Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona - Part I

Two trips to Madera Canyon last week yielded a wonderful surprise, a Northern Pygmy Owl.

A pair of Northern Pygmy Owls nested in a large Sycamore Tree. A beautiful little owl only 6-7 inches tall. The Northern Pygmy Owl preferred habitat is forests of oaks and conifers -- and obviously Sycamores. Madera Canyon has a very high population of Acorn Woodpeckers (and Arizona Woodpeckers, Gila Woodpeckers, Red-naped Sapsuckers, and the occasional Red-breasted Sapsucker). With the abundance of woodpeckers comes an abundance of ready-made nests. So it is not surprising that Madera Canyon has a high population of Owls (Northern Pygmy Owl, Elf Owl, Western Screech and Whiskered Screech Owls.

The Northern Pygmy Owl's range is Mexico and north through Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. 

It does hunt during the day, so seeing one is just a matter of patience when you know where it is nesting. 

Northern Pygmy Owl in Nest

Northern Pygmy Owl with Lizard

Northern Pygmy Owl: Miller Canyon Continued

Photographing mammals is quite a bit easier than photographing birds. The hardest part of photographing mammals is finding them. Most mammals, with some exceptions, are on the ground, not high up in a tree. And, while it is true that mammals like Mountain Goats and Bighorn Sheep can be high up in a mountain which makes them difficult to get close to, birds are often that way. About five years ago I took my grandson Noah to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. He was two at the time. As we were walking around we came across a Northern Pygmy Owl sitting on a tree branch at eye level. We walked up within five feet of him. Noah, in his little two year old voice said "whooo, whooo." He knew his animals. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, I was caring Noah. 

About three years ago, a guest called me from Sabino Canyon to tell me that there was a Northern Pygmy Owl about 10 feet off the ground and in plain view. I grabbed my camera and drove over to Sabino Canyon (about a 10 minute drive). I walked into where the owl was and "tried" to take a photo. Boy, did I feel like an idiot. The camera wouldn't focus and then shut down. So, there I was about 10 feet from this Northern Pygmy Owl -- with camera in hand -- and unable to take a photo. As it turns out the power supply and circuit board had failed and the camera needed to be sent back to Canon for repair. 

Finally, Friday on my hike up Miller Canyon I came across another Northern Pygmy Owl. But, again, unable to get a really good photo, but for a different reason.

In the first photo -- which was taken with a 400mm super telephoto lens -- the owl is barely recognizable as even a bird!

Northern Pygmy Owl

The next photo was at the same angle as the previous one, but zoomed in further with Photoshop.

Northern Pygmy Owl

The final photo was as I got closer -- underneath the owl -- and again zoomed in further in Photoshop:

Northern Pygmy Owl

In looking through the lens, I really couldn't see the owl's face. Just too far away, a bad angle, and not very good lighting. It wasn't until I got back and zoomed in closer with Photoshop that I could see that the owl was asleep and looking to the right. Had I known that at the time I probably would have stayed there as long as it took to get a photo of him awake and looking at me.

But, I remain determined.