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Thread: Attentive Fledgling...

  1. #1
    David Roach
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    Default Attentive Fledgling...

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    Went out this morning to search for fledgling burrowing owls as it is now late in the season for our area. I love their eyes in this stage before they turn that unmistakable yellow. This beauty was well guarded by both parents (flanked in front from both sides- you can see the shadow from the left one). Due to the stakes and rope marking the nest and the afore mentioned parents, I had to go in tight to isolate this beauty. Created at Brian Piccolo Park where they run an examplary program of sharing the wide open spaces of the park with these owls. There are many burrows throughout the park; most with successful fledglings this year!
    1DMKIIN 400DO ISO 400 F7.1@1/1250

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    BPN Member Don Lacy's Avatar
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    Love the green eyes with the green BG works nicely for me wish the shadow was not there, still well done.
    Don Lacy
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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    I like the eye contact in this, and your vertical comp works well. This is nice and sharp, and would maybe try and lighten the shadow over the wing.

  4. #4
    Axel Hildebrandt
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    Pose, BG and details look great. The shadow of the other bird is a bit distracting and I would give it a bit more room top and right if you have.

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    The exposure looks good. Nice colors throughout the image. The owl has good details and is presented in a nice pose. Shadow already mentioned.

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    You are right about the eyes. They look very unique. Great details overall and nice pose, David.

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    Oh .....how I would love to have this. Great detail angle and comp. Bg works great well done

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    David

    Very nice.

    I did not know it that the eyes changed color in stages. At what age are they like this and how long till yellow?
    The shadow from the parent to left might be better if not there but then again is not much of a distraction either.

  9. #9
    David Roach
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    To all, thanks for the comments and suggestions as always! I did dodge the shadow very lightly but could have done more and used curves to soften the shadow. Kim, their breeding time is Feb through Sept and this chick is most likely two months old, but I'm far from an expert. They slowly attain the yellow, I believe in the first year. Some birds retain the prominent marbling pattern even once the eyes are yellow (especially at the outer edges of the iris - they look bloodshot). Most here (SE florida) in my experience get close to solid yellow though. Maybe an expert will chime in. Again ,thanks for the learnings!!

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    IOTY Winner 2010 Chris Kotze's Avatar
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    Super pose and great detail, lovely eye's
    Chris Kotze

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    My curiosity is up now about the change in the eyes you mention, etc.

    I just went back and looked at some of my fledgling images taken here in OR and see "yellow" so I am wondering if it has something to do with the area that they are in. I have a friend that is a game biologist and next time I get a chance I will ask him for the scoop on this.

    These are just out of burrow but not yet leaving so probably 45 days old + or minus a day or two.

    http://www.pbase.com/kwr_01/image/68352504

    http://www.pbase.com/kwr_01/image/68352505

    http://www.pbase.com/kwr_01/image/78306753

    http://www.pbase.com/kwr_01/image/78306754

    http://www.pbase.com/kwr_01/image/78306985

    Edited to add this -
    In my search for answers I found this of interest (but not necessarily the answer) and it is apparently a quote from someone that has done some banding etc. (taken from BRDBrain Archives)

    "Speaking of eyes, a fascinating trend that has developed with the Cape Coral
    Burrowing Owls is their variety of eye colors and how mixed the same family can
    be! The color range is from the traditional bright yellow, to an intermediate
    shade we usually refer to as straw colored, to so dark that you only see the
    pupil with the owl in hand (as noted in the attached pics). The majority of
    owls still appear to have the typical yellow eyes, but when you hit a family
    that is mixed, it's wild! You can have yellow-eyed parents produce various
    shades of dark-eyed young, and vice versa! You can have all yellow or dark-eyed
    chicks, or you can have 3 yellow and 2 dark-eyed chicks in the same family! I'm
    not sure if anything has been done yet, but there was talk of someone from USF
    possibly doing some genetic work on the subject."

    So maybe there is some morphing taking place in the species and some are to have different colored eyes.
    David please follow your owl around until it is three years old and report back on what it's eye color is then. Thanks ;-)
    Last edited by Kim Rollins; 05-05-2009 at 02:19 PM.

  12. #12
    David Roach
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    Very interesting Kim. I have observed this color only in fledglings. I have seen the variations mentioned earlier in adults, but the predominant iris color has always been yellow in my experience. Now I will have to pay closer attention.

  13. #13
    Art Kornienko
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    Just the shadow on the left but like you say, sure is a beauty.

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