I've been watching these chicks since they emerged from their burrow, usually 4-5 days per week. They're all grown up now and independent. Pops still hangs out but Mom hit the road, looking for (probably) a less crowded burrow. ;-)
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/burrowing_owl/id A little more about this very charismatic and declining species. They've declined through much of their range because of loss of habitat (think the building of Silicon Valley), poisoning of prey items (rodents and insects) and even shooting--some people find it "fun" to shoot at anything that moves. :-( Unlike other owls, they live in the ground, in burrows often dug by other animals, but they are capable of digging their own. Also unlike other owls, they are active during the day, often hunting during early morning and late even hours--and visible throughout much of the day.
It's been a huge treat for me to watch them raise their families as part of my job, after years of hoping for a glimpse of them in areas with very very few Burrowing Owls.
Michael Mehl, Lucie M. Photography & other way holiday Maldives, jplemar31, sntssche, and 203 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 20 more comments
Misty DawnS 8 months ago | reply
Love this! It's adorable and the lighting is fantastic!
George Stenberg 8 months ago | reply
Wonderful photo!!
A-TrainToBoston 8 months ago | reply
Love it!
alpinebob2001 8 months ago | reply
Great photo
Frank Bremm [wasserbrunn] 8 months ago | reply
Nachwuchs einmal vorwitzig fotografiert!
Stephen Fischer 8 months ago | reply
Cute. Nice capture.
GracefulbutterflyPhotography 8 months ago | reply
So cute!
giorgosgrigoriadis16 8 months ago | reply
Very beautiful scene !!!!
hopeisalot 8 months ago | reply
beautiful!
*Glaukopis* 8 months ago | reply
LOL, so cute!!!
Woody 50 8 months ago | reply
Great backlighting and expression
ouistitis 8 months ago | reply
Cute shot !
KittyKaht 8 months ago | reply
What fantastic light!
Ivan . 7 months ago | reply
Admirable work..looks really Impresionant.. .. Congrats.
GregDouglas 7 months ago | reply
Fantastic shot. They look so alert too.
ingridtaylar 7 months ago | reply
Just priceless, Charlene.
lisascenic 6 months ago | reply
I'm a huge fan of the burrow owl. And your photo is splendid!
ChristosTheGreek 5 months ago | reply
That's great. Lucky you :)
David Ruiz Luna 5 months ago | reply
Marvellous image.
Rozanne Hakala 3 months ago | reply
this is fantastic!