Post by kastern on Feb 3, 2011 10:46:27 GMT -8
Since it was my sighting that started all this, I figured it would look kind of suspicious if I remain quiet at this point. I agree 100% with everything Gord has said. It is a subject I try to get across in my blog from time to time, hopefully without offending anyone and I've written articles on the subject of responsible wildlife viewing for the Eagle Festival flyer etc. I too have learned a lot over the years as to the importance of protecting the habitat because the habitat is just as important as the birds...without the one, you won't have the other.
Re. the Boreal Owl specifically....when I saw him he was in a tree right beside the trail. Had the jays been 'mobbing' a tree further from the trail I would have attempted to find the subject with my binoculars but would never have wandered off into the bush trying to find it. Also, I am well aware of the danger of using a flash with any nocturnal creature (have also addressed that in my blog). When I first saw the owl I had my Canon Power-shot with me and it would only take a photo in that light, with a flash so I did as Gord suggested and then only took a couple of pictures. I then got my DSLR so I could take photos without using a flash and then adjusted the lighting with an editing program, I didn't use a tripod, partly because I find them annoying and limiting but also, taking the time to set one up etc. would have disturbed the bird far more than was necessary, therefore the pictures were taken with a hand held 300mm lens...maybe not as crystal clear as they could have been, but good enough for me.
Kathy
Re. the Boreal Owl specifically....when I saw him he was in a tree right beside the trail. Had the jays been 'mobbing' a tree further from the trail I would have attempted to find the subject with my binoculars but would never have wandered off into the bush trying to find it. Also, I am well aware of the danger of using a flash with any nocturnal creature (have also addressed that in my blog). When I first saw the owl I had my Canon Power-shot with me and it would only take a photo in that light, with a flash so I did as Gord suggested and then only took a couple of pictures. I then got my DSLR so I could take photos without using a flash and then adjusted the lighting with an editing program, I didn't use a tripod, partly because I find them annoying and limiting but also, taking the time to set one up etc. would have disturbed the bird far more than was necessary, therefore the pictures were taken with a hand held 300mm lens...maybe not as crystal clear as they could have been, but good enough for me.
Kathy