Cape Coral Owls In Love

The community of Cape Coral, Florida, certainly must pride itself in its very likely booming population of Burrowing Owls.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

This writing is made one month after my first observation of the species having made in this time ten trips to the area around the Cape Coral Library in search of this very interesting bird.

David Sibley has written that the Burrowing Owl is the only small owl of ten species he's observed and documented in North America likely to be seen readily in daylight.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

The intent of my documentation of this species is for the sheer enjoyment of observing the birds and documenting and understanding their behavior through photography.

Upon my first encounter with this species in the late afternoon, I continued to observe the nest until nearly pitch dark.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

It was my great luck in doing that as I observed the owls I was watching mate after sunset.

In all succeeding visits to study the owls thus far, mating has been observed at each burrow nest on every occasion after sunset.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

I had initially thought that the mating event occurred only at this time, but have been able to document this behavior shortly before sunset.

All of my observations have been made in the late afternoon and later where I cannot say whether mating occurs in the morning hours or at any other time of day or night.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

Typically and predictably, mating of the Burrowing Owl has been observed within 30 minutes after sunset.

This has allowed just enough light on some occasions to photograph the event without flash.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

Of course under such circumstances, even with a camera setting for low light conditions, the result is a need for a slow shutter speed leading to a blurred effect.

With the use of flash photography I have been able to capture the birds in the act with a better appreciation for behavioral aspects like the touching of beaks.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

The owls will typically be seen together at the entrance to the burrow this time of year.

This leads me to believe that there have been no eggs laid yet, at least of the owls I've been watching.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

On my last visit to the Cape Coral Library, I didn't make a drive by the nest where I'd first seen the Burrowing Owl.

The original pair were not there the last few times I attempted to see them which might indicate that mating had successfully occurred.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

I'm also considering that these particular owls abandoned the nest for another in the large expanse to the north of the library.

The latter could easily be explained by kids that are on the move in the area.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

One particular event which required much patience and preparation in setting up the camera for a favorable view and documentation was met with failure as the camera didn't fire when needed.

The owls directly above were observed to mate again nearly exactly 35 minutes later when there was no natural light left for photography.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

The second mating event nonetheless went on without fail, hopefully successfully for the next generation of Florida Burrowing Owl.

The two mating events unable to be photographed due to low light conditions will hopefully be the last.

The scene above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

There simply has to be better anticipation of the event with greater control and understanding of the photo gear.

The photo gear seen above, north of the Cape Coral Library, belongs to Marcus Sonntag visiting the area from Germany.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

The owls are missing in the shot as they were at another burrow commanded by them just to the west and seemed to have control of all the burrows on the significant parcel of land with no other owls immediately present.

I was very surprised that Marcus chose not to wait ten minutes after I last saw him to photograph the Burrowing Owl mating event at my recommendation.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

The owls will almost always, as I recall, "talk" to each other within minutes of the male being allowed to mount the female.

I had been told by pedestrians at a burrow I was observing in late March that a nest in the vicinity of the Cape Coral Library can be found literally only a few feet from the road.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

In my attempt to see it on my last visit led me to get lost briefly as I took too early a turn off of Skyline Boulevard which wasn't a disappointment as I was able to observe owls at other places I would possibly never have otherwise.

I think I ultimately found the nest that was recommended, although there weren't owls at the entrance to the burrow.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

This nest was recommended of Burrowing Owls that had produced five fledglings last year and perhaps these birds had successfully mated and were simply in the burrow.

Continued observation and travels around the area will be helpful in further understanding.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

Another comment I heard from a pedestrian was that the owls will utilize domestic animal poop at their burrow entrances.

If true, it would certainly be for deterrence of predatory behavior against the fledglings in the late spring through summer months before the young are expected to fend for themselves.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

The mating of the Burrowing Owl is a very brief event as with all other bird species I've observed.

With your good fortune, you'll hopefully consider participating in observation of the event in the future.

Flip of A Coin

At the start of the day, I had no set destination in mind.

