Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio)
Place: Colts Neck, NJ, USA
Date: January 1991
Equipment: Nikon 8008, Nikkor EDIF 400/5.6 & TC14 converter (= 560/8), tripod
Film: Kodachrome 200
Exposure: Aperture priority center-weighted meter, natural light, no fill flash
Scan: Minolta Dimage, 85% of frame

Commentary: The three species of Screech Owls in the US are small (8.5") birds common throughout the country. They are seldom seen due to their excellent camouflage, as can be seen in this photo. Another image from this series was published in the June 1993 issue of Birding magazine to illustrate the use of K200 film. The camera on tripod was slowly moved toward the bird until the desired image size was obtained. This particular bird roosted in this same tree for a few years in a row and had gotten somewhat used to the home owners working in the nearby garden so I was able to work in the open.