Stretch
by AnnaJo Vahle
Title
Stretch
Artist
AnnaJo Vahle
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
I photographed this juvenile burrowing owl in Fort Myers, Florida. He was a little uneasy with my presence and stretched his wings nervously before relaxing. You are not allowed to build or destroy their nests. Many other burrows with families of owls lived just a few yards away from each other, a colony of them. I saw so many burrows that I thought that it might be a good idea to put addresses for them just as we do for neighborhoods of human habitats. Each burrow was delineated with stakes, string, signs, and warnings to not disturb them. I saw many owls perched atop signs designating them. They almost seemed tame. There are burrows in many vacant lots throughout the community. Although, they are totally wild, they are carefully protected.
The burrowing owl is a pint-sized bird that lives in open, treeless areas. They spend most of its time on the ground. It's sandy brown plumage provides camouflage from potential predators. One of Florida's smallest owls, it averages nine inches in height with a wingspan of 21 inches. The burrowing owl lacks the ear tufts of the more familiar woodland owls. Bright yellow eyes and a white chin accent the face. Unusually long legs provide additional height for a better view from its typical ground-level perch.
Burrowing owls live as single breeding pairs or in loose colonies consisting of two or more families. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are active during both day and night. During the day, they are usually seen standing erect at the mouth of the burrow or on a nearby post. When disturbed, the owl bobs in agitation and utters a chattering or clucking call. In flight, burrowing owls typically undulate as if they are flying an invisible obstacle course. They also can hover in midair, a technique effective for capturing food.
Uploaded
July 2nd, 2013
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Viewed 653 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/22/2024 at 7:15 AM
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Comments (26)
Donna Kennedy
Wonderful shot and informative information AnnaJo, I just learned a lot from your description :)) v21/fav
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you so much for your visit, comment, and v21/fav, Donna. They are so interesting, aren't they?
Bob Orsillo
Who's your friend :)) Love all the detail in the plumage - but that pose is awesome to say the least :) v/f/t/g/su
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you very much, Bob. I was happy to see it do something other than stand still.
Barbara St Jean
Congratulations your fantastic story art has been FEATURED in MOUSE!! It is always a pleasure to review your wonderful submissions. Thank you for your participation in MOUSE! Cheers, Barbara
Sharon Burger
Wish we had neighboring owls, that must b exciting to watch...v/f
AnnaJo Vahle replied:
Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Sharon. Thank you for the v/f, too. You ought to drive down to Fort Myers and take a look, yourself. They are plentiful.
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