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Barn Owl in hunt


Barn Owl in hunt
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 400 W: 53 N: 1560] (5027)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM, RAW ISO 800, Canon EF 1.4x Extender II
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-08-10 7:39
Viewed: 456
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A Barn Owl hunting at RSPB Freiston Shore nature reserve near Boston in Lincolnshire.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn owl family Tytonidae, any of which may be called a barn owl. Tytonidae is one of the two groups of owls, the other being the typical owls Strigidae.

Description
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 "tu-whit to-whoo" (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.

Status
Barn Owls are relatively common throughout most of their range but they are rare in Britain. The most recent survey of their numbers in the UK put their population at around 4400 breeding pairs. In the US, Barn Owls are listed as endangered in seven Midwestern states.
Argus, taba, pvs, uleko, nglen, writerscrawlz, jaycee, CeltickRanger, mala-zaba, siggi, Royaldevon, Evelynn, parthasarathi has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2765 W: 150 N: 7969] (24819)
  • [2008-08-10 7:45]

Hello Pekka,
The barn Owl is a species that I would very much like to photograph but I would have to go abroad as it is extremely rare in Sweden. So it's great to see this excellent in-flight caught with good sharpness and from a great POV with good use of ISO 800.
TFS this fine capture,
Regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5241] (23187)
  • [2008-08-10 7:48]

Hello Pekka! That's a fantastic shot of this flying Barn Owl, very sharp focus and a great exposure, well done, thanks!

Mario

Hi Pekka,

A nice inflight capture with perfect sharpness,the colors are great,well timed and composed capture,thanks

Paul

  • Great 
  • taba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 468 W: 126 N: 281] (1562)
  • [2008-08-10 8:42]

Hi Pekka
It's not easy to capture these birds in fly..
lovely moment and capture, right timing and yet a great BG.
I like the notes too.

TFS

Taba

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2582 W: 170 N: 7867] (24879)
  • [2008-08-10 12:03]

Hej Pekka,
Lovely in-flight capture of this lovely chubby Barn Owl that I've only seen once. Excellent timing to get this nice spread of the wings and a beautiful background too.
Well done!
TFS and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5959] (22526)
  • [2008-08-10 12:11]

Hi Pekka. A very good inflight shot of the Barn owl.It has its eyes on the ground for hunting. good detail in the open wings with natural colours, well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

fantastic shot of this flying Barn Owl,

Spectacular notes to go with a superb shot. POV and DOF is perfect. Excellent focus and exposure. This is one to be proud of - love the colors as well. I've seen them - but usually without my camera. You had to be quick to catch this - congratulations.
Kathy

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1909 W: 8 N: 4974] (16081)
  • [2008-08-10 16:43]

Hi Pekka,

I have never seen a Barn Owl in "real life" and would love too. Wonderful shot of this one in flight. The details of the face and wings are magnificent. Beautiful natural colors and you captured him in a nice position. I really like the background.

Jane

Hello Pekka,
Fantastic action shot! Composition, exposure are very well and the own have a perfect sharpness.
TFS
Eric

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 22 N: 358] (1844)
  • [2008-08-10 22:45]

Merhaba Pekka,
Henüz canlı olarak görme şansı bulamadığım kuşlardan birinin enfes bir karesi bu.Çok güzel bir kare olmuş.
Tebrikler.
Hüseyin

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-08-11 2:40]

Pekka,
Nice shot of this moving bird and you have presented it beautifully. Very nice shot. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3062] (11322)
  • [2008-08-11 4:01]

Hi Pekka,very very beautifull pic,i like a lot the high quality of sharpness and details and the very nice bird,excellent work,just my best compliments,have a nice week,Luciano

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 11 N: 1334] (4670)
  • [2008-08-11 9:51]

Hello Pekka,
Well composed in flight capture Livio, it has a very natural feel about it, well taken and TFS.
Regards
Siggi

hello Pekka

excellent shot of this Barn Owl on his hunting action,
fine POV and framing, excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

hello pekka,
lovely capture of the owl in flight searching for the food, the oof non distracting bg looks great, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3464 W: 145 N: 5943] (17794)
  • [2008-08-12 0:47]

I love these birds' faces. So quaint and unusual. Good in-flight shot, with strong colours and details
Well done
Janice

Hello Pekka,

This is an excellent, sharply focussd shot of the barn owl in flight. It's characteristic white, heart-shaped face and speckled brown head, are beautifully recorded.
Lovely composition.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

Ah,... a nice capture of my favorite owl. Nice sharpness against the soft OOF background.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Another great image of an owl in flight. The framing is great as is the sharpness, with a good blur in the background. Really professional job!
Matt

Great capture. My ill luck, I only saw them at night.

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