THE
ETHICS OF OWL PHOTOGRAPHY by
Sandra Coté
With the rapid emergence of digital photography and online photo-hosting sites, we notice an alarming trend of harassment and abuse of owls for photography. Social media, being a small world, allows us to quickly hear of disturbing incidents outside of this group. We have even discovered a few photographers who have sought to maintain social licence by vehemently denying baiting, even going so far as to personally attack anyone who inquires, despite unequivocal evidence of their activity. Some disturbing examples are listed below (note the extent of evidence in these cases varies from photographs and videos to posts, reports, and anecdotal comments):
* people yelling, shaking branches, throwing
snow, and poking at a roosting group of Long-eared Owls with a stick, with the
intention of obtaining action photos of the owls in flight
* a Barred Owl being baited by a group of
photographers who demanded others pay a fee if they wished to take photos
* owl calls being played over a loudspeaker
during the day to lure locally endangered Short-eared Owls while they were
resting at a wildlife refuge
* a Northern Hawk Owl being distracted from
hunting by photographers luring it with a mouse enclosed in a glass jar
* a Barred Owl being baited at a public park
by several people who verbally assaulted the woman who attempted to intervene
on behalf of the owl
* a Great Gray Owl killed in traffic as it was
being baited across a road
* a Northern Saw-whet Owl killed by a
Cooper’s Hawk when it was flushed from its protective roost during the day
* owls roosting or nesting in trees disturbed
by people climbing ladders or trimming foliage to gain better photos (leaving
human scent trails and exposing vulnerable owls to predators)
* people nailing the tails of live mice to
posts (and in other cases tying them to a stick) with the intent of baiting Snowy
Owls
* a rare sighting of a Northern Hawk Owl
posted on social media which resulted in about 80 requests for its location in
exchange for money
* various instances where “celebrity” owls
have been killed after becoming habituated to people and vehicles
In response to such incidents and to encourage good ethics, Dr. Christian Artuso, ornithologist and conservationist by profession, has prepared a document on photographing owls which demonstrates how to obtain photos with as little disturbance as possible—something we all need to work towards.
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ETHICAL
PHOTOGRAPHY OF OWLS by Christian Artuso
As wildlife photography goes, owls make easy
photographic subjects! They are creatures of habit, they sit still for long
periods and they fly low and slow. In temperate climates at least, there are
seasonal opportunities to photograph these primarily nocturnal birds during
daylight. In today’s world of listservs and multiple sources of immediate
information sharing, the burden of finding these mysterious creatures is
greatly reduced—most photographers no longer find owls, they simply go to see
them at known locations! At the same time, their mystique and enigma has not
been lost, their elusive reputation being matched by their personality and
character, perhaps especially because of their large, human-like,
forward-facing eyes and rounded heads. Their enormous popularity as
photographic subjects is thus hardly surprising. This offers opportunities for
awareness and conservation but it also poses problems for the owls themselves.
This article discusses ways to minimise disturbance so that the sheer joy of
watching owls can be shared while minimising the risk of harming the beautiful
subjects we love.
The best owl photos come from those who invest the time (years) to learn about their subject. Owls are not all the same and there are different ways to find different species and different places to look at different times of the year. There are seasons and occasions when certain species can be found in daylight, which simplifies the photographic challenge enormously (some species are more crepuscular or even diurnal). It pays to take your time and treat photography as a learning tool. It may be easy to rush around, following others, and then “point and shoot” but that will not distinguish your photography from the crowd. It also pays to back away whenever you can and observe from a distance. This is really the only way to see the amazing adaptations of owls in action. I will discuss various different contexts below but in each case you will find reference to three main principles:
·
Precautionary
Principle (don’t risk disturbance, i.e.
when in doubt, leave it out)
·
Respectful
Distance
·
Respectful
Duration (length of time observing or photographing an owl)
Roosting Owls
Photographing
an owl on a day roost is the easiest way to photograph those species that are
secretive and nocturnal but there are some key pointers to keep in mind. Above
all, don’t fall victim to the biggest fallacy in birding and wildlife
photography, the near omnipresent owl-not-bothered
fallacy. Many birders and photographers believe a roosting owl that does not
flush is undisturbed, but nothing could be further from the truth! I have seen far
too many photos where the photographer commented that the owl was “tolerant” or
that the owl did not notice the human observer when there was clear evidence to
the contrary (to better understand what to look for, see this article on signs
of stress in owls: http://artusobirds.blogspot.ca/2014/12/signs-of-stress-in-owls.html). Owls,
especially small owls, do not flush for a good reason, viz. it is very
dangerous for them to leave their day roost! Nocturnal owls may be fierce
predators but in the daytime their nocturnal adaptations (including slow
flight) make them vulnerable to other predators. Small owls like Northern
Saw-whet Owl would not normally hunt during daylight hours (unless food
deprived) because it puts them at enormous risk. When you find an owl roosting,
make no mistake that the owl is almost invariably aware of your presence. The
owl will wait until the last minute to flush and may sometimes be “frozen in
indecision”, i.e. unable to move
while caught in the difficult decision of fleeing (with all its inherent risks)
or sitting tight and trusting camouflage (which can go horribly wrong at close
quarters). Don’t mistake closed eyes for sleeping either, as owls will frequently
squint to be able to watch you but hide their most visible feature (their
eyes). When you photograph a roosting owl, know that the owl is constantly
assessing the threat you may pose and that this is energetically costly. For
this reason, it is imperative that you limit your observation time of a
roosting owl to just a few minutes. If you do spot an owl at close quarters,
back away very slowly to maximise the distance from where you can observe any
visible signs of stress subside, such as the tall-thin posture, erect ear-tufts
or squinting. As always, remember the don’t-be-a-jerk
rule, i.e. no sudden or brusque
movements—back up very slowly and raise your camera slowly! Your photos will be
much improved by backing off and the owl will thank you for it!
