View allAll Photos Tagged RodentControl
One of our local red-tailed hawks on a favorite perch at our vegetable garden. From this spot the hawk has a good view of any rodents in the vegetable garden, in the field, and in the surrounding area. Excellent rodent control! Backyard bird.
Back in the spring of 2012 we had an owl box installed on our rural property for purposes of rodent control. What we didn't realize, at the time, was how much we would come to enjoy watching and photographing the young barn owls as they grew and matured. At a certain age the would stand in the doorway of the owl house, as soon as it was dark, and screech for their parents to bring them food. You would never want an owl house near your bedroom window. At the current time (July of 2020) we have young Barn Owls living in the Owl House, although I think they are large enough that they'll be moving out in the next few days. That would be a good thing as it's starting to get very hot here.
Down below in the first comment, you can see the lighting setup (using manual strobes) that I used to photograph the owls. In this picture which was taken in 2016 they are waiting for another food delivery.
All of the barn owl pictures that I've posted on Flickr can be seen in my Barn Owl album.
We had a nesting owl box installed on our property early last year, because we hoped that it would help with our gopher problem, and because we like birds. Ten days later a pair of owls moved into the box, and a short time later a couple of baby barn owls were hatched. This year another pair of owls were hatched, and this is one of them coming in for a landing on top of the nest box. I wish that I hadn't cut the wings off in this shot, but I do like seeing the talons. I'm pleased to say that there's been a remarkable decline in the local rodent population.
I lit this with an SB600 on a light stand to the right of the bird. The strobe was in TTL mode and was triggered by the pop up flash of my D90 in commander mode. The flash didn't seem to bother the birds.
I've put together a small set of pictures relating to the owls. Here's a link to that set www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
What a great parent! We don't know if the two young owls have caught any of their own food yet, but from the way they sit on the perch, or top of the owl house and screech "feed me" for hours, we're guessing they're not yet capable of providing for themselves. This was at 10:04 last night, and was the first of what we assume are numerous deliveries. The young owls look healthy, and appear to be well fed. Barn owls are long legged birds with a wingspan of almost 4 feet.
Here's a description of the setup that I use for photographing the Barn Owls, and the owl house.The owl house is on top of a fifteen foot pole, which is about two feet in the ground, so the bottom of owl house is about thirteen feet off of the ground. I have one tall light stand on either side of the owl house, extended as high as they will go, and a third shorter light stand in the middle. The one on the left is lower because it is positioned on a slope that goes down from the house. The light stand in the middle is a shorter stand than the others, but it is extended as high as it will go. The flash on the left is a YN560, the middle flash is a Strobie 130 and the flash on the right is a YN560-II. All thee strobes are in manual mode set at 1/2 power. The middle and right flash are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603 and the left flash is in slave mode and is triggered by the light from the other two flashes. I have a Yongnuo RF-603-N trigger on my camera which is triggered by an identical trigger that I have in my hand while sitting in a chair off camera. The Yongnuo triggers can act as either transmitter or receiver. The great thing about these triggers is that they are reliable, and are about $33 for a pair of them on Amazon. Wonderful technology at an amazing price. They're cheap, they work and they have a range of 15 meters.
Pictures that I've taken of the Barn Owls can be seen in my Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/
This young owl has just returned from the second flight of his life, and the young owl behind him, in the owl box, who hasn't yet flown, screeched the whole time it was gone. Up until yesterday, they had been together every minute of their short life. They don't know anything else, other than they're always hungry. They grow up remarkable quickly.
I lit this with a two bare strobes on a light stands; on either side of the box, pointing up at the it. The strobes in manual mode were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N, which also acted as the remote shutter control for my camera. Pretty handy.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
In this image, the parent owl has just delivered a rodent to the young owl standing on the perch. This happens in total darkness, and all I can see when I press the trigger is the motion of wings. The owls have really got this down to an efficient process whereby the parent doesn't even have to land, and the rodent is distributed to the young owl in a fraction of a second. Just before the parent arrives there is a lot of faster and louder screeching from the young owl, which lets me know that something is about to happen. There is another young owl who lives in the owl house, but it took off as soon as it got dark, and went hunting by itself. Maybe it won't need the parent to deliver the food anymore. Last night it hung around for the deliveries. The young owls develop very quickly, and the parents are good providers.