The musician above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

When too late to take advantage of early morning light for ideal photography and too cold and breezy to consider use of the kayak, I decided a trip to Lovers Key State Park was in order.

The traffic was stopped and bumper to bumper over a mile from the Matanzas bridge so I made a U-turn to avoid the worst of the tourist effect.

The musician above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

Parking at Bunche Beach Preserve shortly thereafter proved equal evidence of the peak of the season.

Walking west from the parking area along San Carlos Bay proved that putting in the kayak earlier would have been disastrous as the wind was unseasonably strong again.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

The approaching high tide required walking very close to shore as I've only had to do on a couple prior occasions.

Until I hunkered down at the entrance of the west channel, I had only observed the Laughing Gull which showed peak evidence of its mating colors.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

There were only a few Snowy Egrets at the channel in the water hunting with over flights of the gull, Osprey and Wood Stork.

With an intent to photograph the Burrowing Owl in late afternoon light, I headed back to the car.

The beach enthusiast above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

A call from my brother Jim requesting shots of the Red Sox in spring training was fresh in my mind as I approached beach enthusiasts with gloves in hand.

They were welcomed as I had the opportunity to practice framing and timing the throw of a ball.

The beach enthusiast above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

With a little spare time before the sun was low on the horizon, I stopped at Lakes Park with a hope to see the Roseate Spoonbill.

I was captivated by a small stand of cypress trees where I decided to settle down at and study passerines which preserved my energy.

The beach enthusiasts above were photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

From this vantage point I noted the presence of a few smaller species and over flights of flocks of wading birds.

My visit to Cape Coral for Burrowing Owl observation turned out to be a little early which allowed me to drive around to see what action might be happening at different nests that had previously appeared inactive.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

It was my great fortune to see the mating of owls around the Cape Coral Library which was an unexpectedly early occurrence as the sun was very close to setting.

With the event occurring so relatively early in good light, I was able to return to another nest that I had observed a pair of owls at.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

My return to this nest still had only the female guarding its territory.

Before leaving the nest earlier, the male owl had flown out of sight with its return for the mating event which occurred very briefly and before the last of the day's light to record the event with benefit of flash.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed at Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

A perfect day it was overall.

When You Least Expect It

In my recent travels to Cape Coral, Florida, making an effort to observe and document the Burrowing Owl, I found a few surprises.

The Osprey above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

I have to admit that I found myself getting lost on the roads of Cape Coral even though the majority of them traverse the city east/west and north/south.

My GPS device was useful on one occasion after I thought I had completely lost my bearings which I'll blame on the bridges from the mainland.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

Earlier than that, however, I was seemingly going to run out of daylight as I traveled west on a highway (for the second time that afternoon) that offered in a few minutes time the sighting of two bird species I had not seen before in my near three years of Florida birding.

Flyovers of birds of many different species while driving can be expected to occur regularly in such an accommodating climate as southwest Florida.

The budding wildife enthusiasts above were photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

The rarer extraordinary event is when you have a bird such as a Wood Stork pace you at eye level along your route as experienced during a trip to Bunche Beach Preserve traveling south on Summerlin Road last month.

A Cape Coral experience was especially interesting as a bird I saw heading south and very low to the ground seemed to be in distress.

Frank above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

I made the earliest u-turn to get a closer look at what I thought was surely a hawk then clearly seen in an undeveloped parcel of property.

I wasn't able to identify the hawk as Cooper's nor the prey at its feet which was a Eurasian Collared Dove until I hit the books back at home.

The Burrowing Owl above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

This was an extraordinary experience to say the least.

That sighting is put in perspective somewhat as I think of the many hours I've spent observing the Burrowing Owl in which time I've seen in relative seconds the mating of the birds or even more uncommon their feeding behavior.

The Cooper's Hawk above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

An unusual late winter storm attributed to El Niño dumped a large amount of rain on the area these past couple of days which may prove beneficial to the owls with insect and other photographic opportunity across much of the state.

