<< Previous Next >>

Snowy Owl


Snowy Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Helene Provencher (chouette) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 0 N: 843] (3000)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Canon EF300mm 4/L IS
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/2000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-07 20:39
Viewed: 1805
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This snowy owl was watching a squirrel who took refuge in a hawthorn. I waited about half an hour to see what was going to happen. The owl, unable to attack the squirrel because of the thorns, finally went away... to something else to eat!

Ce harfang surveillait un écureuil qui s'était réfugié dans un aubépine. J'ai attendu environ une demie heure pour voir ce qui allait se passer.
Le harfang a finalement renoncé à sa proie, et l'écureuil a eu la vie sauve grâce aux épines!

Description: The Snowy Owl is a large, diurnal white Owl that has a rounded head, yellow eyes and black bill. The feet are heavily feathered. A distinctive white Owl, their overall plumage is variably barred or speckled with thin, black, horizontal bars or spots. Females and juveniles are more heavily marked than males - adult males may be almost pure white, although they have up to three tail bands.

Size: Length 51-68.5 cm (20-27") average female 66cm (26" inches), male 59cm (23")
Wingspan 137-164cm (54-65")
Weight 1134-2000g (40-70oz) average female 1707g (60oz), male 1612g (57oz)

Habits: Snowy Owls are active during the daytime, from dawn to dusk. They have a direct, strong, and steady flight with deliberate, powerful downstrokes and quick upstrokes. They make short flights, close to the ground, from perch to perch, and usually perches on the ground or a low post.

Hunting & Food: Most hunting is done in the "sit and wait" style. Prey are captured on the ground, in the air, or snatched off the surface of water bodies. Small prey up to small hares are swallowed whole, while larger prey are carried away and torn into large chunks. Large prey are carried of in the Owl's talons, with prey like lemmings being carried in the beak.
Snowy Owls are mainly dependent on lemmings and voles throughout most of their Arctic and wintering range. When these prey are scarce they are an opportunistic feeder and will take a wide range of small mammals and birds. Some mammal prey include mice, hares, muskrats, marmots, squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs, rats, moles, and entrapped furbearers. Birds include ptarmigan, ducks, geese, shorebirds, Ring-necked Pheasants, grouse, American coots, grebes, gulls, songbirds, and Short-eared Owls. Snowy Owls will also take fish and carrion.
Snowy Owls produce large, rough-looking cylindrical pellets with numerous bones, feathers, and fur showing. They are usually expelled at traditional roosting sites and large numbers of pellets can be found in one spot.

Speed: 1/2000 f/5.6
ISO 400
Focal Length: 300mm
Luc, marhowie, blue-velvet29, Merlin, cecilia has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To tomas_778: Posible método a aplicartomas_778 1 03-15 02:47
To tomas_778: Thank you!chouette 2 03-15 02:45
To tomas_778: Thank you!chouette 1 03-11 20:10
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Beautiful capture of this wise looking owl, it's yellow piercing eyes are absolutely gorgeous. Very nice exposure and composition Helene. :)

Salut Helene! :)

Superbe capture encore une fois! Belle balance de blanc bien équilibré. Bonne exposition dans un environement tres blanc et dificile. Félicitation!
Jean.

Hi Helene,
The eyes have it! Very well done in all aspects. GREAT SHOT!

Hi Helene,
Excellent POV!
Very nice capture of this beautiful owl,
perfect exposure and very good details,
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2006-03-08 2:52]

Very nicy shot of this owl,TFS
Paul

Wonderful photo, composition and technically wise! Thanks for sharing - Xplorator Radu

Hello Helene!
Excellent composition, POV and DOF. Perfect sharpenes, details and colors. Well done!
TFS;-)
regards
Dorota

You must have the tamest owls on the planet out there! This is a great shot, and thoughtfully composed too. Well done.
Nigel.

Hi Helene,
Your shot on this Snowy Owl looks excellent! Exposure is very difficult in these conditions, but you did well. Very sharp detail. Thoses yellow eyes are amazing..
Scott

Hi Helene,
Running later than planned tonight. so Just enough time for a a quick visit.
Well worth the big green Smile :)
Thanks for posting.

Wow beautiful capture,great eye, exposure and nicely frame...
Well done...

Beautiful shot, well done, Helene!!!

Una impresionante captura. Felicidades. Quizas un poco mas de contraste o arreglo de los niveles.

Saludos
Tomas

Hello Helene,
It's a great picture of this owl. Pity that these birds are very rare in Poland.
The photo is perfectly framed, has great exposure and very good details.
I like it.
VERY WELL DONE!

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 216 W: 1 N: 329] (1617)
  • [2006-03-11 18:42]

Bonjour Hélène,
Belle prise que celle là ... Je suis toujours surpirs de voir la couleur des yeux et les serres de cet oiseau ... et votre photo nous permet de les apprécier Bravo et merci de la partager. Donald

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2006-03-13 10:39]

Wow, quel bel oiseau encore, tu as vraiment un don. Belle composition, excellent "background" tout est numéro un. Bravo Hélène et merci.

Mario

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF