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Barn Owl (28)
manyee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3068 W: 231 N: 5840]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (19618) | This barn owl is having a rude awakening. He is trying to gear up for his busy night tonight. Happy Halloween! (He was part of a wildlife demonstration at the Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi.)
Barn Owls are more nocturnal than other owls. They wait until dark before starting out to hunt, except when the demands of their young may start them hunting at twilight. Normally, before daylight, they retire to some shadowed or enclosed area in an old building, a hollow tree or a hole in a rocky cliff and remain there drowsily inactive all day.
When hunting at night, the Barn Owl sweeps the fields on silent wings catching its prey with its long, slender claws. It prefers small mammals but occasionally in winter when mice and gophers are scarce, it will take small birds. The prey is tom apart and swallowed -- bones, skull and all. The indigestible parts are formed into pellets and disgorged at the roosting area or about the nest.
Barn owls choose nesting sights almost anywhere, in old buildings, hollow trees and on or in the ground. No effort is made to build or even line the nest. The female lays from 5 to 7 white, spotless eggs at intervals of 2 or 3 days. Incubation starts after the first egg is laid. It takes from 32 to 34 days for the first egg to hatch, so a nest may contain 4 or 5 young of different size and age.
The young are called "owlets." They are covered with snow-white down for 6 days. This is gradually replaced by a buff-colored down which develops into a thick, woolly covering that is still in evidence for about 50 days.
The little owlets are hungry all the time. Both parents are busy night after night ransacking the adjoining areas to catch an unbelievable number of small ground creatures to feed their ravenous babies.
Adult plumage is acquired in about 7-1/2 weeks, at which time, after much practicing about the nest, the young venture out for their first lessons in flying and hunting.
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| Altered Image #1
manyee
(19618)
Levels & Sharpness
Edited by:hummingbird24
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 916 W: 142 N: 19]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-n.gif) (64) |
Hello Manyee, I simply adjusted the levels to reduce the OE on the top of the head, and for better contrast.
Then increased sharpness, for better clarity of the feathers and fur.
I should have reduced the noise, perhaps with NI but I think you get the idea...
Let me know what you think.
Anna-Lu |
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