I would certainly like to have the opportunity to re-shoot the owls with them hunting for food with prey in focus beyond mice considered to be a staple in their diet.

The Cooper's Hawk with Eurasian Collared Dove above was photographed near Cape Coral Library in March 2010.

On my most recent trip to see the owls at and near the Cape Coral Library, I was very surprised to see fellow wildlife photographer Frank, visiting from Montréal, who I've seen for the third time at different venues in the area coincidentally.

With extreme optimism I hope to see my friend Tim Rucci later next week as he makes his way across Florida for some wildlife documentation with his friend Ken Conger.

Feature: "Bird Island" At Matanzas Pass

A kayak trip to "Bird Island," postponed for a week due to cold and windy conditions this early spring 2010, resulted in calm pre-dawn conditions and 39 degrees Fahrenheit at launch.

The Great Egret above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

The water in San Carlos Bay felt extremely cold, much more so in fact than I've experienced at any time anywhere leisurely.

I've made a handful of trips to this mecca northwest of Matanzas Pass Bridge from the Bunche Beach Preserve parking area as well as from Bowditch Point just north of Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

Unusual conditions temperature wise for otherwise warm and sunny southwest Florida which has been persistent since the beginning of the year.

There has been commentary of late that bird activity has not been as prevalent as in years past in this area.

The Great Egret juvenile above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

Observations have not indicated that to be the case in my three years of Florida wildlife observation.

The nesting success observed at Bird Island observed today seems to indicate that all is well.

The Great Egret with juvenile above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

I have noted in the past that a kayak or canoe launch to the island is preferred from the Bunche Beach Preserve parking area.

My experience today has me conclude that one should embark from Bowditch Point.

The Great Egret with juvenile above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

From the latter, your distance traveled is greatly shortened, but keep in mind that you will have to potentially deal with much larger watercraft and their wake with extreme care.

The commute should last no more than a half hour and offers a wildlife experience quite exhilarating at times.

The Great Egret juvenile above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

Once near the island approximately 300 feet in diameter, the calls of the juvenile birds become more evident.

The smell of a very active colony wasn't as pungent as in the past with the cooler conditions for sure.

The Great Egret juvenile above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

The predominant nesting species include the Great Egret with a Great Blue Heron observed to compete for a nest as they each took turns to make placement of a particular twig within it before eggs are laid.

I knew immediately that I should have been prepared to document my observations of the wildlife without the 1.4X teleconverter I had attached to the camera that somewhat limited the appeal I was looking for.

The White Ibis above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

There was an egg observed outside of a Great Egret nest that will never hatch.

It appeared the egg was either intentionally or inadvertently displaced by one of the offspring.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

The only species I hadn't observed but expected on my most recent trip to the island was the Tricolored Heron.

The regulars in very close proximity included Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Snowy Egret, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Reddish Egret (solitary) in flight, and Grackle.

The Great Egret above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

Much of the time on the island was spent observing nests more than birds in flight.

Fallen trees from storms of past are still accommodating for an improved view of the activity on the island.

The Turkey Vulture above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

One in particular was much more overgrown than I remember from a visit last year where climbing it for better photographic advantage was impossible as egrets had commandeered it for their own.

Glass bottles of various sizes and shapes were seen as well with fishing line observed in a nest and entangled on a fallen tree that could have only gotten there intentionally.

The Black Vulture above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

I did not see the arrow piercing a nest and bird that was found last year.

An entangled Brown Pelican hung from fishing line in a mangrove at the water's edge near the southeast of the island.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

My departure from the island was from the same oyster shell laden side as I had arrived.

The trip back to the parking area was eventful as I encountered a very strong head wind from the west.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

I was only able to make very slow progress back to the Bunche Beach parking area.

After I passed the east channel, I chose to walk the last mile, but not before falling out of the kayak in my successful attempt to protect the camera.

The Great Blue Heron juvenile above was photographed on "Bird Island" at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2010.

It was a very long, cold and uncomfortable walk thereafter.