Great Horned Owl War Zone

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

BubSprBattleLines.jpg
BubSprBattleLines.jpg2000×1500 1.03 MB

BubSprNestCleanup.jpg
BubSprNestCleanup.jpg1528×2000 1.03 MB

Clean Up Crew

BublSprMomma.jpg
BublSprMomma.jpg1500×2037 884 KB

Content Mother Owl

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

These are a few more from the series of great horned owls near our home. I’d noticed the small murder of crows first making a racket and taking shots at something. It took a while to spot the mother owl in the eucalyptus tree and she seemed to have her talons full with the crows for a while. It seemed that they took exception to her feeding them to her chicks. She seemed pretty satisfied with herself after it was all said and done though. I posted the second image earlier with some of the owlets.

Specific Feedback

I know the crows aren’t in the best of focus, and the eucalyptus is a very busy foreground and BG. Not sure if the environmental aspects are enough to carry this little series. . .

Technical Details

  1. Canon 7D MII, f11, 1/800 sec, iso 1600, 318 mm (100-400/1.4 TC)
  2. f8, 1/800 sec, iso 1000, 560 mm
2

Hi Ed, the owl is nice and sharp in the first image and the whole series tells a story even with the branches and a few crows in soft focus. I didn’t know GHO would feed on crows so this is really interesting. I’ve been told by a park naturalist that they will feed on pretty much anything so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. So glad you are sharing this family story with us. The adult owl does seem to be quite satisfied and in control.

3

All good images in their own right and together makes a nice series. Nice compositions and processing and the environment comes through. Your lucky to have this bird close to home.

4

Thank you @Allen_Sparks and @Allen_Brooks. I am excited to report that a mother owl is back setting up housekeeping in one of the nearby palm trees in the last few weeks. We discovered she is a hoot as we were walking down there late one evening.

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