Bird Photography

[N.V.M.]

branches be gone! Photochopped.




original image previous page or HERE

[N.V.M.]

ok, Boundary Bay today, got soaked!

[Senna4ever]

^^^ Please, please, please tell me you weren't one of the idiots who went off the dyke out onto the marsh and got too close to the birds so much that they got stressed and had to fly away. I also noticed that because the day was so warm, the owls were panting to cool off and didn't fly away as readily as they usually do - they were exhausted. They need to conserve their energy, not expend it flying away from humans. Most of the shooters respected the owl's space, but I saw a few who were just unbelievably stupid - they are the ones that ruin it for the rest of us.

There were a couple of Canadian Wildlife Services officers taking photos of the photographers as well as another in the parking lot taking photos of the cars (and drivers) coming in. Those fauxtographers who didn't respect the wildlife are going to get a surprise in their mailbox soon. I also took photos and video of the morons who didn't give the owls their space, and am sending in the images and videos.

[N.V.M.]

i thought i saw a red jacket and 500mm. i crossed the logs right behind the dyke, but not even close to those guys out there. there should be more signage, i don't recall seeing any actually. there were way many more guys near the owls on the marsh than on the dyke, way more. i'd give the Wildlife guys a fail. i actually watched that owl in the 2nd and 3rd pics get spooked by a bunch of guys slowly creeping up on them. all i could hear was continuous shutter mode from 3 or 4 cameras, steadily. that's what he heard and made him uncomfortable, and he took off.

[european]

Originally Posted by Senna4ever

^^^ Please, please, please tell me you weren't one of the idiots who went off the dyke out onto the marsh and got too close to the birds so much that they got stressed and had to fly away. I also noticed that because the day was so warm, the owls were panting to cool off and didn't fly away as readily as they usually do - they were exhausted. They need to conserve their energy, not expend it flying away from humans. Most of the shooters respected the owl's space, but I saw a few who were just unbelievably stupid - they are the ones that ruin it for the rest of us.

There were a couple of Canadian Wildlife Services officers taking photos of the photographers as well as another in the parking lot taking photos of the cars (and drivers) coming in. Those fauxtographers who didn't respect the wildlife are going to get a surprise in their mailbox soon. I also took photos and video of the morons who didn't give the owls their space, and am sending in the images and videos.

Last time I was at Boundry Bay, I saw a few guys who were all over the place. I was like WTF?!?! There are a few signs and yes sure, there could be more of them placed by the city or whoever else does it but it still kind of pisses me off that people don't play by the rules but hey, I guess that only exists in an ideal world.

Anyways, N.V.M. AWESOME PHOTOS!!!! I think I saw that owl last year but I honestly couldn't tell to be 100% sure as my little stupid piece of crap camera and 0mm lens sucks so I can't get close enough. Currently working on selling my body, mind and soul in order to afford one. So hopefully soon!

[77civic1200]

I've never actually noticed any signage? what are the rules? And if we aren't allowed off the dykes, why have I seen hunters setting up blinds and decoys right at the water?

[Senna4ever]

There is no signage, and the public is allowed onto the saltmarsh, but too many people are getting too close to the birds. You can see it in their body language that they're uncomfortable/stressed, and the photographers think that just because the owls are just sitting there, it's ok to creep closer and closer. I think it's just that the photographers are ignorant about the birds' behaviour, but it still pisses me off when I see people chasing after the birds. It's not worth getting the shot if the animal dies soon after, like that Long Eared Owl last year that died because photographers wouldn't leave it alone. The birds are exhausted after flying down from the Arctic, and they flew down due to a food shortage up north - they need to conserve their energy to hunt, not flying away from people chasing them. The officer said that people should stay at least 50 metres away from Snowy Owls. If the birds looks away from you, then you're ok, as it doesn't feel threatened. Once it starts to keep its eye on you, or starts fidgeting, then you should back off.

O.W.L. (Welcome to O.W.L.) already has two Snowy Owls recently admitted in their rehabilitation centre due to starvation because they didn't have the energy to hunt. One of them was found starving and they're not sure why, but the other one was from the Lower Mainland and ended up starving due to people chasing it.

[european]

I've seen signs. Non of them say "STAY OFF" They just say wildlife reserve or something? I forgot I haven't been there in a while. Next time i'm there I'll snap a photo.

