No consensus has been reached. Communication and camouflage are the 2 main theories. I don't buy the camo one myself. I don't think they're big enough to make a difference.
There seems to not be any consensus on if this is an apple or Asian pear. Pear seemed to have the slight majority, so that's what I went with.
Either way, I don't think the variety of fruit detracts from the enjoyment of the photo. ☺️
To most little creatures, any owl might as well be one of the fellbeasts the Nazgul ride on.
I hadn't heard of Ori, but it looks cool, though all the pics and videos I'm looking at are too dark. I'll have to look into it some more. No Xbox, so I'll have to watch a play through.
I always give the photos a critical look since most owls have one eye color, but the Long Ear can have eyes from very yellow to very orange. It always has me looking to see how much manipulation has been done to the image.
Long Eared Owls to me are very striking in navy regards, but to a tasteful, restrained amount. The eyes, facial disc, plumicorns, and overall coloration. They're bold, but not over the top.
It's one of my top owls, but it's usually not so popular here, and maybe that is why - they don't have that one thing to capture attention.
Moth-like
Photo by Attasha Berry
The thin looking plumicorns in this Great Horned Owl make me think of moth antenna.
I did see, I went back and corrected my post once I saw the others.
Nature photography seems to present a lot of challenges as you pointed out earlier. You only can carry so much equipment and you have a subject with no interest in cooperating that can move at any moment. It makes it all the more impressive, even to get less than ideal shots.
It only put up one with a pair of butterflies. I like it though. All the appendages stand out nicely and you see some details of the eyes. The one flying is also nice and clear looking.
I live near some water, and it would be cool to catch some of the dragonflies like this to get a nice look at them.
Edit: Now I see you broke them out. And you even had a dragonfly! I like that and that fuzzy little bee face too. I've been trying to post better attention to all the unique bee types we have as well.
You seem to know what you want and you enjoy doing it, so I'd call that successful.
Do you share any of your pics online?
All my photography friends feel the same way about weddings. I imagine after a few people blaming you for ruining their special day for whatever crazy reason is going to kill your passion for something.
I really should look into some of the regulars I share to see if they have public gigs. There's been a few photos I wouldn't mind getting prints of, and I'd gladly share a link for them if it gets them some funding. If they do sell the photos I'd also be curious as to where since they'd probably have good articles to share as well.
Even though I know some of the principles behind how they do it, I'm still always amazed at how they can capture this stuff so clearly that it looks frozen in time. It still feels like magic.
Power Nap
Photos by Lucia Hackett
>Barred owlets will take power naps by keeping their talons tightly gripped on a branch and lie down on their stomachs. This cutie was so busy this morning moving around in the branches until he wasn't! Then he plopped down on the branch and let his wings hang and relax. He stayed like that for about 15 minutes just casually looking around. Then he had to figure out how to get up.
Teensy Weensy Screechie
Photos from the Wildlife Center of Virginia
>Who would have thought that when screech-owl hatchlings open their eyes they turn from cute little fuzzballs into the most grumpy, judgemental-looking owls on the planet?
Kids on Spaghetti Night
Photo from the Cincinnati Zoo
They titled this "Bad Feather Day" but I liked my title better.
Housing Upgrades
From Freedom First Wildlife Rehab
>Check out the glare from Minnie Mae, the Eastern Screech owl! Minnie was damaging her wing entering a traditional screech owl house so we had to change up the entrance to protect her. Daily checks and modifications are always needed to protect owls in captivity.
Staring Saw Whet
Photo by Mike Lentz
>Here is another Northern Saw Whet Owl in a different natural nest cavity. > >This was probably the most rewarding spring in my nature photography journey! Working with a few other friends to accomplish many things that required a little knowledge, skill or just plain hard work. > >This mother stayed on her nest of four babies for approximately 18 days - just like what the books say... can confirm that is accurate first hand! Then dad came in and fed them daily until they fledged!
Sneak Peak Peek
Photo by Harold Wilion
>Peek-A-Boo > >Sorry, you folks with the cellphones (pretty much everyone) might have to enlarge the image just to see the owl, but thought the photo said more than if cropped tight.
A Special Visitor
White Faced Scops stops in to visit The resident at the Owl Rescue Centre
>Found this little fella perched on a shelf in our clinic this morning. He isn't a patient, just a visitor checking in on a family member. > >Our windows are made of shadenet with roll down canvas blinds and the one has an opening in where he flew in. > >It happens almost weekly with all our different species.
White Faced Scops was winner of the first Owl of the Year, but will it be able to hold onto the crown again this year?
Off to the Beach!
Here's a cool pic of a Snowy cruising along the shoreline.
I'm headed off to the beach myself for the rest of the month, so I didn't know what time posts will be going up, but I've got a bunch stockpiled already and I'll surely keep finding new stuff every day.
I don't like the hot so much, so I'll be making plenty of time to sit indoors and scroll for owls and respond to your questions and comments.
Tanning
Photos by Scott Winkler
>I have been hearing a Great Horned Owl hooting since winter. A couple of evenings ago I saw him sunning himself in our backyard and then he flew to a branch along the woods. I took all 200 pics of him from our deck!! He was very photogenic giving me many profiles!
Sunda Scops
From National Geographic
This was from a photo contest.
I couldn't find any interesting facts on them, but they sure are cute!
Buffy Takes to the Skies!
We've had a ton of great Buffy Fish Owl pics on here since it's great showing in Owl of the Year, but I think this is the first one I've come across where it's actually in the air!
Photo by Dan Kev
Surprise!
Photos by Guilong Charles Chen
>I had a unique experience with this barred owl while I was in the woods. I didn't see her until I was way too close. We locked eyes for a few seconds, and then she flew straight toward me and passed me by inches. My shutter speed wasn't fast enough to freeze the wings, but I rather enjoy the blurred effect. That face! I was in heaven.