Annual Pilgrimage
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Communing With the Owls.
Early morning image of a male snowy owl in the stubble of a canola field. EXIF data f6.3, 1/200s, 840mm, ISO4000
I did not envision that this would become an annual pilgrimage, nor did I imagine that I would even find snowy owls here in Southern Saskatchewan, but here I am spending time with the snowies (snowy owls) for the third year in a row. Braving frigid temperatures and sometimes melting conditions (I think I prefer the frigid temps personally), driving countless miles and spending hours and hours looking for these elusive raptors.
We’re very fortunate here in Western Canada to be on the migratory path of these amazing birds and that they like to overwinter near where my mother-in-law calls home. It’s a treat and a privilege to be able to see so many of them and to spend time photographing the white spirits of the owl family. Each winter they make the epic journey from their summer breeding grounds in the arctic to come and spend winters here and further south. I’m not sure what attracts them to spend their winters here, but I suspect that the wide open spaces which mimic their arctic summer breeding grounds and the plentiful supply of voles and other small rodents they feast on play a significant role in the attraction.
How the Obsession Began
A few years ago we were making the trip to Saskatchewan to visit Kory’s mum and I believe it was February. My bird photography obsession was in full swing and while snowy owls are seen east of Calgary - I have never been able to locate them. For some reason - I don’t quite recall why - I did a search and found that Southern Saskatchewan is a good location for seeing these raptors, so I brought my trusty camera gear and made a request that we go looking for them during our stay.
A female snowy owl flying along the beside the road. EXIF data f7.1, 1/500s, 800mm, ISO1000.
Anne, my mother-in-law, was a great source of intel having grown up in this area and noting that she often saw snowies between November and the end of February along the highways on the power poles, but she was skeptical as it had been a long time since she last spotted owls.
One afternoon the three of us (and our cat Roxy) headed out for a drive in search of snowy owls. We were flabbergasted - in the course of a few hours we spotted some 16 owls and many of them were right by the side of the road. Granted they were roads off the beaten track (which might explain why she hadn’t seen them in a while - the highways are much busier than when she was growing up), but it was exciting to see and be able to photograph them. Observing these beautiful birds in their natural habitat was so rewarding and we got excited each bird we spotted - pure white or mostly white indicating a male and ones with dark barring (stripes) indicating a female or an immature male.
I shot so many images that afternoon - I was hooked and vowed to return the next year for a follow up shoot - promising myself to spend more time. It has now become a tradition that I travel to Saskatchewan in December to pick up Anne and bring her back to Calgary for Christmas (this includes an extended visit - choosing a weather window that allows for some time to photograph the owls). We then do a return trip in January which allows for a follow up owl sojourn. It’s a win win as I get some great time with Anne on our trips and I get to feed my photography passion. My love for the prairies and the wide open spaces - beautiful sunrises and sunsets - minimalist photography just fills my soul with gratitude.
This Year’s Trips
Short eared owl looking for a late afternoon snack. EXIF data f7.1, 1/1250s, 840mm, ISO400.
I did a repeat trip in mid December, but only managed to get out one day for owl photography - the -40C weather made it not only challenging, but also unsafe to head out alone for the day - heated clothing and lots of layers are still not enough as I spend a fair bit of time sitting in a vehicle that is not running - shooting from a heated vehicle can really mess up my camera’s focus due to the heat parallax - a phenomenon where there is distortion in the focus due to the difference in temperature inside the vehicle and outside (you can often see this in the summertime with the shimmery haze on a very hot asphalt roadway).
There is something magical about getting out and spending time in the vast open spaces of the prairies and seeing snowy owls is just icing on the cake. I also had a surprise sighting of a short eared owl during my first trip and when I’m very fortunate I will see great horned owls as well.
It’s not just about the owls….
Prairie sunrise that seems to go on forever. EXIF data f14, 1/250s, 24mm, ISO6400.
While it is exciting to see and photograph the owls, I have found that they are not the only draw to the area. I have fallen in love with the prairie landscape and Anne finds this very interesting. Apparently many people do not fully appreciate the subtle features that break up the plains.
I find that the more time I spend in the prairies - the more I appreciate the variations in the terrain.
