Wildpiczohio

05/15/2026

I traveled up to the Biggest Week In American Birding at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area yesterday to capture all the different warblers. I got some really good captures, but these photos are the cutest thing I captured yesterday. Robin's often get ignored up there, but this Robin family was kind of famous yesterday.

5/14/2026

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm

05/14/2026

WildPiczOhio print sale featuring Owls, Foxes, Eagles, and Hawks!

15% off at checkout with the code: SNOWY

8x10’s starting at $20
16x20 starting at $55
Canvases start at $95

WildPiczOhio2026

05/13/2026

I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of the Red Fox Kits!

5-7-2026- Lucas County

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

05/12/2026

PATIENCE PAYS OFF!

I woke up yesterday thinking, "I want to get a shot of the snowy flying." So, I made my way to Perry County and noticed the Snowy out in someone's backyard. After watching it for about 20 minutes, it flew up to a telephone pole about 150 yards away. I patiently waited for around 30 minutes before the landowner came down to the road to talk to me. After a short conversation with her, she allowed me to go on the property. As I creeped closer to the owl I watched it preen and get harassed by Red-winged blackbirds. Surprisingly, the owl didn't seem bothered by my presence at all, so over the next 45 minutes I managed to sneak up behind some farm equipment that provided my cover about 60 feet away. I sat/stood there for what seemed like forever before the shot I really wanted presented itself.... FINALLY the snowy took off and flew so close to me that I ducked out of the way thinking it was going to hit me with its wing. (even the landowner said she thought it was going to hit me) I am 5'10 and I swear it was flying maybe 7 feet off the ground (if that). I stood there dumbfounded and excited at what just happened, but the show didn't end there. When I was walking back up to the house to tell the landowner thank you, I noticed the snowy perched on the rocks surrounding their pond. As I was showing her the photos and talking about what just happened, the snowy suddenly made its way into the water to get a drink. By this time another photographer made their way up the driveway where we stood maybe 30 yards away from the owl. Again, the show didn't stop there. The next thing we see is the snowy creep deeper into the water where it proceeded to take a bath for about 10 minutes. All 3 of us were smiling ear to ear as we witnessed something we may never see again. It almost seemed like the owl knew it was giving us a show as it looked in our direction after each time it submerged. The landowner was so happy with my photos that she asked if I could send her some of the shots. I told I would definitely do that and I also plan on surprising her with a couple prints that I'll deliver in person next week. All in all, it took about 2 1/2 hours of patiently waiting for the shots I wanted to present themselves.

"Snowy owls are considered rare and vulnerable, with global populations estimated to have declined by over 50% since 1970, now likely numbering fewer than 14,000–28,000 breeding pairs. While rare, they occasionally appear further south in significant numbers during "irruption" years, driven by food shortages in the Arctic."

5/11/26 - Perry county

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

05/10/2026

The past couple weeks has been amazing for me as I've photographed 2 lifers that might be once in a lifetime opportunities for me in the state of Ohio! The Red Fox kits and now, a Snowy Owl.

When you get a call at 7:15 am from a good friend telling you to get to Perry County because there's a Snowy Owl chilling in a field, you go! Not only was I extremely excited when I saw a Snowy for the first time, I couldn't believe it was sitting out in the open and not that far away. A hill and a telephone pole provided my cover as I sat there in awe of such a magnificent owl. Once it moved to the cover of the flowers, I thought my day was done, but the birding gods were with me as I managed to capture a couple decent shots of it surrounded in yellow flowers before I left. I thought for sure that I would have to travel to Michigan or Illinois to see one of these beautiful owls, so I am very happy that I got the opportunity right here in central Ohio. I am not sure why it was this far south this late in the year, but when I talked to the landowner, she told me it had been there for a couple weeks. She was actually worried about it still being here, so I told her if it's hunting and flying without any issues, then it's probably still here because it wants to be here. My guess is it's loading up on ground rodents before it makes the 1000 mile journey to the Arctic tundra. Hopefully, it made its way back up north before it gets too warm. Thank you so much to my good friend Matt Mason for the heads up and meeting me there to make sure I saw this amazing lifer!

-Snowy owls are not native to Ohio in the sense of nesting or living there year-round, but they are recognized as rare winter visitors, typically appearing between November and March, primarily along the Lake Erie shoreline. These Arctic birds occasionally travel south in "irruptions" driven by fluctuating food supplies, with sightings ranging from a few individuals to over a dozen in high-count years.

Key Details About Snowy Owls in Ohio:
-Migration Pattern: They nest in the Arctic tundra and move south during winter, with some reaching Ohio's agricultural fields and Lake Erie beaches.
-Irruption Events: When lemming populations (their primary food) collapse in the north, more owls migrate south, creating "irruption" years with higher sightings.
-Sightings: While most common near Lake Erie, they have been documented in nearly all of Ohio’s 88 counties, including sightings as far south as the Ohio River.
-Habitat: They prefer open areas that mimic the Arctic tundra, such as lakeshores, agricultural fields, and airports.
-Behavior: Unlike many owls, snowy owls are diurnal, meaning they often hunt during the day

5/4/26 - Perry County

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there!

A mother’s gentle touch is a powerful, science-backed form of nurturing that regulates an infant’s nervous system, lowers stress, and fosters deep emotional bonding. Known as a "biological lullaby," this affectionate contact—such as stroking or holding—stimulates specialized nerves that reduce heart rates, increase oxygenation, and provide immense comfort and security.

Athena with her eaglet, Artemis in Grandview Heights, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

05/08/2026

More Red Fox kits from Lucas County, Ohio

"Red fox kits are born in spring (March–May) in underground dens, usually with 1–10 per litter, weighing very little and starting with charcoal-gray fur that turns red around 1 month old. Kits are nursed for ~2 weeks, begin playing outside at ~3-4 weeks, and are fed by both parents until they disperse around 6-7 months. While sometimes kept as exotic pets, they require specialized care, often smell strong, and are illegal in some areas."

4/27/26

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

05/07/2026

One of the Barred Owl owlets checking out its feet, doing some wing stretches, and letting out a big yawn after a long day of sleeping. This little one has so much t discover in the coming months as it learns how to fly, hunt, and survive. Barred Owl owlets remain with their parents for up to six months after fledging.

Native to Ohio? Yes

4/30/26 - Franklin County

05/06/2026

I absolutely LOVE this wing position when American Bald Eagles take off!

05/06/2026

Thanks to some info shared with me by my neighbor, I was able to find this Barred Owl family tucked in a quiet neighborhood in central Ohio. I couldn’t believe it when I showed up and saw FOUR owlets with the mom keeping an eye on them. 3 of them had already fledged with the runt remaining in the roost. There is definitely more to come from this Barred Owl family.

“Barred Owls are native to Ohio and are commonly found throughout the eastern United States, including southern Canada and northern Mexico. They prefer large, forested areas, often near water sources. Barred Owls are larger and have distinctive brown horizontal striping on their white throats and upper breast, unlike other species such as the Spotted Owl, which has white spots instead of barring. Additionally, Barred Owls are known for their unique hooting call, "who cooks for you," which sets them apart from other owls in Ohio.”

4/28/26 - Franklin County

05/05/2026

Cuteness overload from a central Ohio Barred Owl family coming soon to