The Three Musketeers, a photo from Santa Catarina, South

Photographer's Note

Burrowing owls, "Athene cunicularia", are very common owls, but it is always nice to see them wild in their habitat. They nest in burrows, where they like to stay close to take care.
Adults length around 21-28 cm (8.5-11 inches) Burrowing owls are generally active at dusk and dawn, but sometimes at night also. They are highly terrestrial, and are often seen perched on a mound of dirt, telegraph or fence post - frequently on one foot. They feed on a wide variety of prey, changing food habits as location and time of year determine availability. Large arthropods, mainly beetles and grasshoppers, comprise a large portion of their diet. Small mammals, especially mice, rats, gophers, and ground squirrels, are also important food items. Burrowing Owls nest underground in abandoned burrows dug by mammals or if soil conditions allow they will dig their own burrows. They will also use man made nest boxes placed underground.
I was lucky to find these three youngsters just watching the world outside their nests entrance during the kindergarden age, and specially lucky to got close to them, while their mother stayed just watching me. Mother owls can always attack on people getting close to their childs, like I did here, and I saw anther one doing it, hurting my father-in-law on his head a few hours later.
Regards,
Zeca

alainh, besnard, Buin, shevchenko, siamesa, bakes888, Gessle, pablominto, ribeiroantonio, Cretense, belido, zmey, nivaldo, Philippe, worldcitizen, AiresSantos, ellelloo, wgreis, dareco, maltese, Waylim, jaywalker, mydrjoe, npecanhuk, riclopes, paura, lucasgalodoido, adores, danos, bostankorkulugu, axiotea, Cricri, trekks, emilbo, pboehringer, josepmarin, JCG, plimrn, alexisborel, jvachon, daddo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

alainh (33209) 2008-09-18 21:15

hello Jose
excelent capture. these tree birds are beautiful, funny and tender. i like
friendly
alain

besnard (59196) 2008-09-18 21:31

Bonjour Jose
Superbes ces trois frères qui te regardent avec beaucoup d'attention. C'est net et inédit.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

shevchenko (20560) 2008-09-18 23:01

Hello Jose,
These little owls their feathers color are match with the color of sand, they are not affraid and very cute all together looking to your camera, distinct image, good shoot.
Ally

siamesa (28231) 2008-09-18 23:22

OLá Zeca,
Achei interessante as expressões diferentes de cada uma delas. A do meio querendo aparecer e a da direita bem atenta a tudo, ou melhor, a você.Parabéns pela interessante postagem.
Abraços
Maria

bakes888 (18499) 2008-09-18 23:42

Hi Zeca. A case of who’s watching who! Great photo. You have done well to get so close and without personal damage ;-). Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

dvlazar (6662) 2008-09-19 0:01

I love that this is a natural capture in the wild... great work. And you're so close, well done getting in like that. Such cute birds!
Dave

Gessle (70) 2008-09-19 0:21

Hej Jose!
I feel impressed, deeply impressed.
This pic is awesome! The owls are beautiful and vulnerable.
I love the sleepy eyes of two of them...:):):)
Great shot, great colours and management of light.
Greetings, Anna

pablominto (53746) 2008-09-19 0:27

Hello Zeca,

Owls are such funny birds, with the circular faces and big eyes!
And they are said to be wise, but I don't know the reason for that...
This is a pleasant group portrait, where you make well use of the principle of three to create dynamics!

Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

jjcordier (79299) 2008-09-19 0:41

Jose
Superbe capture...et pris de très près, chapeau! Et bravo aussi pour le titre.
Amicalement
JJ

Gerrit (59968) 2008-09-19 1:01

Hi Jose,
what a wonderful capture. The expressions are really unique too. Great work.
Regards, Gerrit

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2008-09-19 1:11

O da direita está verdadeiramente curioso e atento à tua objectiva. É muito interessante saber que eles fazem os ninhos no chão. Não sabia nada disso. Aprende-se sempre aqui no TE. Obrigado pela lição.
A foto está linda, como sempre. As cores são muito naturais e bonitas.
António

Cretense (68709) 2008-09-19 1:58

Hi Zeca!

Wow, what an amazing and sweet "triple portrait"! Outstanding "wildlife" photo, I wonder how did you manage to get that close! Excellent "tight" framing, simple but effective composition, excellent light managment and impressive overall definition! Congratulations!