The vast open landscapes and amazing scenery showcased by spectacular sunrises and sunsets is an additional draw for me. Add in some interesting weather conditions like hoar frost and I’m hooked!
Frost on trees and snow dune patterns. EXIF data f7.1, 1/200s, 24mm, ISO100
I feel like the frost and snow paint patterns on the trees and in the ditches. Intricate lacy designs on tree branches that dance in the breeze - scattering flecks of frosty whiteness all around me.
The lines in the snow forming geometric patterns that look like sound waves to me.
The repetitive design undulating across the peaks and valleys of snow dunes - so much like sand dunes, but with the added shimmer of reflected sunlight.
I feel like I wax poetical when I spend time by myself in the prairies and it appears that I’m not the only one.
I hear the summer storm outblown—the drip of the grateful wheat.
I hear the hard trail telephone a far-off horse’s feet.
I hear the horns of Autumn blow to the wild-fowl overhead;
And I hear the hush before the snow. And what is that to dread?
Take heed what spell the lightning weaves—what charm the echoes shape—
Or, bound among a million sheaves, your soul shall not escape.
Bar home the door of summer nights lest those high planets drown
The memory of near delights in all the longed-for town.
(Rudyard Kipling, excerpt from The Prairie)
The repetitive pattern of power transmission lines. EXIF data iPhone photo
New Strategy
Male snowy owl on a post in the early morning light. EXIF data f14, 1/200s, 840mm, ISO4500, EV-0.7
This year’s second trip I decided to try a different strategy than my usual cruise around looking for owls. This time I drove to a location where I have seen owls during my last visit - I found a good place to park, turned off the car and waited. I didn’t have long to wait before a snowy owl landed on the roadway a couple of hundred feet in front of my car. For some reason when I’m in the vehicle it stresses the owls far less than when I get out and stand beside the vehicle, so I tend to stay inside with the window down or the door open. This also gives me a good place to rest my long lens (the car is turned off to prevent engine vibration messing up my focus).
One particular male spent a long time on the roadway and suddenly he took flight and landed on a nearby post, so I slowly made my way to a position at right angles to him. He seemed oblivious to my presence and continued to preen and scout the area for tasty voles - the snowy owls’ primary diet in the winter is voles and mice. They are excellent hunters and can hear the rodents scurrying under the snow - I’ve seen them dive into the snow and come up with a mouthful of dinner - a sight to see.
Male snowy owl flying away from me. EXIF data f7.1, 1/1250s, 840mm, ISO2000, EV+1.0
I spent quite a bit of time with this owl as he continued to move between the roadway and the post - the light capturing his wing tips as he flew. Now if you read my blog on Camera Settings and Life you’ll know that photographing a white bird against a white background of snow can be challenging not only for the exposure (the camera tries to underexpose whites as it wants to expose for middle grey), but also because the lack of contrast can challenge auto focusing systems. When I'm photographing snowy owls I tend to use one of my tracking autofocus modes as I’m always hopeful that they will take flight (I can only take so many owls in a field or owls on a post photos), I set my shutter speed to at least 1/1250s in order to freeze the motion, aperture is usually around f7.1 and then I let the camera sort out ISO as I use the auto ISO setting.
I was rewarded for my patience with several flight sequences that were fun to capture, but unfortunately he always seemed to turn his back on me just before taking off, so he flew away from me instead of towards or parallel to me. Oh well that it one of the many challenges of bird photography - you have to find the bird, look for a good location/composition, hope for good light and then send prayers to the bird photography gods that the darned bird will take off and fly in a direction that you have predicted. This rarely all comes together, but when it does - it’s magical and worth the effort.
Until Next Year
Well that’s a wrap for this year’s snowy owl adventures and while I didn’t get much owl photography in (2 days total), I am pleased with the images I captured and even more so with the time I spent in the field observing them. They are a wonder to watch and I marvel every time I am in their presence. I am hopeful to do another trip next year and maybe the weather gods will be more cooperative and allow me more time with these elusive raptors.
Have you ever had the pleasure of seeing a snowy owl in the wild? If not what is your favourite bird or animal to see in their natural habitat? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or drop me a line directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
Male snowy owl taking flight from his perch on. the side of a gravel road. EXIF data f5.6, 1/1000s, 840mm, ISO4500.
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
