Pygmy Owl

There are, probably, close to a million euphemisms comparing size to everything else. In all of these, the common theme is that the size of something, often someone, has nothing at all to do with their attitude, or capability, or whatever is being compared. Clearly, though, every single one of these has to draw inspiration from the Pygmy Owl.

These guys are small, and are just a few inches high and they weight just a few ounce. But… they don’t know that. And even if you could tell them, they simply would not believe you.

Case in point: this wonderful Pygmy Owl hosted by Wildlife Rescue of New Mexico. Sure, he’s on the small side. But one day they put him next to a Great Horned Owl–a bird of prey many, many, many times larger. Most birds would cower in fear. Most birds would do the sensible thing and leave immediately. Most birds would figure, and rightly so, that their number is up. But, of course, not this fellow. When he was next to the Great Horned Owl he sized it up. He measured it. He studied it. And then. And then he decided to have a Great Horned Owl snack. They are afraid of nothing, will take on prey far larger than them, and are one of the fiercest predators there is. And they have proved right the euphemisms on size many times over.

Fringe Photography is very proud to help out this effort. In fact, for many of our photos, we donate 10% of the price to the appropriate organization. For all of our mustangs, that means that 10% of our sales go straight to the Monero Mustang Sanctuary. For our owls and the kestrel, that means that 10% of our sales go to Wildlife Rescue, Inc of New Mexico. And 10% of the wolf sales go to Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary. And this week we were very happy to write the checks to those organizations for the sales that happened in the 3rd quarter of this year. This contribution comes right from our pocket: in other words, prices aren’t higher. We just believe in helping out.

Thank you so much for supporting us and in turn helping support these organizations and the mission that they perform. It is through their efforts that we are able to take care of the wildlife that needs it, be that mending a broken wing, taking in a starving horse, or giving a permanent home to a wolf that desperately needs one. Each of these organizations needs all the help that they can get, be that in the form of volunteers, donations, outreach, or whatever else you can offer. And we hope that you join us in taking care of our wildlife.

We’ll continue offering wonderful and compelling photos of wildlife–we’ve got some wonderful new pieces in the works, in fact. And together we will continue to help those in need.

Thank you!
david

You can learn more about these organizations here:

Monero Mustang Sanctuary

Wildlife Rescue, Inc. of New Mexico

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary

The eyes have it. They see all. The know all. They reflect all, too.

And in this particular case the reflection in my eye, er, the owl’s eye, would be me. And the owl would be a rescue Western Screech Owl, handled by the wonderful folks at Talking Talons (a group who helps winged critters in need). If you look closely in the eyes (but not too closely, for you can easily get lost in those eyes), you can see myself and a bit of my camera grabbing this close up. I will freely admit that perhaps I was a little too close, really, but I just had to have this macro shot of an owl’s eye. Later, when I looked at it, I realized I had a bit more in that eye than I intended.

The eyes reflect all. They know all. They see all. They have it.

Blue Hoo

What’s in a name, really?

This little fellow, formally known to us since 1867, has more names than you would imagine… the most common name, of course, is the Western Screech Owl, but some of the more fanciful names include Dusk Owl, Ghost Owl, Mouse Owl, Cat Owl, Little Cat Owl, and, well, let’s just say that the list is a really long one, shall we?

Like all birds of prey, size is no indication of hunting skill, and if you think the list of names for this fellow are long you should see their dinner menu… if it flies, hops, swims, crawls, slithers, creeps, or even moves, it is fair game. This little guy might only be a few inches tall, but, he is quite the accomplished hunter.

And talkative, too. The Screech doesn’t really “screech”, but does make the all too familiar soft and mellow “hoo-hoo-hoo” sound heard throughout western North America.

As you walk through the forest, just after sunset, and hear that familiar call, you’ll know a screech is close by. Maybe it is, in owl-speak, swearing up a blue streak. Maybe it is sounding out its territory. Or maybe, just maybe, it is saying its name (by whatever name it is called).

There are different sizes of this photo available at our portfolio. Blue Hoo is available for purchase, as well, and you can have this print framed and delivered right to your door.

Saw-Whet Pose, originally uploaded by ifringe.

I’ve been sorting and collating photos over the last couple of days (it’s that dreaded “organization” thing–I try to avoid that as best as possible but every now and then slip up and accidentally get it together) and out popped this little guy.

This is a rescue Saw-Whet Owl, taken at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Plenty of fantastic groups are out there taking care of nature when it needs help, and this little guy is a rescue from one such group. They were kind enough to let folks meet this little guy and he was quite a charmer. In fact, for all the world he seemed to know what a camera was and how to strike a pose–my finger never has hit the shutter button so fast. He just sat there, very willingly, and very happily (I think. Come to think of it, how do I really know the owl was happy? I’m guessing it was. And if you know differently, please be gentle when you burst my bubble. Anyway.) turning this way and that in the sunlight. He was enjoying the afternoon, enjoying the sunlight (well, it is usually nocturnal, but one must make exceptions now and then), and enjoying it all.

When it comes down to it, is there anything better than spending your afternoon with a posing owl?