Here's a description of the setup that I use for photographing the Barn Owls, and the owl house.The owl house is on top of a fifteen foot pole, which is about two feet in the ground, so the bottom of owl house is about thirteen feet off of the ground. I have one tall light stand on either side of the owl house, extended as high as they will go, and a third shorter light stand in the middle. The one on the left is lower because it is positioned on a slope that goes down from the house. The light stand in the middle is a shorter stand than the others, but it is extended as high as it will go. The flash on the left is a YN560, the middle flash is a Strobie 130 and the flash on the right is a YN560-II. All thee strobes are in manual mode set at 1/2 power. The middle and right flash are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603 and the left flash is in slave mode and is triggered by the light from the other two flashes. I have a Yongnuo RF-603-N trigger on my camera which is triggered by an identical trigger that I have in my hand while sitting in a chair off camera. The Yongnuo triggers can act as either transmitter or receiver. The great thing about these triggers is that they are reliable, and are about $33 for a pair of them on Amazon. Wonderful technology at an amazing price. They're cheap, they work and they have a range of 15 meters
Below, in comments, you can see the setup shot for the pictures I took last night.
Pictures that I've taken of the Barn Owls can be seen in my Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/
Ferruginous Hawk catching and eating rodent series - 9 photos. Please comment on which is your favorite.
This picture was taken on June 20th, and is the day that this young female Barn Owl fledged (flew for the first time). Since they've not done it before, and have spent their entire young life inside the owl house, there are a few wrinkles that they need to iron out. Like landing. You can tell she's very young by the downy nesting feathers on her legs. Two weeks later, those feathers were pretty much gone. When they first get out of the house and fly, there's a lot of debris that the owls shed when they fly, which is illuminated by the strobes.
In order to light this, I placed a strobe on each of two tall light stands positioned close to, and on either side of the owl house. The YN560 and YN560-II, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N. Because it's tough to focus in the dark, I set the camera on a tripod while it was still light outside and then prefocused on the area where the young owls would be. While I'm taking pictures, I'm just seeing shapes, and have no idea what the details will look like. I'm triggering the camera shutter and strobes from my chair by using the Yongnuo trigger. I love this technology.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
Here are our two tenants getting ready for a fun night of flying around and looking for food. These young barn owls may appear full grown but they've only been flying for two weeks.
I've put together a small set of pictures relating to the owls. Here's a link to that set www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
Strobist info: One SB600 on a lightstand at camera right in TTL mode. Strobe triggered by pop up flash on my D90 in commander mode.
Ferruginous Hawk catching and eating rodent series - 9 photos. Please comment on which is your favorite.
This is the current crop of young barn owls that were hatched in the owl nesting house that we have on our property. These two owls only learned to fly within the past two weeks, and are still a little clumsy at times, particularly on the perch where there's a lot of wing flapping to avoid falling off. Last night for the first time I used an off camera flash to try and document these beautiful birds. It didn't seem to phase them.
I've put together a small set of pictures relating to the owls. Here's a link to that set www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
This picture was taken 58 seconds after the previous picture where we saw the young owl receiving this surprise (non-rodent) meal from it's parent. The other pair of legs that you can see in the picture is the owl's sibling who would love to grab whatever it is. Nineteen seconds later the insect had been swallowed. I know that insects are a great source of protein, and I had read somewhere that barn owls will occasionally eat insects. All of the debris under the owl house is related to rodents. I'm thinking that maybe the parent dropped off the insect just to shut the young ones up, as they had been screeching for food for well over an hour. I don't know what manner of insect this is, but it's about as big as a dragonfly.
