How to attract a tawny owl for photos (1 Viewer)

[Whiskey01]

Hi, I've recently realised there are tawny owls in a wooded area near where I live and I've set myself the challenge of getting some photos. I've caught the nature photography bug big time after recently finding, investigating and taking photos of a family of badgers.

I've done a bit of research on attracting them and have made a couple of early attempts with limited success. They at times will call back if I play tawny owl calls on my phone but have not come any closer.

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated as I would really really love to crack this

 

[etudiant]

My very limited experience with calling in owls suggests that they are just as likely to be repelled as attracted.
Slow looks and lots of patience to try to find roosting spots does work, but it is a time consuming effort.
Can you put up nest boxes? There is a webcam of one here: http://pontu.eenet.ee/player/kakk.html

 

[delia todd]

Hi Whiskey01 and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

May I request that you don't use playback any more now, until after the breeding season has finished. Birds are under enough stress at this time of year, trying to attract a mate, seeing off rivals and then trying to find food to feed his mate and the youngsters.

Also you'd be very well advised not to go anywhere near the nest site when there are young just out of the nest... the adults can be very dangerous and will not hesitate to use their talons to attack a person if they think they are a threat. (If you don't believe me I can try and find a thread where this happened to a member, he'd rescued a youngster that had fallen to the ground and has head scars to show for it!)

In addition to all this it is an offence under the Wildlife act to go near certain breeding birds nests (most of our owls are included in this I think), or to cause disturbance to any breeding birds.

Your best chances for photography are to try and find a communal winter roost site, they are often advertised.

I hope this helps.

 

[Lisa W]

Hello Whiskey01 and welcome to the forum. Nice of you to join us.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi Whiskey! Welcome aboard and enjoy

 

[jurek]

Don't use tape playing for many reasons - including that they practically never come close for tapes, and you already scared the bird with too much taping.

Remember where you heard the birds in the evening, and return during the day. Look for old trees, especially with hollows, and for splashes of guano on the ground. You may find the bird roosting during the day, which will be almost certainly high up the tree: pressed against a tree trunk, in the entrance to a hole, or in thick branches covered from above. If you behave properly, you may see it at the same place every day.

It becomes easier to easy in midsummer, when Tawny Owls will start activity already before darkness.

If you want close shots, you need a lengthy time, in the different place, a photo hide, and establish a baiting station baited with dead mice. But in my opinion, much easier is to find a nearest bird park.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to BirdForum! I am sure you will find lots to interest you here, and I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[Whiskey01]

Approaching a Twany Owl

Thanks for all the advice guys, what time of year should you be wary of approaching a tawny owl at? Or is it just the nest you need to be wary of approaching?

 

[etudiant]

Thanks for all the advice guys, what time of year should you be wary of approaching a tawny owl at? Or is it just the nest you need to be wary of approaching?

Owls breed early, so spring/early summer is the most sensitive time when the young are nestbound and especially vulnerable.
This webcam link (http://pontu.eenet.ee/player/kakk.html) shows the owl on at least 1 egg. Afaik, it is located in Finland, where they are perhaps a month behind the UK in their breeding schedule.

 

[markspirito]

Thanks for all the advice guys, what time of year should you be wary of approaching a tawny owl at? Or is it just the nest you need to be wary of approaching?

Just a word of warning, I believe you may need a licence to photograph birds near their nest, also I once read a book : An eye for a bird by Eric Hosking who literally lost one of his eyes while photographing a Tawny Owl near the nest, the bird attacked him directly towards his eyes... claws first resulting in the accident... True story.. Take care

Mark

 

[delia todd]

.... and a cautionary tale from a BF Member too: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=114751

 

[MTem]

I have a pair that nest in the garden - usually in one of two boxes I put up.

Certainly you should not play tapes at the moment as they will already be well into their breeding cycle (eggs most likely at the moment) and you will seriously disturb the resident pair - in my view playing tapes is a waste of time year round for Tawnies. I do not think you should be trying to photograph until the young have fledged in late May.

As has been said, once you know roughly where a pair are resident take your time and investigate all evergreen or ivy covered trees for the roost sites. In my case all the roost sites are within 100m of the usual nesting area and the pair are resident year round. They will tolerate a certain amount of approach as long as you don't climb or bang the tree they're in. Getting a good view is going to be down to luck.

Again as has been said you should not try to photograph the nest site or a bird near it.

Mick

 

[etudiant]

Think this blog post addresses good owl etiquette well:

http://jeremybirder.blogspot.com/2017/03/some-notes-about-owls-in-my-big-year.html