OWL FIND YOU
T
HIS YEAR, THANKS to a raging global pandemic, more and more people are turning to nature. The Great Backyard Bird Count in February saw a major increase in participants, many of whom were stuck at home in isolation, watching the bird feeders in their yards. Nature has an extraordinary ability to heal us, to calm us down, to bring us back to our quiet selves. Wildlife photography has become many people’s preferred pastime, myself included. It is a remarkable feeling to observe a wild animal in its natural environment, to record its movements, its unique character... but, this wonderful pastime also poses a challenge: in the pursuit of the perfect shot, we often disturb the wild animals we love so much. We try and get closer to them, which, in many instances puts them in harm’s way. This is, perhaps, most true in the case of owls. Toronto is home to several species of owl. This past winter, I set out to find and photograph as many of the reclusive birds as I could. After about three years of frequent birdwatching, my only owl sightings had been the images shared on Facebook groups like Toronto Birding,
or Ontario Birds. So many talented photographers, armed with heavy lenses, were finding owls on a regular basis, and in the flurry of incredible photographs posted online, one thing was often clear: most of these owls did not look happy. In fact, they looked stressed. A disturbing pattern that I noticed on social media was when several photographers would share images on the same day, of the same bird, perched on the same branch, same lighting/time of day, same vexed glare. It was evident that groups of photographers were flocking to a location where someone had reported an owl sighting. Some photographers, no doubt, would stay there for hours, often provoking the bird to take flight, or to open its eyes if asleep, so they could take their dream shot. Masters of Camouflage
Most owl species are nocturnal. They spend their days hiding in tree cavities and dense forests. They are masters of camouflage for a reason, and we need to respect their space. This is why many birders keep their findings a secret or are vague in reporting the location of their beloved owls. I, too, feel their concern, but I like to
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SPRING 2021