Here's a description of the setup that I use for photographing the Barn Owls, and the owl house. Last night I added a 3rd light stand and flash into the mix, in an attempt to get more even lighting, and hopefully do away with some of the shadows. The owl house is on top of a fifteen foot pole, which is about two feet in the ground, so the bottom of owl house is about thirteen feet off of the ground. I have one tall light stand on either side of the owl house, extended as high as they will go. The one on the left is lower because it is positioned on a slope that goes down from the house. The light stand in the middle is a shorter stand than the others, but it is extended as high as it will go. The flash on the left is a YN560, the middle flash is a Strobie 130 and the flash on the right is a YN560-II. All thee strobes are in manual mode set at 1/2 power. The middle and right flash are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603 and the left flash is in slave mode and is triggered by the light from the other two flashes. I have a Yongnuo RF-603-N trigger on my camera which is triggered by an identical trigger that I have in my hand while sitting in a chair off camera. The Yongnuo triggers can act as either transmitter or receiver. The great thing about these triggers is that they are reliable, and are about $33 for a pair of them on Amazon. Wonderful technology at an amazing price. They're cheap, they work and they have a range of 15 meters
Below, in comments, you can see the setup shot for the pictures I took last night.
Pictures that I've taken of the Barn Owls can be seen in my Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/
This is one of the young barn owls living in our owl nest house until they're old enough to go out on their own. They were hatched and raised in the house you see in the background. These young owls have been flying and hunting for about two and one half weeks, and we think that they'll be moving out soon. This is the second batch of barn owls born in this owl nesting house that we had installed on our property about fifteen months ago. Since then a nesting pair has used the box to raise four owls that were able to go out and fly on their own. There has been a remarkable decline in the rodent population in our immediate neighborhood.
This was lit with an SB600 on a light stand, or as some say "a light on a stick". Triggered by the pop up flash on my D90 in commander mode. Flash was in TTL mode.
I've put together a small set of pictures relating to the owls. Here's a link to that set www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
In this image the parent Barn Owl has just dropped off food to the young Barn Owl on top of the owl box on our property. The young owl hasn't been fed in at least fifteen hours and it's been screeching for food impatiently every since it came outside about twenty minutes earlier. The owls only come out and hunt (or wait for a delivery) after the sun has set.
Strobist info: Here's the description of the setup that I use for photographing the Barn Owls, and the owl house.The owl house is on top of a fifteen foot pole, which is about two feet in the ground, so the bottom of owl house is about thirteen feet off of the ground. I have one tall light stand on either side of the owl house, extended as high as they will go, and a third shorter light stand in the middle. The one on the left is lower because it is positioned on a slope that goes down from the house. The light stand in the middle is a shorter stand than the others, but it is extended as high as it will go. The flash on the left is a YN560, the middle flash is a Strobie 130 and the flash on the right is a YN560-II. All thee strobes are in manual mode set at 1/2 power. The middle and right flash are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603 and the left flash is in slave mode and is triggered by the light from the other two flashes. I have a Yongnuo RF-603-N trigger on my camera which is triggered by an identical trigger that I have in my hand while sitting in a chair off camera. The Yongnuo triggers can act as either transmitter or receiver. The great thing about these triggers is that they are reliable, and are about $33 for a pair of them on Amazon. Wonderful technology at an amazing price. They're cheap, they work and they have a range of 15 meters.
Pictures that I've taken of the Barn Owls can be seen in my Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/
Last night, the youngest of the two barn owls hatched and raised in the owl house on our property, flew for the first time. We'd been expecting it for a few days, as it's older sibling had flown for the first time six days ago. As you might expect for a beginner, it made a few mistakes on landings, including trying to land on top of a strobe sitting on a light stand. Sadly, I wasn't set up to take that shot. We get a lot of pleasure out of watching the progress of our young owls. Very soon they will move out of the owl house, and be able to hunt for themselves, and the house will be vacant until next winter, when a pair of owls will move back in and the cycle will start again.
