It seems this season is a poor one for raptors in the north, and those
of us who live in warmer climes are seeing more of them now. "Birders"
with cameras find them irresistible as photo subjects.
      But there must be a zillion photos out there of owls staring at the
photographer, usually in the wide-open settings where they most often
look for lunch. All these photos look pretty much alike alike; once in a
while a photo might be taken of an owl with bloodied talons or even dead
prey, but they tend to retreat to eat. Photos of such subjects are
sought after, even if they are pretty much of identical birds in
identical settings.
      I can imagine that owls, if they could and cared to observe humans,
would notice field characteristics--colorful 'plumages,' typical
postures and approaches, but potentials that might be dangerous.
Unlikelier than a tasty warm or vole, humans clumsily tend to hold to
their faces glassy instruments. Humans have an anxious tendency to edge
closer and closer to owls, all too often until they become unwelcome.
      By searching the internet it is easy for us humans to find innumerable
snowy owl photos. But that seems not enough. We want to see our 'own'
owls, in our 'own' place, even though it is almost always
indistinguishable. Each birder must share his or her 'own' identical
image, tedious as it must be, of a snowy perched on a beach, looking
suspiciously toward the camera.
      This is a lot more boring than stamp-collecting, but we seem
drawn to share out OWN versions of the standard photo. This is just a
bit strange, and always tedious for folks who view the results; it is
something the owls too put up with, even if carefully undertaken.
--Bill Whan


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