Hercules

Disabled_A (0) 2008-09-19 3:16 [Comment]

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Buin (42580) 2008-09-19 3:57

Hallo Zeca!
That's beautiful - and somehow touching! These three "teenagers" seem to range between fear and calmness because of this human being with this camera. Technically your photo really is perfct. Congratulation to this wonderful picture! I like itvery much!
Greetings from sunny but cool Germany - already after the first ground frost this autumn.
Frank

belido (19934) 2008-09-19 5:24

Olá Zeca,

cara, que flagrante! Hehehe, os bichanos parecem um tanto apreensivos com esse 'ser estranho' que acaba de aparecer, dois deles parecem que acabaram de acordar. Linda imagem, graciosa, magnífica, meus parabéns!
Abraço,
Carlos
PS: acho que o café ficou meio corrido prá essa semana, né?

zmey (7335) 2008-09-19 6:57

ola jose! incredible! :)) just look at the expressions on their faces: what they're thinking about you is spelled out loud and clear... beware! quite a gem: this capture.

cheers,
kristaps

mark_mk (266) 2008-09-19 7:07

Hi Jose,
nice shot! I really like the look on the face of the right owl, seems to have never seen a guy pointing a camera at it ;-) Nice colors, sharpness and perfect framing. I keep looking at these yellow eyes...

Take care
Mark

nivaldo (15417) 2008-09-19 7:37

Belíssima, Zeca !!!
Valeu compartilhar, meu amigo, parabéns!
Um bom final de semana, um abraço.
Nivaldo

Philippe (11836) 2008-09-19 8:42

Hi, Jose. I like the natural framing her with the leaves surrounding the owls. The chicks make a nice trio. The one on the right looks well awake looking at the lens while the other two don't seem so energetic. There are good contrasts, good colours and a good light.
Have a nice weekend,
Philippe

worldcitizen (14990) 2008-09-19 8:55

Hello Jose,
This is great!! The framing and close view of these beautiful owls is wonderful. I just love the expressions on their cute, little faces: two are giving you a look that seems to say "back off", and the one on the right just seems startled! You are lucky to have birds like this so near you.

ellelloo (6572) 2008-09-19 10:32

Hello Jose!
What an enchanting and beautiful shot! This is nature as its best. Great colours, clarity and sharpness. They really look amazing with their round heads and yellow eyes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Greetings, Lasse

wgreis (8267) 2008-09-19 10:39

Olá Zeca,
esse tema eu gosto muito. Aqui perto de casa, temos um parque onde todos gostam de caminhar e, as corujas, principalmente estas, chamadas de "buraqueiras" (o que sua foto mostra muito bem porque) estão por toda parte.
Você deu um lindo "close-up" das nossas amigas.
A luminosidade ficou ótima também.
Abraços e um ótimo final de semana.
Wagner.

dareco (17136) 2008-09-19 16:04

As a kid I had two pet owls that came to be fed each day. This went on for about 4 years and I loved them dearly. However....this is the first time I have seen this particular type of owl. An interesting post, and a great portrait with all three watching you closely. TFS

jmdias (107287) 2008-09-19 17:33

zé

como vc conseguiu este close da família reunida ? já vi estas corujas mas as bichas são muito ariscas, mal chego perto e elas se mandam. Acho que é porque são mais ameaçadas aqui.. belo flagrante da natureza, a luz e a nitidez estão muito boas. lindo trabalho

abraços

jorge

maltese (22909) 2008-09-19 22:18

Hello Jose
Une belle et étonnante photo!!
C'est plein de la vie de ces trois oisillons mais c'est également très bien réalisé vue les conditions sûrement difficiles!!
Du bon boulot et dangereux ;o))
Amicalement
hervé

Waylim (25436) 2008-09-19 22:38

Jose,
Very strangely looking but very cute little guys here. Lucky of you to catch them in the wild, they don't look too happy that you found them though. A bit nervous maybe. Great details of their feature and feather. Lovely threesome. Thanks
Way

aadilj (18102) 2008-09-19 22:42

Thats cute and very evry well seen and compsoed with such balanced parameters Jose. I like the crisp colours and the sharpness.

danyy (0) 2008-09-20 0:16

Bonjour José,
superbe document un peu paparazzi apparement, tu as trouble leur calme familial.

