link here  | |  tools  |  share:
photo size: medium 640 new

Unacceptable Rypstra
recent  |  interesting  |  random  |  favorites  |  contacts  |  sets  |  tags:  
003 (5) (WS) Oh, So Good
003 (5) (WS) Oh, So Good

A Barred Owl enjoying a Cutthroat Trout early one morning.

I had decided to check the creek area for owls before settling down to document the hummingbird nest I found this year. While down by the creek in the first area the owls like to hang out in, I saw it 'bomb' by with something in it's talons. Taking note of where it went, I followed as quietly as possible. When I did see it, I was surprised by how close I found myself. Position and lighting weren't the best, but I was in heavy undergrowth at this point, and daren't move in fear of disturbing it. Off came the tripod for some hand-held shots of it enjoying a 'bed-time' snack before the day heated up.

This shot was taken three days after my upload of it eating a crayfish (Evening Mystery), and just shy of three months earlier than my previous upload.

The reason for my visit to this special place three months later, was because I was appalled to read in our local paper that there had been a bleach leak into the creek where this owl and it's sibling reside. The 'bleach leak' was massive. It killed everything in the creek for ~150 meters from where a storm drain empties into it. The clean-up crews recovered 318 dead cutthroat trout, 6 cohos, 13 sculpins and 11 sticklebacks.

The week following the report, I went to see if the owls had moved on to a new location to hunt, or were still there, as crayfish were a favourite snack that I have seen them enjoy on more than one occasion. I was relieved, therefore, when I came across one quite early in my walk, obviously in hunting mode, and hearing things of interest coming from the creek (previous upload). I then left it in peace, convinced that the creek had already started to recover from the bleaching event.

Suffice it to say I am continually appalled by how man treats the environment. This creek was already under massive restorative measures due to heavy metal contamination leached into its sediment from airport run-off. To think it was finally recovering nicely with a return of the fish to be so cavalierly poisoned again by, what? Someone emptying their hot tub down their driveway? It had to be a massive amount of bleach to affect so many meters of downstream life... When will we ever learn?

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.

© All Rights Reserved
Taken on: April 21, 2021
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with Sheri Rypstra Sheri Rypstra Everybody's photos tagged with Barred Owl Barred Owl Everybody's photos tagged with Eating Eating more » Everybody's photos tagged with Cutthroat Trout Cutthroat Trout Everybody's photos tagged with Fish Fish Everybody's photos tagged with Trout Trout Everybody's photos tagged with Owl Owl Everybody's photos tagged with Poisoning Poisoning Everybody's photos tagged with Environment Environment Everybody's photos tagged with Concern Concern « less
Sets appears in:   • Fish    • Owls    more » • Reay Creek Park    « less
Groups appears in:   • #4 PLATINUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 1 (P2-A2) with CODE    • Windsong ~ (Admin invite only) ~ P1 - C2    more » • Living Jewels of Nature    • #3 PALLADIUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 5 (P2-A10) with CODE    • Precious Living Jewels of Nature    • Members Choice (Admin Invite Only)    « less
Camera: Canon EOS 60D, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, 400mm, ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 1600
Exposure Bias: -0.171 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Spot
White Balance: Manual
Color Space: sRGB
Show full info
Stats: 4,479 views / 117 comments
Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: