04/07/2026
This Northern Hawk Owl looks about how I felt going back to work after the long weekend!
This specific owl was perched along a road way and I was able to photograph it from the opposite side of the road using a 600mm zoom lens and then cropping in during photo editing.
Spring is the breeding season for many owls. Owls are also more prone to human disturbance. Therefore, ethical birding and photographing of owls is of the utmost importance.
OWL ETHICS
1. NEVER bait for owls. EVER
2. Keep your distance. Perched owls are either hunting or resting. Both are vital not to disrupt.
3. Do not disclose EXACT locations of owls. This can cause crowds of enthusiasts who may unintentionally harrass the owl.
4. Do NOT use playback during mating season. Owls need to focus on successfully mating. Not chasing a bunch of cell phones.
If you suspect a birder may be unethical towards birds always try and come from a place of education rather than scolding. Sometimes the person may simply not know they are behaving unethically. Other times there may be other circumstances!
I observed this owl for a max of 10 minutes from one stationary location. But during that time it actually flew to a perch directly across the road from me. Like im talking 10-15 yards away. I was able to get the incredibly close up portrait in the second photo because of my telephoto lens and cropping in further, but that is exactly the kind of photo that could appear unethical at first glance!