Unless these signs have been removed or I'm just going crazy.

[Senna4ever]

All the land between the dyke and the shoreline is crown land - the public is allowed to go there.

[european]

Cool. they shouldn't

[N.V.M.]

i swung by Reifel just before i went over to see the owls. actually, i was timing the low tide and had a couple hours to kill.

[Senna4ever]

You're getting some nice results with that 400mm! I should get one too...

[Senna4ever]

Some of mine from today:







...and the throng of photographers shooting the owls. The couple who are second and third from the left were some of the worst offenders today. They made two of the owls take off as they kept creeping closer.

[N.V.M.]

that must have been that crowd i saw farther down the dyke(eastward), i didn't even bother heading down there( so many cameras down there). damn that light was awesome, eh.

can't you just grab a 400mm off the shelf? seriously though, i think the 400mm has the huge advantage of just hand hold and shoot. don't think you easily do that with the 500mm?

so, where would you like to shoot next week, lol.

[Boostslut]

Fuck, killer shots guys! Coming back from Australia and will be home before Xmas! Can't wait! Perfect timing!

[N.V.M.]

i saw a couple of other big birds of prey yesterday too, but damn, not real happy with them. all in all though , i had one of my best days with anything with feathers.

i'll post them up anyways, but they're not keepers.

both these guys i got driving down 72nd, towards the dykes.

[european]

I got a picture of feathers

[Senna4ever]

^^^ Sandhill Crane?

[european]

Originally Posted by Senna4ever

Sandhill Crane?

Yes

[N.V.M.]

Originally Posted by european

Yes

where's this Saw Whet owl you keep seeing?

[european]

Originally Posted by N.V.M.

where's this Saw Whet owl you keep seeing?

I've only seen the Saw Wheet owl three times at Reifel.

When you enter Reifel, stay on the far right path which is near the east dyke. Head North all the way. Near the end of that path, you should be near two bird blinds. One the faces the east dyke and another that faces the north dyke. Turn right towards the east dyke and immediately start looking in the bushes on your right. He's sitting about 4 feet off the ground but you have to crouch to see the bird as there are too many bushes at eye level. The ladies that work there were informing me that people have broken branches and ruined some of the vegetation around the bird so they can get a clear shot.

I was lying on the ground with my camera pointed up towards the bird a couple inches off the ground mounted on my tripod. That's where I've seen the Saw Whet owl a few times. I've also seen Saw Whet on the path near the east dyke where the two Great Horn owls were sitting. Not sure if it was the same bird and he just moved or if there was another at Reifel.

I don't know if the Saw Whet is still there as I saw the Saw Whet owl last year. I've haven't been to Reifel since January. Kind of pointless since I have a membership. I love bird photography, its so much fun but I don't really want to go back to the sanctuary or boundry bay without a mega lens like you guys.

my Saw Whet owl photo...



Kind of miss my 300mm f4 but no VR sucks on that lens and I want more zoom, more sharp, more fast, more in flight photos and more wildlife awesome fun time! Still working on selling my sole and everything else I own so I can afford a 10,000 dollars worth of gear just for one freakin' inflight photo.

[Senna4ever]

That owl is still there? I love Saw Whet owls!

This is Snoopy, a captive one that was injured by flying into a car. He can't fly anymore due to a broken wing and a head injury.




Kyle (77civic1200) has a great shot of one too.

[european]

^
Don't know if the Saw Whet is still there. Wouldn't be surprised though, everytime that I saw the bird, it was in the exact same spot. As if he didn't move at all. I started to think it was a fake and someone mounted a little bird statue in the bushes haha.

Go to Reifel and check it out I guess. The ladies there are really nice and one of them usually will tell you where the latest attraction is located.

[N.V.M.]

i was asking about the owl because of your Sandhill crane feathers shot, they're both dated the same(when i checked out your Flickr), and i assumed it was recent. looking again, they're both from almost a year ago.

thought i could get some recent location info about a cool bird, but since its been quite a while, nevermind.

i heard about Short-eared owls around Iona, i may concentrate on that a bit.

[european]

^
ya, sorry. Just going through old photos.
I can't be outside and use my camera. Too sick and now I have to watch over my injured dog.