In order to light this, I placed a strobe on each of two tall light stands positioned close to, and on either side of the owl house. The YN560 and YN560-II, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N. Because it's tough to focus in the dark, I set the camera on a tripod while it was still light outside and then prefocused on the area where the young owls would be.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
We live in a semi rural area of eastern San Diego county, and there are a lot of rodents and small animals like mice, rat, gophers and rabbits that tend to eat things we try to grow. A little over two years ago I had an owl house installed on our property in the hopes that a pair of Barn Owls would move in, raise young owls, and eat all of the rodents on our property.
Astonishingly, this plan has been very successful, and within ten days of installing the owl house a pair of owls moved in and in a relatively short time hatched and raised a pair of young Barn Owls. It turns out that a family of four barn owls can consume well over one thousand rodents a year. I've seen estimates that a mature Barn Owl can consume 500 - 1000 rodents in the course of a year. All I know, is that I haven't seen a single gopher mound on our property in the last two years. Prior to the owls, its was a constant battle, that I was losing. What really hurt was when my favorite apricot tree was killed years ago. I really don't like gophers. What was an unexpected bonus, was how much my wife and I have enjoyed having the owls around. They are beautiful, and majestic birds. We get a lot of pleasure from sitting out and watching the young owls in the evening.
After the young owls have hatched and reached a certain age, the parents move out of the house, and only return after dusk when they drop off food for the young owls. The picture above, taken tonight, shows our young owls standing in the doorway of their house waiting for food to be delivered. The owls only hunt after dark, and this time of year the days are long here, and the young owls haven't eaten in over fourteen hours, and they are hungry. A hungry young owl is a loud screeching owl, and they stand in the doorway screeching "Feed Me" in owl talk all night long. Fortunately for them, the parents are reliable, and deliver, but the young owls are impatient. If you're ever thinking of having an owl house put in, do NOT put it near your bedroom window. This is the third year that two Barn Owls have been hatched and raised in our owl house. A total of six rodent eating BarnOwls have been born and raised here. We're so proud.
The first year we had the owls, I didn't use my flash at all to take pictures of them. I was afraid it would scare them off. It turns out that Barn Owls are pretty habituated to living around humans and can tolerate our noise and our lights. Last year I took a few pictures using strobes, and tonight, for the first time this year, I took a few pictures using my strobes. These owls are still quite young and still have their nesting down, and not their flight feathers. I don't think these two will be flying for a couple of weeks. I can't wait until they start flying, as it's really fun to watch. I took a few other pictures tonight, and will be posting a few more tomorrow. Stay tuned.
The curved stick that you see in front of the doorway is an old hickory walking cane, and makes a wonderful perch.
Strobist info: Put a bare YN560-II on a light stand camera left, and a bare YN560 on a light stand camera right. Both strobes in manual, and slave mode were triggered by the pop up flash on my D90.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
This is a slide show, in high definition video format, of 36 of my still images of Barn Owls, set to music. My wife and I had an owl house installed on our rural property in Lakeside, California back in the spring of 2011. Within ten days, a pair barn owls moved in, laid eggs, and raised two young owls. In 2012 another pair of owls was hatched in the house, and this spring two more owls were born. We installed the house because we wanted a natural form of rodent control, without having to use poisons, which can kill wildlife indiscriminately. One of the great pleasure of having the owls here is that we get to watch the beautiful young birds learn to fly. Since they're new to flying, they tend to be a little clumsy at first and sometimes miss their landings with occasionally comic results. The pictures here are presented in chronological order.
The first year the owls were here I took no pictures of them, as I didn't want to disturb them. Since they only go out after the sun has set, it's impossible for me to get pictures of them without using flash. By reading about barn owls, we learned that they're pretty habituated to humans, and human activity, so last year I took a chance and took about five or six pictures. Since that didn't seem to disturb them, this year I took a lot of pictures, and most of the images in this slide show were taken this year.
I'm happy to say that the owls eat a lot of rodents, and one insect that I know of, and as a result we have not seen a gopher on our property in well over a year. Prior to the owls, we were overrun with gophers, who even killed some of our fruit trees. Gophers bad, owls good.
To see individual images of the owls, please check out my owl set. I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
Other video slide shows that I've made are in my Video set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157623226860691/
Ferruginous Hawk catching and eating rodent series - 9 photos. Please comment on which is your favorite.
