Great Gray at Gooseberry Falls

Great Gray Owls (Strix nebulosa) are fairly large measuring about 27 inches in length and about 2.4 pounds in weight; this species is the world's... more

by Morris Finkelstein

Title

Great Gray at Gooseberry Falls

Artist

Morris Finkelstein

Medium

Photograph

Description

Great Gray Owls (Strix nebulosa) are fairly large measuring about 27 inches in length and about 2.4 pounds in weight; this species is the world's largest owl by length (but not in weight)! They are deceptively large due to their abundance of fluffy feathers, rather than muscle mass. They are found widely distributed in North America, mostly in Canada and Alaska, and occasionally in the northern United States, northern Europe (Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and Estonia) and northern Asia. This owl has a rounded gray face, yellow eyes, large facial discs, and a white collar below the beak. Their preferred breeding habitat is in dense coniferous and oak forests, adjacent to bogs or meadows. They prefer to hunt around dusk or dawn, or at night, relying on their very excellent sense of hearing, capturing prey as deep as 2 feet under the snow's surface. They feed almost exclusively on small mammals (mice, lemmings, and voles), and occasionally on grouse, quail, small hawks and ducks. Their biggest threats are from diminishing habitat, West Nile Virus, and motor vehicles. Because they are not as territorial as some other birds of prey, they are not easily flushed by humans or cars, and are difficult to spot in the field.

This Great Gray Owl perched on a branch and hunting in the snow was photographed in Gooseberry Falls State Park on the morning of 2-6-2017, a freezing, snowy and overcast day. I used a Nikon D810 camera body and a Nikon 500mm f/4.0E FL ED VR lens to capture this image. Settings: 1/160 sec, f/6.3, ISO 640. Gooseberry Falls State Park is located along on the North Shore of Lake Superior, along Minnesota Highway 61. It opened in 1937, and is known for wildlife.

I am honored that my photograph was featured in the Fine Art America groups:
All Natural Beauty Of This World, 2-11-2017
FAA Portraits - Birds, 2-13-2017
Photographers From Around The World, 2-14-2017
Animal Photographs, 2-14-2017
Wildlife One-A-Day, 3-4-2017
Poetic Poultry, 3-5-2017
Wild Birds Of The World, 3-6-2017
10 Plus, 5-19-2017
Images That Excite You, 5-20-2017
Birds In Focus, 7-4-2017
Midwest America Photography, 3-12-2018
Snow - Ice - Frost, 7-19-2018
Hotel Lobby Artworks, 1-23-2019
Nikon Full Frame Cameras, 1-23-2019
Five Star Artist, 8-14-2020
Mind-Blowing Photography, 9-25-2020
USA Photography Only, 1-18-2021
FAA Portraits, 2-2-2021
Just Perfect, 2-7-2021
Four Seasons, 2-12-2021
Your Very Best Photography, 2-14-2021
Your Best Work, 10-11-2021
Wisconsin Flowers And Scenery, 3-21-2023

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Uploaded

February 11th, 2017