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Barn Owl


Barn Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Vivian Droog (viv) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 3 N: 653] (3307)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO Ultra DG, Soligor UV
Exposure: f/6.7, 1/1500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-10-02 6:33
Viewed: 1661
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I visited last sunday a farm with a lot of birds of prey.
It was marvellous

Thanks for looking.
Out of wikipedia
The Barn Owl is a pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a squarish tail. Tail shape is a way of distinguishing the Barn Owl from owls of the Strigidae family. 33–39 cm in length with an 80–95 cm wingspan. Its head and upperparts are buff, and the underparts are white. The face is heart-shaped.

In the US it is sometimes called a Screech Owl because of its notable shree scream, ear-shattering at close range — although this common name is more often reserved for the genus megascops. It can hiss like a snake, and when captured or cornered, it throws itself on its back and flails with sharp-taloned feet, an effective defence. Contrary to popular belief, it does not make the call "hoo hoo"(which is made by the Tawny Owl).


Distribution and habitat
The Barn Owl is one of the most widespread vertebrate species on Earth, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. It is absent from most of Canada and Alaska, as well as Greenland, most of central and eastern Asia, the Sahara Desert, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands. It is a bird of open country, such as farmland, preferring to hunt along the edges of woods.


Food and hunting
The Barn Owl feeds primarily on small vertebrates, particularly rodents, but also small bats, birds and reptiles. It also sometimes eats insects. Studies have shown that an individual Barn Owl may eat one or more rodents per night; a nesting pair and their young can eat more than 1000 rodents per year.

It has an effortless wavering flight as it quarters pastures or similar hunting grounds. Alternative names often refer to the appearance, white underparts, or eerie, silent flight, including Monkey-faced Owl, Ghost Owl, Church Owl, Golden Owl, Rat Owl and Stone Owl. Like most owls, the Barn Owl flies silently; tiny serrations on the leading edges of its flight feathers help to break up the flow of air over its wings, thereby reducing turbulence—and the noise that accompanies it. It hunts by flying low and slowly over an area of open ground, hovering over spots that conceal potential prey.

The Barn Owl has acute hearing, with ears placed asymmetrically for improved detection of sound position and distance, and it does not require sight to hunt. Hunting nocturnally or crepuscularly, it can target and dive down, penetrating it talons through snow, grass or brush to seize rodents with deadly accuracy. Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents — often regarded as pests by humans — than possibly any other creature. This makes the Barn Owl one of the most economically valuable wildlife animals to farmers. Farmers find these owls more effective than poisons, and they often encourage Barn Owl habitation by providing nest sites.


Threats
Predators of the Barn Owl include opossums and raccoons in the U.S., certain snakes, and other raptors such as hawks, eagles, and larger owls (including the Great Horned Owl and the Eurasian Eagle Owl). The most common threats come from humans and their pets, particularly house cats
MMM, Pentaxfriend, gracious, flashpoint, Janice, bobcat08 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PeterZ: Was het maar waarviv 1 10-02 07:18
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Vivian,
Beautiful portrait. My friend in Holland rings these birds and I have had opportunitties to see those.
TFS,
Pentti

Hi Vivian,
Nicely captured moment here.the lighitng and exposure are also perfectly, well done.TFS.
José

Hallo Vivian,
Erg mooi portret van deze Kerkuil. De lichtinval van 1 zijde is erg goed. Veel licht voor 1/1500 sec. bij een iso van 100. Mooie contrasterende kleuren met de achtergrond. De scherpte en details zijn uitstekend. Ik vraag me af of je deze in het wild hebt gefotografeerd.
Groet,
Peter

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 924 W: 0 N: 1995] (8957)
  • [2008-10-02 7:32]

Hello Vivian
Great portrait.Sharp image with beautiful plumage detail.I also like hte nice OOF BG.Good text to.
TFS Michel

Ha Vivian,

Prachtig portret van deze Kerkuil
Kleur, Achtergrond, scherpte en details zijn PERFECT
helaas zie je ze niet veel (met voldoende licht) in het wild

TFS Thijs

Olá Vivian

Uma foto fantástica...ela é uma simpatia.
Parabéns!
Grande abraço,
Vera

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer [C: 88 W: 0 N: 7] (534)
  • [2008-10-02 9:30]

Hi Vivian
Very nice portrait, nice colors, excellent sharpness and good background.
Regards Jiri

Hello vivian,
Beautiful portriat of the Barn Owl with good closeness!
perfect exposure and focus in the shot with great sharpness, good colour and superb details
well done
tony

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2008-10-02 12:43]

Ha Vivian,

Een schitterend portret van deze kerkuil,fraai vastgelegd,

Groetjes
Paul

hi Vivian,
portrait wonderful, good pose and very vivid
details of feathers

best sERGIO

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2008-10-03 15:36]

What a beautiful owl. How marvellous to see him.
It is an excellent portrait Viv, I'm impressed with your image. So sharp, so clear and you have captured his portrait so well
TFS
Janice

Hello Viv,
Begin stilaan de watertanden als ik deze roofvogels zie.
Je brengt me op ideeën:-)
Berkel Rodenrijs hé...:-)
Subtiel uiltje.
Annick

Hallo Vivian,

Schitterend portret (close up) van deze Kerkuil.
Kleur, Achtergrond, scherpte en details zijn zeer goed geslaagd. Het is jammer dat je ze niet veel ziet in het wild. Ja, in het donker en dan krijg je toch niet zo'n mooi plaatje als dit.

Groeten en TFS BOB

  •      
  • cosmln Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 201 W: 12 N: 493] (1952)
  • [2008-11-08 12:46]

Hi Vivian,

great portrait of this Barn Owl.
can you give me some detail about this farm with prey bird? thanks in advance.

TFS,
cosmln

Hi Vivian
Amazing photo. High quality. Excellent detail.
This is such an amazing view.
Vry well done.
Tfs.
Marx

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