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Barn Owl Incoming

This beautiful Barn Owl imprinted on humans as a baby, so cannot be let go into the wild, as he would not survive. The owl is being kept by an organization that takes care of raptors and uses them as ambassadors to educate children and adults.

I had the opportunity of photographing him as part of a workshop. This is my favorite shot, of him flying towards me, where you can also see his beautiful wing patterns (although one feather looks to be out of place).

From Cornell’s website: “Ghostly pale and strictly nocturnal, Barn Owls are silent predators of the night world. Lanky, with a whitish face, chest, and belly, and buffy upperparts, this owl roosts in hidden, quiet places during the day. By night, they hunt on buoyant wingbeats in open fields and meadows. You can find them by listening for their eerie, raspy calls, quite unlike the hoots of other owls. Despite a worldwide distribution, Barn Owls are declining in parts of their range due to habitat loss.”

Photo taken October 11, 2019, near Castle Rock, Colorado.