This is the incredible moment when a photographer hunting for a large gray owl came across one that was perfectly camouflaged and mixed in with the bark of a tree.
James S. Batuigas, a 45-year-old amateur photographer from Canada, came across the owl after traveling five hours to his favorite wildlife photography spot at a festival in British Columbia.
“I was planning on looking for a great gray owl that day,” Batuigas told the Daily Mail. “I drove along a wooded road in search of great gray owls, scouring each tree in the hope of finding one by midday, where they usually rest.
“Then I suddenly noticed something moving in the corner of my eye in the trunk of the tree, then I realized it was an owl that had cunningly mixed with the bark.”
The photographer claims that if the owl hadn’t turned to look at him, he wouldn’t have recognized it because its color and pattern blend in perfectly with the tree it’s perched on.
The great gray owl (Strix nebulosa), which can grow up to 33 inches long, is the largest owl in the world (84 cm).
The white collar (often called a “bow”) beneath the owl’s face helps identify this species, which is common throughout the northern hemisphere.
The Owl Institute states that the color of the owl’s feathers “helps it blend in with its natural environment and, of course, keeps it warm.”
The Owl Research Institute writes: “The color of the owl’s coat helps it blend in with its natural environment and, of course, keeps it warm.
“Coat color isn’t the only thing that helps camouflage spots. They have other tricks to hide.
“Many of them stand upright and compact their feathers, making the feathers thinner and harder to see.”
“When trying to hide, it flaps its white beak.”
Owls can hide from both potential prey and passionate nature photographers thanks to their extraordinary camouflage skills.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education