Boobook Owl background question

Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)

The original version of this image has some lit up foliage in the BG but I decided to make the BG a pure black by burning it in with photoshop.
It was not too distracting but I think I prefer jet black BGs in night images like this. Let me know what you think

Any links or info on shooting birds at night would be awesome too:)

All thoughts, comments etc would be appreciated Paul

Canon 5D 600mm f4 L (non IS) iso 800 1/400th f11 manually set, 430ex + better beamer FEC +1
Photoshop- red eye fix (how did I go on that too??), slight sharpen, burned in BG to black

Gee.......tough crowd:confused: Here is the original unedited version if it helps with discussion.

Don't know mate. It's your choice to do that to the BG, I would leave it myself. The darkened one looks a little clinically clean for me personally. Good work with the eyes too. I could not tell. A bit green about you finding the nest. :p

Well.....I knew an Australian would have an opinion:)
Thanks Akos, kind of agree about the clinical look. I'll try a bit of experimenting with just toning down the BG foliage a little.
You're green about these guys and I'm jealous about your Kestrels;):p

Haha
Works both ways then mate.

BTW, it is VERY, VERY quiet here. Not sure why. Just a lot of people disappered.