AiresSantos (56155) 2008-09-20 0:41

Ola Zeca
Esta foto esta magnifica. Uma Beleza... Excelente POV, colours and definicao.
Obrigado por partilhares e bom fim de semana
Aires

jaywalker (16105) 2008-09-20 1:33

Hi Jose, A wonderful nature photo & I love your title, great timing to have them all looking at the lens, the lighting has brought up the yellow eyes superbly well, owls are birds I love & this shot shows them very well, TFS, kind regards Wilson.

mydrjoe (1240) 2008-09-20 3:08

Olá Jose,

Una excelente toma de estas tres preciosas crías y una fabulosa oportunidad muy bien aprovechada. Gran calidad técnica y estética. Parabéns.

Feliz fin de semana.
JR

npecanhuk (79329) 2008-09-20 3:11

Olá Zeca!
Que beleza de captura... foto de animais não é coisa fácil, eles não estão lá disponíveis, fazendo pose prá gente... tem de ter muita paciência e habilidade e essa ficou realmente perfeita!
Animaizinhos simpáticos, hein?!
Parabéns e um grande abraço!
Neyvan

riclopes (35577) 2008-09-20 5:19

Que tomada espectacular, Zeca. Ainda mais por não se tratar de um Zoo, mas sim do seu ambiente natural. Incrível como conseguiste aproximar-te tanto do ninho. A composição está muito bonita com as 3 tão bem encaixadas na 'toca'. As duas da esquerda mais ensonadas e a da direita mais alerta de olhos bem abertos. Parabéns.
Bom fim de semana,
ricardo

paura (25802) 2008-09-20 11:58

Zeca,
Lindíssima. Extrema competência em ajustes de exposição.

Abraço, amigo

Paulo

lucasgalodoido (27532) 2008-09-20 16:10

Olá Zeca,
um bicho interessante esse, chega a ser engraçado. A qualidade de sua captura ficou ótima.
Parabéns e Abraço

ElAprendiz (30) 2008-09-20 17:52

Hello J.A.:

Well, take a very appropriate for TrekNature, but without doubt, very beautiful and successful.

It appears that the birds had landed on the shot, good shot, and obviously were being very careful to what we were doing with the camera.

John

adores (46979) 2008-09-20 18:37

Olá Zeca!
Está perfeita!Gosto muito das diferente expressões delas, especialmente da da direita, que parece muito assustada. Muito bem captada, com óptimas cores e definição!

danos (110407) 2008-09-21 1:37

Ola Jose,
great snapshot of the three musketeers.I like your contact with the nestling owls to are so close to your camera.Of course you a lucky man that you found the nestings in their nest entrance.Excellent flawless shot.

Regards,Danos

Flavia (10352) 2008-09-21 7:04

Oi Zeca,

Muito engracada esta foto, o olhar das corujas para voce, realmente impagavel! Como foi que voce conseguiu achar estas tres corujas, que momento fantastico!

Abracos,

Flavia

bostankorkulugu (42832) 2008-09-22 11:27

they are so adorable... and you placed them in the compo so well jose... the look on the face of the one on the right is sooo cool... great catch my friend...

korkut

batalay (41261) 2008-09-22 18:14

Hello José,

These are not owls I know of in North America, but what do I know about owls. I do know that this is nature photography at its best. Very good note accompanying the image.

Warm regards,

Bulent

axiotea (21651) 2008-09-22 21:50

olà Zeca
I love these birds! Yes you were lucky and made a well timed capture on these three brothers! The way they looked at you is very funny ;)
Abraço
Marilyn

mdetay (4929) 2008-09-23 10:26

Hi Jose,
Excellent capture. Well done. Congratulation.
Cheers from the south of France.
Michel

Cricri (176) 2008-09-25 11:03

Hola José
Quel jolie capture de ces trois oiseaux aux regard attendrissent, trés belles couleurs et détails
good evening for you
cricri

trekks (14348) 2008-09-25 20:00

hello Jose

Very cute element of 3 there with 2 showing sleepy eyes and 1 is fully alert. I have never seen them in the wild, really very pleasant view to see them in this shot.

