Jim's Photo Page - Great Gray Owl

I was at Whitefish Point (in Michigan's upper peninsula) in late April. I heard there had been sightings of a Great Gray Owl. When I arrived on a windy afternoon, I checked to see where all of the photographers were and went in the opposite direction.

Close to the beach and not far from the asphalt path, I spotted the owl in a tree. It was about 100 feet away. I took a few pictures and worked my way slowly and quietly a little closer. I took a few more photos and got a little closer still.

The whole process of this slow approach took 90 minutes. I zig zagged my way closer and closer, avoiding eye contact as much as possible, and talked softly to the owl as I got closer.

I ended up 10 feet away. The owl ignored me most of the time. I had to wait for it to turn its head in my direction to get photos of its whole face. I kept up a quiet conversation most of the time.

The only time it seemed nervous was when two loud motorcycles pulled into the parking lot. It stretched taller, watched the cycles, began to move its wings but relaxed when the motors were turned off.

When I finally ran out of film, I left, went to my car to get some more film and returned. My second approach to the owl took much less time than the first time. I posed no threat and the owl was unruffled. I was halfway through my third roll of film when my opportunity came too quickly to an end.

A bird watcher came quickly (too quickly) down the path. The owl immediately turned to watch him and grew visibly tense. When the bird watcher spotted me, he stopped, trying to see what my lens was pointed at. The owl watched his every move. When he finally spotted the owl he quickly grabbed for his binocular case. The motion was too much fast for the owl and it immediately flew away. My picture taking was over.

It was an interesting lesson in approaching wildlife. The owl was unconcerned about my presence 10 feet away due to my slow and careful approach, but left at the rapid motions of a birdwatcher 50 feet away.

Whitefish Point is a great bird watching location during the spring migration from late April through early June. According to the daily counts, hawks were crossing at a rate of about 1000 per day. Stop at the Bird Observatory building and check out the logs to see what has been sighted.