Thanks Paul.
I have had the pleasure of shooting one of these fine birds. But having 3 or 4 in one area is a real bonus.
I never get tired of photographing something this beautiful.


Meghan

[BoboBird]

Appears that some people are using bait to get them into photography positions.

[Rotarran]

Appears that some people are using bait to get them into photography positions.

Might be but in reality that's how we get most birds.  Songbirds we get at feeders.  Waterbirds we get near bays where food is easier to access.  So it makes sense to attract birds of prey with some bait.

[thouc]

Check this excellent guideline for photographing owls by Paul, who took these pictures: http://outdoorontario.net/birds/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11092&p=45961&hilit=bait#p45961

[BoboBird]

Thanks for the info.

Those are the general guidelines most here follow but seems that the pic is more important than the bird in other fora like birdphotographers.net.

[Reuven_M]

Appears that some people are using bait to get them into photography positions.

Might be but in reality that's how we get most birds.  Songbirds we get at feeders.  Waterbirds we get near bays where food is easier to access.  So it makes sense to attract birds of prey with some bait.

The problem with baiting owls is that they are rather stupid and often fly directly in front of cars, and baited owls have been hit by cars in the past. I don't have any problem with baiting owls away from any road, although others might disagree.

[mr.sharp-photo]

Appears that some people are using bait to get them into photography positions.

Might be but in reality that's how we get most birds.  Songbirds we get at feeders.  Waterbirds we get near bays where food is easier to access.  So it makes sense to attract birds of prey with some bait.

The problem with baiting owls is that they are rather stupid and often fly directly in front of cars, and baited owls have been hit by cars in the past. I don't have any problem with baiting owls away from any road, although others might disagree.

to me, it's like paying for sex. sorry for the analogy. but you don't brag to your friends that you paid for sex last night, but you sure as hell brag when you happen to randomly find the hottest chick at the bar.

i'm against baiting. none of us are making money (or much money) off our pictures. so why f'ing bother? let the bird be. take a picture. save it to your hard drive where you will never, ever look at it again. and move on.

[Rotarran]

to me, it's like paying for sex. sorry for the analogy. but you don't brag to your friends that you paid for sex last night, but you sure as hell brag when you happen to randomly find the hottest chick at the bar.

i'm against baiting. none of us are making money (or much money) off our pictures. so why f'ing bother? let the bird be. take a picture. save it to your hard drive where you will never, ever look at it again. and move on.

I think the point is that wild animals put their guard down more easily and as a result are easier to photograph when they're seeking a source of food.  Otherwise we'd never see them.  I have not thought of baiting a BoP and probably will never do it, but I understand the logic behind it.  It's not that different from a feeder or ducks near a bay (where quite often people feed them bread or whatever).