Waiting for the right sighting

As a wildlife photographer and avid owl watcher, I always enjoy having opportunities to see new species in different locations. However, being a photographer who strongly believes in

ethical wildlife photography, I have become increasingly selective when deciding which of these opportunities to pursue to ensure the experience reflects my conservation-based values.  Many well-documented or popular sightings have a tendency to become detrimental to both the subject and the environment around them, so oftentimes I avoid these encounters. I am also not one for crowds as I feel it often takes away from my chances of capturing natural behavior and obstructing an opportunity for me to connect with the subject through my images. 

Short eared owls often draw large crowds of Birders and Photographers and often conflicts with property owners.

I have been photographing owls now for over fourteen years, and up until recently had never

seen a Northern Saw-whet Owl in the wild. We get these tiny, migratory owls all over the state of Ohio during the winter months. Some pass through, while others stick around finding suitable places to hunt and roost for the winter.  If discovered, these elusive owls often become quite popular, and almost every year there are various ethical issues that result from their exposure. Due to these issues, I had chosen to avoid the widely publicized locations, and instead hoped that one day I would find one on my own, without the added stress of the crowds in a more private setting. I have to admit though, that I hadn’t looked very hard over the last seven years for one, since oftentimes the process of locating them can be stressful to the owl.

A Norther Saw-whet owl being harassed by songbirds.

Imagine my surprise one day this winter when I got a call from a friend letting me

know that our mutual friend had found a saw-whet owl in his front yard!  Andy had discovered it that morning because some local songbirds were making quite a racket in the tree where it was roosting. Finally, after all of these years I was going to have the chance, I had been waiting for!  I grabbed my gear and headed out to see the owl. 

Upon arriving at the location, we were greeted by our friend who proceeded to show us

where the owl was.  I was grinning from ear to ear at this point; the owl was at eye level, and

with just enough opening in the branches that a shot could be framed without bothering the owl in any way.  We set up our cameras at a respectable distance checking to make sure our presence wasn’t altering the owl’s behavior in any way.  At that particular time the owl was snoozing away in the midday sunlight. Of course, I wanted a shot where the owl had its eyes open, but I would never do anything on purpose to create this opportunity.  Instead, I waited for the inevitable songbird harassment that had been going on all day for my opportunity. Sure enough, some birds eventually made their presence known and the tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl gave a few sleepy glances here and there. Each time this happened we would snap off a few shots and wait quietly for the next opportunity. After 30 minutes we decided to leave the area, happy with the experience and hoping for an opportunity to return. 

A Northern Saw-whet owl again focused on some nearby songbirds.

The next day the owl was nowhere to be found, having moved on from the location-perhaps

continuing its migratory journey south. Though my hopes for another viewing opportunity

weren’t realized, I wasn’t disappointed because for me the experience couldn’t have been more perfect. I was overjoyed to have been able to finally see one of these owls, and to have been able to photograph it in a way that was not invasive.   Additionally, being able to share this sighting with my friends in a place that I knew it would be safe from over visitation contributed to the positive experience. I was so happy I waited for the right opportunity to see one of these owls instead of trying to make a personal compromise to my decision to avoid some of the more popular sightings over the years. As large gatherings of people become more the norm with the aid of social media these private experiences become more the rarity but leave a greater impression on the observer and less of an impact on the individual and its habitat.

Christopher Brinkman is the founder of the Owl Police. A published conservation and wildlife photographer working in the field since 2013. He has a passion for Owls and doing public outreach. He spends a lot of his time working with communities involving human wildlife conflicts involving predators. He has been volunteering in wildlife rehab for seven years, specializing in raptor re-nesting and reuniting. A member of the Canid Project, he has also assisted in reuniting orphaned foxes with their families. A self-taught photographer has opened pathways to help the species he cares deeply about.  

Website: www.ChrisBrinkman.com

Instagram: Brinkmanph

Email: Christopher@theowlpolice.com