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user48

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Since: Jun 04, 2004
Posts: 1400



(Msg. 1) Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:59 pm
Post subject: Owls in Minnesota
Archived from groups: rec>photo>technique>nature (more info?)
On the evening news tonight was a story about an
owl "invasion" in Minnesota. Apparently due to a lack
of food in Canada, many owls have moved south and
there are record numbers of owls in Minnesota.
Has anyone seen them, and if so what are conditions
really like for photographing them?

Roger

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gdietzman_nosp

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Since: Sep 21, 2004
Posts: 4



(Msg. 2) Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:37 pm
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Roger,

I've been up to photograph them (I live in the Twin Cities area). A three
weeks ago I spotted 38 in just 4-1/2 hours of driving backcountry roads
north and west of Duluth in the Sax-Zim area (two small towns).

Many were right next to the road and pretty much ignored us. Since these
birds typically hunt in boreal forest openings they are right at home along
the edges of wooded lanes. Since broken off stubs and snags are preferred
perching places, we found owls on telephone poles, fence posts and even road
signs. We didn't stop to photo those perched on signs at the edge of the
road for the fear of spooking them; they need to be hunting right now and so
driving them from those perches makes them use up extra energy.

Take a look at these photos:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_1.jpg" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_1.jpg</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_2.jpg" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_2.jpg</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_3.jpg" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_3.jpg</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_4.jpg" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_4.jpg</a>

All these shots were taken with a 300mm/1.4x/digital Rebel, or some such
combination.

We also saw five northern hawk owls, one of which was perched on a telephone
cable next to the road.

This is truly a remarkable irruption. Despite traveling, paddling, and
hiking literally thousands of miles in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota,
I've never seen anything like this. For instance, a number of winters ago
we had another irruption and in two days of driving north of Duluth, I saw
five birds, only one of which I was able to approach (and this was on
snowshoes over four feet of snow...exhausting work...). I thought that was
a remarkable couple of days. This irruption is undoubtly a once in a
lifetime event.

As mentioned above, the owls pretty much ignored us. As a result, we were
often within 50 feet of them for as long as we wanted to be. We often could
watch one owl and spot another hunting some distance away.

If you need more information, specific location, etc. please let me know.

I'm going to try and get off work this Thursday and again on Saturday to
head back up that way.

Gordon Dietzman
gdietzman.TakeThisOut@visi.com

------------------------------------

"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" <username.TakeThisOut@qwest.net> wrote in
message news:42097CA9.9060908@qwest.net...
 > On the evening news tonight was a story about an
 > owl "invasion" in Minnesota. Apparently due to a lack
 > of food in Canada, many owls have moved south and
 > there are record numbers of owls in Minnesota.
 > Has anyone seen them, and if so what are conditions
 > really like for photographing them?
 >
 > Roger
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->

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kenellis

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Since: Nov 02, 2004
Posts: 98



(Msg. 3) Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:40 am
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Those are some real beauties Gordon. Nice job. How very peircing the
eyes are. We had a big snow and i had the chance to shoot an owl, but
no tc, so 300 put me out pretty far and i didn't get much. I enjoyed
yours.

rgds

Ken
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lbert

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Since: Nov 11, 2004
Posts: 7



(Msg. 4) Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 6:40 am
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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The Great Grey Owl is in invasion in south of Canada since december. It's
the greatest invasion since 20 years. It's due to lack of food that appears
each 4-5 years.

It is relatively active during the day, more active than other Owl. But the
best time to see it in activities is early morning and late in PM. During
the day, the Owl is in mode "digestion"............. if hunting were good.
If not, the bird will continue to hunt until it finds a prey.

Daniel


----------------------
"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" <username.DeleteThis@qwest.net> a écrit
dans le message de news: 42097CA9.9060908.DeleteThis@qwest.net...
 > On the evening news tonight was a story about an
 > owl "invasion" in Minnesota. Apparently due to a lack
 > of food in Canada, many owls have moved south and
 > there are record numbers of owls in Minnesota.
 > Has anyone seen them, and if so what are conditions
 > really like for photographing them?
 >
 > Roger
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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sligojoe_spamn

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Since: Nov 29, 2004
Posts: 415



(Msg. 5) Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:40 am
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) wrote:
 > On the evening news tonight was a story about an
 > owl "invasion" in Minnesota. Apparently due to a lack
 > of food in Canada, many owls have moved south and
 > there are record numbers of owls in Minnesota.
 > Has anyone seen them, and if so what are conditions
 > really like for photographing them?
 >
 > Roger

I don't know enough to know if they are from Canada or even if it is
unusual, but I have seen more owls in central Ohio this year than I have
ever seen before.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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user48

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Since: Jun 04, 2004
Posts: 1400



(Msg. 6) Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 9:40 pm
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Gordon Dietzman wrote:
 > Roger,
 >
 > I've been up to photograph them (I live in the Twin Cities area). A three
 > weeks ago I spotted 38 in just 4-1/2 hours of driving backcountry roads
 > north and west of Duluth in the Sax-Zim area (two small towns).