Is it easy to find the nest in the woods?

tfs, bill

emilbo (22616) 2008-09-26 6:41

Salut jose!
Très intéressant de voir ces trois jeunes hiboux dans leur habitat, c'est plutôt rare qu'on peut voir çà. Merci de nous le présenter avec une bonne note. Tu as su bien profité de la chance que tu as eu de les voir.
Félicitations!... et bonne journée,
Emilius

pboehringer (770) 2008-09-26 14:11

Zeca,
a foto esta demais e sorte a sua que a coruja mae atacou o sogro e nao voce (rsrsrs. Fiquei meio curioso como voce pegou esta cena. Vejo que a distancia focal esta em 23mm. Voce grudou nos passaros! Da pra entender o porque duas corujas estao com os olhos semi-fechados. Vejo tambem que esta foto foi feita em Florianopolis. Aonde e que voce achou esta turminha de plumas? No zoologico?
Peter

Scharan (14144) 2008-09-26 15:22

Olá Zeca

Uma foto graciosa destas corujinhas...as duas primeiras estão quase caindo de sono ou acordaram agorinha...a outra que parece mais adulta, dobra o olhar atento como se tivesse responsabilidade sobre as outras também.;)
Belo trabalho, meus parabéns!
GA
Vera

PJE (20758) 2008-09-26 22:43

Jose this photo really captivates my attention with these three expressions. Excellent capture and wonderful story about your father in law's head getting pecked. Too funny!

josepmarin (59385) 2008-09-27 3:49

Olá José,
una gran toma, la mirada de estos tres búhos es fantástica, no parecen sorprendidos por la presencia del fotógrafo, y dan un efecto muy simpático a tu composición.
Están posando para tí, amigo.
Excelente trabajo.
Un abrazo,
Josep

JCG (35153) 2008-09-27 8:58

Hi José,

There is of them one which seems more awaked than the others !!! Splendid portrait as of these three owls which do not appear too not frightened by your presence. I like much the quality of the image which offers many details. Very interesting, thank you José.

With all my friendships and one very vbon WE,

Jean-Charles

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2008-09-27 14:19

Wonderful portrait! Excellent capture, good contrast and details. Great work!
Warm regards.
Ahmet

Stepan (27210) 2008-09-28 10:02

Unreal... Simply unreal... Especially the way they look at you !!!
Not really fan with animals shots, but it's really a strange pose. Then...
Stéphane

goodwill (4248) 2008-09-28 11:59

Hi Jose,
Thre can't be a better title then this.......the three musketeers, and each one is watching you with a different POV.
Ha ha ha

Rajeev
:)) Later Please

Vanessa132 (94) 2008-09-29 23:00

Hi Jose,
they look very adorable...great title.
amazing colors and details on the owls.
good timing.
Regards,
Vanessa

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-10-02 10:45

Oi José ,
Lindo este ninho de corujas buraqueira ficou excelente a cara de duas delas parece que estão com sono a outra está bem atenta , a natureza é fantástica nunca tinha visto igual , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

plimrn (21344) 2008-10-03 8:03

Ola Jose,
Amazing work!! First that the birds allowed your approach; you must have made a very non-intrusive approach!! Second you rally managed the light well to get such good detail in what must have been a low light situation. Finally the framing is great; I like the way you included all the birds and their burrow and framed it in green foliage.
SAA, Pat

alexisborel (755) 2008-10-10 0:16

Hello Jose
As i said, i took a look at your gallery and stop on this one.
Really humourus, we don't know if they're affraid or not, and the right one is on his guards when two others looks so tired that they mean to don't care of your presence. So it seems it's the right one who must be call "Portos".
A well shoot
Best regards and have a good day

Alexis

jvachon (548) 2008-10-17 14:56

Hello Jose,
I love the shot of these burrowing owls.
What a fabulous catch. Great clarity and color and detail
My compliments!
Joni

clic (24640) 2008-10-24 5:48

Ola Jose
What a sweet trio and habitat nicely decorated by greenery!
Two of them seem quite relaxed while the other looks ready to charge you!
Today I learned the existence of Burrowing Owls.
Abraços.
Robert

AROBN54 (11475) 2009-01-08 7:19

Ola, Jose!
what a wonderful and amazing shot! Even to happen upon such a scene. The color is wonderful with lovely detail and the different expressions are priceless. Two of them look kind of sleepy and I love the one with the big round eyes gazing at you. This is wonderful! Many thanks and a belated happy New Year to you and yours!
Shelly

daddo (28730) 2011-06-01 1:43

Hi Jose.Lovely work bringing us close to these lovely birds. The eyes are hypnotic. Excellent details and fine natural colours.Thoughtful, close composition with the birds and their burrow. All the best. Klaudio.