Persistent URL: digital.lib.muohio.edu/u?/tradecards,989
Subject (TGM): Animals; Animals in human situations; Rodents; Rodent control; Mice; Rats; Pest control; Flies; Insects; Ants; Gophers; Chipmunks; Bedbugs; Patent medicines; Weasels; Moles (Animals);
In this shot the owl is preparing to throw it's head back and swallow the rodent whole. If you've ever seen a pelican down a fish, it's the same process. This picture was taken 14 seconds after the previous one I posted on Flickr. We had this owl house installed about 28 months ago for purposes of rodent control, and it's worked out better than we had hoped. I haven't seen a gopher hole on our property in a year and a half, and we used to be overrun with gophers. However, even better than the rodent control, has been the pleasure of watching and learning about the owls.
Here's a description of the setup that I use for photographing the Barn Owls, and the owl house.The owl house is on top of a fifteen foot pole, which is about two feet in the ground, so the bottom of owl house is about thirteen feet off of the ground. I have one tall light stand on either side of the owl house, extended as high as they will go, and a third shorter light stand in the middle. The one on the left is lower because it is positioned on a slope that goes down from the house. The light stand in the middle is a shorter stand than the others, but it is extended as high as it will go. The flash on the left is a YN560, the middle flash is a Strobie 130 and the flash on the right is a YN560-II. All thee strobes are in manual mode set at 1/2 power. The middle and right flash are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603 and the left flash is in slave mode and is triggered by the light from the other two flashes. I have a Yongnuo RF-603-N trigger on my camera which is triggered by an identical trigger that I have in my hand while sitting in a chair off camera. The Yongnuo triggers can act as either transmitter or receiver. The great thing about these triggers is that they are reliable, and are about $33 for a pair of them on Amazon. Wonderful technology at an amazing price. They're cheap, they work and they have a range of 15 meters
Pictures that I've taken of the Barn Owls can be seen in my Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/
Ferruginous Hawk catching and eating rodent series - 9 photos. Please comment on which is your favorite.
Last year we had an owl house installed on our property in Lakeside, California. We did this because we like birds, and because owls do a great job of rodent control. I've read that one owl can consume up to 1000 rodents in a year. Within a week of installing the owl house, a couple of barn owls moved in, and in a short period of time had a couple of young owls. This means that at one time there were 4 owls living on or near our property. The rodent situation, this year, is much improved.
This poor pictures shows the 2012 crop of young barn owls waiting for their parents to come feed them. The problem that I've had photographing these beautiful birds is that they only come out after sunset. This was taken in very low light using an iso of 3200 shortly after sunset, but before absolute darkness. These young birds should take their first flight any day now, and my wife and I sit out every night with our binoculars waiting for them to fly. Last year, it was very comical watching the young birds learning to fly. Lots of bad landings.
I've put together a small set of pictures relating to the owls. Here's a link to that set www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
Actually, the owl might have been stretching its wings after being inside the owl house for its entire life. To our knowledge, this is the first time this young owl had ever stepped out of the house and onto the perch. Minutes after this was taken, it flew for the first time in its life. We've been expecting this for a few days, because six days ago it's slightly older sibling flew for the first time. These birds mature remarkable quickly. Both of the two young owls were hatched in this house on our property this past spring.
In order to light this, I placed a strobe on each of two tall light stands positioned close to, and on either side of the owl house. The YN560 and YN560-II, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N. Because it's tough to focus in the dark, I set the camera on a tripod while it was still light outside and then prefocused on the area where the young owls would be.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
In this image, the father owl is delivering the first meal of the night to the young owl that hasn't yet learned to fly and provide for itself. On top of the owl house, is the other young owl that's part of this year's brood. The owl on top, however, started flying two nights ago, but is still looking to the parents for food until it can hunt well enough to feed itself. The owls have been in the house, during daylight, for at least fifteen hours today, and this is the first delivered meal since sunrise.
Strobist info: I lit this with a bare YN560-II and a bare YN560, each on it's own tall light stand, on either side of the owl nesting box. The strobes, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N, which also served as a remote shutter release.
