This gorgeous bird was one of the photo subjects at a raptor photo shoot event I took part in back in October.

Once or twice a year I like to do these types of events as they give me an opportunity to practice and hone skills that I don’t have time to work on when in the field. They also allow for some way cool pictures like this one.

The detail I was able to capture was extraordinary from the scratched up beak to the fine details plumage. Just gorgeous!

When photographing wild birds, you rarely have time to tweak settings and get the finer details which is why these events are nice to do every once in a while.

Plus, they help support the great work of organizations like Nature’s Educators and allow me to use my Tamron Lenses USA SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2, a crazy awesome piece of glass.

Such impressive creatures and extraordinarily efficient hunters. You can easily imagine a poor rabbit below being terrified as this creature of the night descends on it. 😉

While I find and photograph these owls often in the wild, this particular one is a captive bird, owned by Nature’s Educators. The photoshoot with it allowed me to get some cool shots that are very hard to come by in the wild.

One thing that struck me about this particular bird originally from the Midwest was the darker plumage as compared to the ones I find on the Front Range in Colorado. Their plumage can vary based on geography, likely a result of local adaptations to the environment. Nature’s colors here in Colorado are quite muted and less vibrant and our #owls reflect that.

Quite the beautiful raptor! This was the second time I have seen this owl and its mate but the first time it allowed me to get some pictures. Best of all, it hopped up onto a branch in the relative open giving me some nice shots.

This capture really showcases those awesome, yellow eyes and the cool plumage that camouflages them and makes them masters at hiding.

Going back to May 2nd for this one and what was my last visit to this nest not far from my home.

Two of the three owlets had fledged and were now in a tree about 20 yards away. This little one though was still insisting on hanging out at its birthplace, not quite ready to fledge.

On this evening, it was standing on the rim of the tree cavity of its home, giving me a nice look at it as the sun began to set and lit up its eyes. I sure do miss the evenings I spent with this family but will be hoping for a happy return come next spring.

Taken in Thornton, Colorado

A great horned owl and her owlet enjoy a ‘moment’ at their nest a few weeks ago. It was very sweet and seems to be a very appropriate picture for Mother’s Day.

Whether wildlife or human, the matriarch of the family is the glue that binds all together. In their roles as protector and provider, they are invaluable and held in high esteem – as they should be.

Just as this owlet looks up to its mom, so too do I to mine. Lord knows that without her, I would not be the man I am today and I am forever grateful for her. I love you, Ma!

Probably the best shot I have ever gotten of an owl doing this. Watching owls can oftentimes be a bit boring as they do tend to sit for long periods of time. Sometimes though, they put on a bit of a show and such was the case this past Friday evening.

Thunderstorms were rolling by and the wind was howling quite a bit. One of the owlets had hopped from the nest and was across the trail while the other two remained in the nest. This meant mom and multiple spots to watch and she was keeping her head on a swivel. That gave me some nice looks including this.

Check out this pair of cuties!

This is from an absolutely fantastic great horned owl nest not far from where I live. I don’t know for a fact but I suspect the parents are the same ones I have been watching for a few years now.

They originally took over a traditional stick nest from some red tailed hawks. Last year, the hawks evicted the owls and now this year the owls took up residence nearby in this tree cavity. It is an absolutely beautiful spot for pics and out of sight of prying eyes that don’t know it is there.

Judging by their size, these little owlets will likely be hopping out of the nest and climbing the surrounding trees any day now. I of course am not looking forward to that as they then become much harder to find and photograph.

My goodness it has been an absolute treat to watch and document this great horned owl family this spring.

This is the second year I have known about the nest and supposedly the fourth year for the parents in this spot. Despite being heavily trafficked, they thrive in the environment and all the humans around provide the benefit of keeping predators away.

This past Thursday, the evening light was perfect at times and the owls were very active. A squirrel made the mistake of getting too close to the nest and mom leaped into action, chasing the offender away.

Afterwards, she hopped to the nest and spent some quality time with the kids. There are in fact three owlets although only two are visible in this image.

This little owlet did just that. Mom, well, she didn’t seem to care for me as much. 😀 

A still photo to go along with the video I posted yesterday. There are two little ones in there although only one is seen in this image.

With another blizzard set to hit the Colorado Front Range tomorrow, I can’t help but worry about these and the other nesting raptors. Invariably, some will not survive and while that is simply nature at work, it does not make it any easier. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed all my feathered friends weather the storm okay.