Burrowing Owl stays focused on the photographer

And here I thought I stayed focused on my subjects! This pretty lady seemed quite intent to keep its gaze on me as well. 😉

A local wildlife photographer group arranged for a visit with Nature’s Educators, a non-profit group that does public outreach events to educate the public on wildlife. Most of the animals in the group’s care cannot be released into the wild for a variety of reasons.

Such is the case with Attis, a Burrowing Owl. She was hit by a car and suffered a broken wing that was unable to be fixed and as a result she cannot fly or be released into the wild. Instead, Attis now serves as an ambassador for the group. She gave me some fantastic looks and an opportunity to get much closer than what you normally could in the wild.

During the summer Burrowing Owls can be found across much of the western United States. At more southern latitudes closer to Mexico and in Florida they stay in place year round. Unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls are diurnal (versus nocturnal) so it is quite common to find them out and about during the day. Burrowing Owls are considered a threatened species here in the Colorado. Their numbers appear to be on the decline as humans take over and destroy their habitat.

If you’re interested, this image is available here.