We had this owl box installed a little over two years, ago and this is the third pair of young owls that have been raised in it. Our motivation for putting in the owl house was for rodent control on our rural property. It turns out that we really enjoy having the owls around, and learning about owls. And they are great at taking care of rodents. I believe I read that the average barn owl eats at least three rodents a day. That's better than one thousand per year.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
The young Barn Owls who haven't yet flown have been waiting in the doorway of the owl house for over an hour, screeching "Feed Me", "Feed Me" over and over. Barn Owls only hunt after dusk, and this is the first delivery of the night. The young owls haven't eaten in at least fifteen hours, and they are hungry and impatient. It's a matter of life and death to them. In the preceding picture in my photostream I have a picture of the two young barn owls who live in this owl house on our property. In the description for that image, I tell the story of how and why we came to have an owl house.
Strobist info: Put a bare YN560-II on a light stand camera left, and a bare YN560 on a light stand camera right. Lights on sticks. Both strobes in manual, and slave mode were triggered by the pop up flash on my D90.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
One of the Great pleasure of watching the young owls learn to fly is seeing them make mistakes on their landings. The owl on top, who flubbed the landing, and almost fell off the roof of the owl house has only been flying for six days. The owl below started flying one night before, and later in the evening, went out to fly again. We don't think that they're capable yet of being able to catch all of their own food, as they spent much of the evening screeching for the parents to come feed them. We had this owl house installed a couple of years ago for purposes of rodent control, and the owls have done a great job, but the real pleasure has come from watching the progress of the young owls that are born every spring.
In order to light this, I placed a strobe on each of two tall light stands positioned close to, and on either side of the owl house. The YN560 and YN560-II, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N. Because it's tough to focus in the dark, I set the camera on a tripod while it was still light outside and then prefocused on the area where the young owls would be.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
This is the second in a series of two pictures, taken last night, in which the young Barn Owl is swallowing the rodent that one of its parents has just delivered. They seem to like to swallow their prey whole and head first. When they're very young, we learned from watching the owl channel, the parents will turn the meal into bite size pieces for them.
Strobist info:Here's the description of the setup that I use for photographing the Barn Owls, and the owl house.The owl house is on top of a fifteen foot pole, which is about two feet in the ground, so the bottom of owl house is about thirteen feet off of the ground. I have one tall light stand on either side of the owl house, extended as high as they will go, and a third shorter light stand in the middle. The one on the left is lower because it is positioned on a slope that goes down from the house. The light stand in the middle is a shorter stand than the others, but it is extended as high as it will go. The flash on the left is a YN560, the middle flash is a Strobie 130 and the flash on the right is a YN560-II. All thee strobes are in manual mode set at 1/2 power. The middle and right flash are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603 and the left flash is in slave mode and is triggered by the light from the other two flashes. I have a Yongnuo RF-603-N trigger on my camera which is triggered by an identical trigger that I have in my hand while sitting in a chair off camera. The Yongnuo triggers can act as either transmitter or receiver. The great thing about these triggers is that they are reliable, and are about $33 for a pair of them on Amazon. Wonderful technology at an amazing price. They're cheap, they work and they have a range of 15 meters.
Pictures that I've taken of the Barn Owls can be seen in my Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/
After almost falling off of the roof of the owl house 43 seconds earlier on a botched landing, the plucky young barn owl jumps down to the perch below. See the previous picture in my photostream for the botched landing. I'm happy to report that it nailed the landing, while it's younger sibling looked on with approval.
In order to light this, I placed a strobe on each of two tall light stands positioned close to, and on either side of the owl house. The YN560 and YN560-II, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N. Because it's tough to focus in the dark, I set the camera on a tripod while it was still light outside and then prefocused on the area where the young owls would be.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
Publication: [between 1914 and 1920]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Communicable Disease Control,
Plague -- prevention & control,
Rodent Control,
United States. Public Health Service.
