Stone-cold killer predators come in all shapes and sizes in the natural world. However, we often picture large, menacing critters with long, sharp claws and razor-sharp teeth as predators, without giving smaller ones a second thought. Some of these small predators are even cute and adorable – which is what makes them so cool.
I was thinking about this a week ago while photographing an adorable, tiny owl. But beneath those beautiful feathers lies the heart of a predator. The northern pygmy owl (Glaucidium californicum) is a small owl native to western North America. As its name implies, it’s tiny – only 6 to 7 inches tall and weighing just 2 to 3 ounces. For comparison, the familiar American robin stands 10 inches tall and weighs about the same as the pygmy owl.
I arrived in Yellowstone National Park a couple of days before I was scheduled to lead a winter photo tour. I had time to meet up with other photo guides and catch up on the latest news about the park’s wolves, but everyone was talking about the northern pygmy owls that seemed to be popping up all over Yellowstone.
On the second day, I spotted one of the tiny owls on a mountainside. I grabbed my longest lens and tripod and started climbing. The snow was only about a foot deep, so it wasn’t too bad, but at over 7,000 feet in elevation, I wasn’t acclimated yet. I had to stop often to catch my breath, get my bearings, and keep climbing. Every now and then, I paused to visually relocate the owl.
When I finally reached the area just below the owl, I was breathing so heavily that I couldn’t take any pictures. After a few minutes, I was able to slow my breathing and focus my camera. In my viewfinder, I saw the cutest, tiniest owl with bright yellow eyes.
Northern pygmy owls hunt during the day and mainly prey on small songbirds, such as chickadees. They are cavity-nesting birds, often taking over old woodpecker cavities. Their lifespan is relatively short, averaging only three to four years.
The owl’s perch didn’t look very stable, and it was high up in a tree, so I didn’t take many pictures. Suddenly, the owl took off to another tree – even higher than the first. I thought, How am I going to capture images of this tiny killer? By the time I worked my way over, the owl flew again – this time down the mountain. I was happy to be going down and not up this time.
By the time I got near the owl again, I was able to capture some images. They turned out well because, even though the owl was near the top of a tall tree, I was closer to eye level with it since I was higher up on the mountain and the tree was lower.
I thought perhaps this might be the best image I could get of this bird. I stood there, taking in the moment and the snow-covered mountains around me. Then, the owl flew again – this time directly toward me. It swooped up and landed in a small cedar tree, just 35 to 40 feet away, at eye level. I swung my camera around, framed the shot, and pressed the shutter release.
I could see through the viewfinder on my camera that this was going to be a wonderful image. The owl stayed for several minutes, actively hunting, its head swiveling from side to side as it searched for prey. Small snowflakes fell gently, and the air was cold.
Once again, the owl took off and landed in another tree, much farther away. I was thrilled, knowing I had captured a stunning image of a marvelous predator. I picked up my tripod and camera and started the hike down the mountain to my truck.
Snow was falling steadily now, and by the time I reached my truck, I was covered in it. I packed up my gear, climbed in, and started the engine. It was deeply satisfying to spend time with such a cool little killer. Until next time …
Editor’s note: Stan Tekiela’s NatureSmart column appears twice a month in the Eden Prairie Local News. Tekiela is an author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer who travels extensively across the United States to study and capture wildlife images.
You can follow his work on Instagram and Facebook. He can be contacted via his website at www.naturesmart.com.
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