 > Take a look at these photos:
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_1.jpg</font" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_1.jpg</font</a>>
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_2.jpg</font" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_2.jpg</font</a>>
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_3.jpg</font" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_3.jpg</font</a>>
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_4.jpg</font" target="_blank">www.visi.com/~gdietzman/CanoeCountry/GGO_4.jpg</font</a>>
 >
 > All these shots were taken with a 300mm/1.4x/digital Rebel, or some such
 > combination.

Gordon,
These are great. Thanks for sharing. How much longer
are the owls expected to stay around? Can you give any more
info on best areas to go? If I can find some time, I
might fly up and give it a try.

Roger
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.clarkvision.com" target="_blank">http://www.clarkvision.com</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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smiron

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Since: Oct 31, 2004
Posts: 4



(Msg. 7) Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:32 am
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
On Tve, 08 Feb 2005 19:59:53 -0700, "Roger N. Clark (change vsername
to rnclark)" <vsername@qwest.net> wrote:

 >On the evening news tonight was a story abovt an
 >owl "invasion" in Minnesota. Apparently dve to a lack
 >of food in Canada, many owls have moved sovth and
 >there are record nvmbers of owls in Minnesota.
 >Has anyone seen them, and if so what are conditions
 >really like for photographing them?
 >
 >Roger

My family and I went on a day trip yesterday to the Sax-Zim Bog in
search of these owls. We had imho great svccess in seeing 11 Northern
Hawk Owls and 5 Great Gray Owls.... not nearly as many as have been
reported by others in previovs weeks, bvt dve to the elvsive natvre of
these owls, still an amazing day of photography.

There was article in today's (Svndays) St. Pavl Pioneer Press
reporting the ornithologists vnion's Jan. 17 statewide censvs tallied
1715 Great Grays, 300 Northern Hawk Owls and 400 Boreal Owls. To give
yov an Idea of the rare natvre of this irrvption, in a normal winter
svrvey, the nvmbers wovld be 35 Great Grays, six Northern Hawks and a
single Boreal Owl.

Conditions for photographing these birds are excellent, althovgh a bit
crowded at times. The Great Grays are typically perched on low
branches and are easily approached as they rarely encovnter hvmans in
their natvral habitat. I fovnd many photographers staked ovt near
birds waiting for that perfect shot...not hard to do with svnny sky's
and temperatvres in the 50's yesterday! The Northern Hawk Owls are a
little harder as they are typically perched at the very top of the
tallest trees. I was not qvite able to reach them with my 300/2.8
with 2x tele, with some longer glass yov might get some good shots.

The Sax-Zim bog area (where I went) seems to still be a decent spot to
go, bvt the birds have spread ovt more in recent days. We also
managed to spot Black-Backed Woodpeckers, Northern Shrikes, Gray Jays
and a Bald Eagle.

Take care,
Scotty<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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dslrlover

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Since: Jul 24, 2004
Posts: 4



(Msg. 8) Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:40 am
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Were these Snowy Owls? We have had some in the Pacific Northwest.
Great big white owls. I used a 200mm lens with 2xTC and got a little
blob of white on a dark marsh. We have been told that this occurs
every 6-7 years when food in the Arctic is scarce.

Don

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 19:59:53 -0700, "Roger N. Clark (change username
to rnclark)" <username RemoveThis @qwest.net> wrote:

 >On the evening news tonight was a story about an
 >owl "invasion" in Minnesota. Apparently due to a lack
 >of food in Canada, many owls have moved south and
 >there are record numbers of owls in Minnesota.
 >Has anyone seen them, and if so what are conditions
 >really like for photographing them?
 >
 >Roger<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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Jeff Dave Wolf

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Since: Mar 04, 2005
Posts: 2



(Msg. 9) Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:41 am
Post subject: Re: Owls in Minnesota [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Scotty <smiron DeleteThis @charter.net> wrote in
news:68lv019qf34iv83vqd6ug6jqgp4vkcrmqh@4ax.com:

<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.mulberry-creek.com/albums/</font" target="_blank">http://www.mulberry-creek.com/albums/</font</a>>

very nice bald eagle shot<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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