Hunting Owls
For
obvious reasons, observing animal behaviour is best done from a blind (or
“hide” if you prefer the British term). A great paradox is that watching
wildlife impacts wildlife, necessitating care and compromise in all
recreational activities. Even the most skilled of observer can almost never
achieve fly-on-the-wall status
(something that birdwatchers forget too readily). Using a blind, greatly helps
to minimise your influence on your subject and hence to observe natural
behaviour. For many people, their vehicle is their most useful portable blind
and this is especially true for owl photography. Especially in winter, there
are numerous opportunities to observe day hunting owls and the best way to do
this is at large distances from within a vehicle (or other blind). If you can
see an owl from within your vehicle, then DON’T get out! If you absolutely need
to get out, stay behind the vehicle and don’t slam doors. In this way you can
sit and wait long enough for an owl to make a plunge. However, even in a vehicle
at a distance, you still need to be mindful of the owl’s reaction to your
presence and limit the amount of time you spend with any individual animal.
Even in a vehicle, it is still not acceptable to spend multiple hours with one
owl. In addition to the owl itself, be aware that you impact other things in
the environment. Getting out of your car and walking over towards a ditch where
an owl is hunting is likely to produce a change in the activity of small
mammals like voles that are sensitive to ground vibrations. You can indirectly
reduce an owl’s chances of hunting success in this way.
Urban Owls
Some of the best opportunities to
photograph owls come in urban settings. Some species can benefit from proximity
to humans in certain ways, as Fred Gehlbach called it, the “suburban
advantage”. In a suburban environment,
people can provide something of a shield from larger predators for small owls
and they provide concentrations of food (for example under rodent-attracting
bird feeders) and other advantages such as the urban heat island. Even in these
circumstances though, never assume that the owls will tolerate too much intrusion. Excessive pedestrian activity
after dark will deter the owls and hence the same precautions apply in cities.
One of the best observation opportunities comes when you can use a building as
a blind.
Celebrity Owls
Many owl locations become so publicised
or shared that some owls achieve celebrity status. Fame, however, comes at a
cost. In all the time and distance considerations discussed above and below,
you must remember the cumulative effects of multiple observers and reduce your
time of observation accordingly. In most cases, the best thing to do is to
resist the urge to visit a celebrity owl and leave it to those for whom it
would be a species they rarely encounter. Without wishing to go into horrendous
details, I have had the deaths of celebrity owls reported to me too many times
over the past decade. The crowds may not be the cause of death but they
certainly do not help. For this reason, also be considerate of how you share
information about owls. Sharing with a trusted friend is one thing but never
post precise locations for owls in public fora and delay data entry and/or
buffer locations for sensitive species when using databases such as eBird
(don’t forget that eBird and listservs have become a tool for trolls and, in
some parts of the world, poachers too). Always remember that with a group of
people, even a small group, the risks of disturbance are exponentially greater.
Nesting Owls
The most exciting period to observe owls
is when they are feeding young but photographing owls around their nest is the
MOST dangerous time, when your presence can have undesired consequences. The
general principle to be aware of when observing adults and their offspring is
that the closer any animal is to success, the less likely that animal is to
abandon its reproductive effort. For owls, in the early stages such as when
setting up territory or incubating, the risk of abandonment from small
disturbances is high, whereas in the later stages such as when the nestlings
are capable of thermoregulating or when fledglings are getting close to
achieving independence, the risk of abandonment is much lower. For this reason,
I almost never photograph owls during incubation or early brooding. When I find
a nest, I note the stage and plan to come back when the young are large. Even
in the late stages I maximise distance and minimise time of observation just to
be sure.
When
observing nesting owls always be cognisant of the following:
·
You
are being watched!
This
is not just by the owls themselves but also the likes of crows and ravens that
are savvy at following humans to places of interest. I have seen photographers
lead crows to an owl nest (or roosting family party) on several occasions and
there were consequences for the owlets. Watch your back and watch the skies and
make sure you are not being followed.
