"In the Bernese part of the Jura mountain range in Switzerland, there are forests of large beech trees. This is an ideal habitat for the Boreal owl (Aegolius funereus). I had the chance to observe young individuals thanks to an ornithologist friend of mine who took me one day to see a brood whose location he knew as part of a census. I was able to observe this young owl around its nest’s tree for a few minutes.
It was probably experiencing its first flight in spring and must still have had some difficulty flying correctly as I found it on the ground when I arrived in the area. I first kept some distance and then approached gently and laid down on the ground near it. I took this opportunity to use the wide-angle lens to photograph it in its environment and with the sunset in the background. I didn’t stay long at all and then moved away from it to avoid disturbance. The little owl seemed surprised and disoriented to be on the ground. The number of Boreal owls is decreasing in Switzerland. That is why the census and the implementation of measures such as the installation of nest boxes are very important to protect this species. I took this picture in a valley near the city of Biel, in the canton of Bern." - Says Clémence Till.
0 Comments