Late Season Refugee by Doug Dance

Late Season Refugee by Doug Dance

Sometimes good photo opportunities come with the misfortunes of your subjects. This young Snowy Owl had inadvertently strayed into the territory of a breeding pair of Short-eared Owls. at Oak Hammock Marsh. Although they are smaller, the Short-eared Owls are more maneuverable and they aggressively defend their territories. On several different occasions, I have had Snowy Owls take refuge nearby while being harassed by their hostile cousins. The strategy seems to work quite well for the Snowy Owls as the Short-eared Owls usually break off their attacks. It also works out rather nicely for me...