·
You
are being sniffed!
Raccoons,
ringtails, opossums, black bears and others know how to follow your scent trail
and if you lead them right to a nest tree you may find the nest depredated upon
your return. Be extra careful, never trample a trail, never walk directly
towards a nest, always use a circular approach leading away from the nest,
never leave anything behind, never use flagging tape or physical memory aides,
and visit infrequently.
·
Find
the right window.
The principal is simple—don’t move so much as a
leaf! You can find a window through vegetation that keeps you as concealed as
possible. Never cut or tie back branches, never trim or tie any vegetation, and
never leave any clue of your presence. Even with fledglings moving from day to
day, they are still vulnerable and there are still many risks to observing
them. In their first month or so outside the nest, they are especially
vulnerable. Don’t be fooled by the cute appearance of curiosity either, these youngsters
are processing a lot of new information and that is a survival adaptation not
to be trifled with. Redouble all efforts to keep distance and minimise time of
observation. If a natural barrier presents itself, such as photographing the
owl family from across a small lake or creek, then use it to minimise risks.
Flash Photography and Lights
There
are numerous misconceptions about flash photography but the empirical evidence
strongly suggests that owl eyes react to lights in much the same way as our eyes
do. In many contexts, especially in the
tropics, owls seek out artificial lights because they attract moths and other
invertebrate prey. Like us, owls must adjust to changes in the amount of light
and this adjustment takes time. Strong steady-beam lights directed at an owl
are more problematic than flash itself (though they may be used in concert) and
create a longer lag in adjustment time for the owl. If you must use lights
therefore, always use indirect lighting (bounce the flash or shine the light on
foliage and underexpose any light source, compensating with high ISO). A single
person with a flash may well be less disturbing than a crowd of observers;
however, great care is still needed when using flash. The first thing to
remember is that there is no way to be an unobtrusive observer (trying to be
hidden or camouflaged doesn’t work when you are using flash!). For this reason,
it is imperative to limit flash use and time even more so than in other types
of photography. I would recommend no more than five minutes use of artificial
lights and always indirect lighting. If an owl is hunting in moonlight or near
artificial light, you may be able to turn off the flash altogether. For more
discussion on flash photography and references, see: https://www.facebook.com/notes/owls-of-the-world/flash-photography-spotlights-and-owls-by-christian-artuso/805000586259045. Note: the pros
and cons of the use of camera traps around nests is a more complicated topic
that is beyond the scope of this article.
Call Playback
There
is no doubt that song/call playback can change the behaviour of birds. Much has
been written on this subject so I will not go into the details here. Playback
can be used responsibly and can be an aid in finding secretive animals but it
should be minimised and never used in frequently visited locales, never to a
celebrity owl, never on a known nesting territory and never used repeatedly in
the same owl territory regardless of season and even if visits are weeks apart.
If you are using playback for a nocturnal owl survey or to determine the
identification of an owl, use it only as the protocol demands and as sparingly
as possible to confirm detection or identification.
Baiting
Although formerly considered to be “just
feeding”, there is mounting evidence of harm and mortality caused by baiting
owls. Owls react very differently (in terms of habituation and consequences) to
feeding as compared to songbirds. Although all forms of feeding wildlife come
with risks, baiting owls and other predators is especially problematic. Much
has been written on this subject as well so I would encourage further reading from
reputable sources. Due to increasing awareness of the magnitude of the problem,
and to the body of evidence of harm, education campaigns and regulation changes
have been recently enacted in some jurisdictions to address this issue. To
trained eyes, baited photos are obvious and will be rejected because they are
not natural and because they pose an unacceptable level of risk.
Final Notes
As always, remember the issues
surrounding private property and people’s privacy too. Don’t be one of the few
inconsiderate people who give the naturalists’ community a black eye.
Even after the photos are taken, when it
comes time to share, there are things to consider. When posting and labelling
photos, providing good contextual information (but not precise location) makes
all the difference. A close-up of an owl in the tall-thin posture without any
context will set off alarm bells to the educated viewer but the very same photo
with an explanation that the photographer only noticed the owl at close
quarters and then immediately backed away to minimise disturbance (cropping
later for effect) is perfectly understandable and legitimate. Precisely because
there are so many risks and because there are so many people looking at owl
photos, posting any close-up of an owl these days requires a strong contextual
explanation.
Whenever
I seek photos for an article or other publication, or when I judge photo
contests, I am not looking for how close you got or how long you observed an
owl (those things are more likely to set off alarm bells). I am looking for
your photographic contribution, i.e.
documenting natural behaviour, unusual aspects, how owls use their adaptations
in their natural habitat. The pinnacle of owl photography is not a close-up but
rather a photo that “paints a thousand words” about the owl and the owl’s
world. Documenting natural animal
behaviour (in photos, videos or in sound recordings) provides enormous
satisfaction but, in order to keep it natural, remember to keep your distance,
limit your time, and exercise the precautionary principle.
