I look forward to a wildlife photography trip every year, and this year I headed to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Before I left, I checked with photographer friends on Facebook, and one tip came up right away, watch for Burrowing Owls.
A friend, Janis Blanton, marked the owl location on a map for me, and that helped me find one soon after I arrived. The harder part was getting a photo I really liked.
Wildlife Notes
I spent several days trying to make a frame that felt right. The photo I came home with was made in the rain, with soft light and a very wet owl perched near its burrow. Those were not ideal conditions, but the weather gave the scene a mood I liked.
On this trip, I only saw one Burrowing Owl. Other photographers thought the female was likely underground tending eggs, but I could not confirm that myself.
One part of the sighting stood out to me right away. This owl pair was using an area shared with Black-tailed Prairie Dogs. I did some research after the trip and learned that Burrowing Owls often use underground burrows made by other animals, including prairie dogs. They also tend to do well in open habitat with short vegetation and good visibility around the burrow. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a helpful overview of Burrowing Owl habitat and nesting behavior here: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Burrowing Owl.
That kind of setting fits what I saw at Wichita Mountains. The owl had open ground around the burrow, nearby prairie dogs, and a clear view of the area. It was a simple scene, but it told a bigger story about how one species can benefit from habitat shaped by another.
Photography Notes
I photographed this Burrowing Owl from my truck during a rainy stretch at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The weather was not ideal, but the soft light and wet feathers gave the scene a mood that fit the moment.
I used a long lens so I could stay back and avoid pushing the bird. A beanbag on the truck window gave me a steady setup and worked well for this roadside view. The high ISO reflects the dim, rainy conditions.
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM
- Focal length: 800mm
- Aperture: f/11
- Shutter speed: 1/1250 second
- ISO: 6400
- Exposure compensation: 0
- Support: Beanbag on truck window
This was not a bright, polished setup. It was more about working with the conditions I had and trying to tell the story of a Burrowing Owl holding its ground in the rain.ting all helped tell the story of the moment.
Closing
This Burrowing Owl was one of the highlights of my Wichita Mountains trip. I did not get perfect weather, but I did get a scene that felt honest, a wild bird, a rainy day, and a glimpse of life around the burrow. That was enough to make the stop memorable.