Abstract: Group portrait of nine men standing behind a makeshift table upon and around which are displayed kettles, buckets, lanterns, and other equipment used in catching rats during the Public Health Service campaign against the New Orleans' plague epidemic of 1914-1920.
Extent: Photographic print : 18 x 13 cm.
Provenance: Donation; Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101443616
NLM Image ID: A015955
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101443616
This young barn owl has just received its first meal of the evening from one of its parents. The parent can now drop off the food without having to land. There is a beak to beak delivery. Our barn owls down't venture out during daylight, so it's been inside the owl house for at least fifteen hours without a food delivery. It, and its sibling have been screeching for food for over one hour and a half.
Here's a description of the setup that I use for photographing the Barn Owls, and the owl house.The owl house is on top of a fifteen foot pole, which is about two feet in the ground, so the bottom of owl house is about thirteen feet off of the ground. I have one tall light stand on either side of the owl house, extended as high as they will go, and a third shorter light stand in the middle. The one on the left is lower because it is positioned on a slope that goes down from the house. The light stand in the middle is a shorter stand than the others, but it is extended as high as it will go. The flash on the left is a YN560, the middle flash is a Strobie 130 and the flash on the right is a YN560-II. All thee strobes are in manual mode set at 1/2 power. The middle and right flash are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603 and the left flash is in slave mode and is triggered by the light from the other two flashes. I have a Yongnuo RF-603-N trigger on my camera which is triggered by an identical trigger that I have in my hand while sitting in a chair off camera. The Yongnuo triggers can act as either transmitter or receiver. The great thing about these triggers is that they are reliable, and are about $33 for a pair of them on Amazon. Wonderful technology at an amazing price. They're cheap, they work and they have a range of 15 meters.
Pictures that I've taken of the Barn Owls can be seen in my Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/
Publication: [between 1907 and 1909]
Language(s): English
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Plague -- prevention & control,
Rodent Control,
San Francisco,
United States. Public Health Service.
Abstract: View of 12 ratcatchers squatting on the ground attaching tags to dead rats to identify where, when, and by whom they were collected; a man in the center dips a rat trap into a bucket of antiseptic solution.
Extent: 1 photographic print : 18 x 13 cm.
Provenance: Donation; Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101443607
NLM Image ID: A015951
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101443607
This picture was taken on June 18th. In this image, the young Barn Owl, who had just started flying five nights before, is returning to the owl house on our property after its first flight of the evening. We live in a semi-rural area of eastern San Diego County and we had the owl house installed two years ago in the spring, because we were overrun with gophers. Within ten days of having the house installed a pair of adults moved in, and in due time, a pair of young owls were hatched. Each year since, we have had two young owls born and raised in the house. A few weeks after learning to fly, the young owls move out and the house sits vacant until next winter when the cycle stars again. They have done an amazing job of rodent control, and we haven't seen gophers, or gopher mounds, on our property in over a year. My wife and I have learned to love having the owls around. It's a great pleasure to sit outside after dark, and watch the young owls learn to fly.
Strobist info: I lit this with a bare YN560-II and a bare YN560, each on it's own tall light stand, on either side of the owl nesting box. The strobes, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N, which also served as a remote shutter release.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
In this image, the young Barn Owl, who just started flying four nights ago, is returning to the owl house on our property after his first flight of the evening. We live in a semi-rural area of eastern San Diego County and we had the owl house installed two years ago in the spring, because we were overrun with gophers. Within ten days of having the house installed a pair of adults moved in, and in due time, a pair of young owls were hatched. Each year since, we have had two young owls born and raised in the house. A few weeks after learning to fly, the young owls move out and the house sits vacant until next winter when the cycle stars again. They have done an amazing job of rodent control, and we haven't seen gophers on our property in over a year. My wife and I have learned to love having the owls around. It's a great pleasure to sit outside after dark, and watch the young owls learn to fly.
Strobist info: I lit this with a bare YN560-II and a bare YN560, each on it's own tall light stand, on either side of the owl nesting box. The strobes, both in manual mode, were triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N, which also served as a remote shutter release.
I have all of my owl pictures in my Barn Owl set which can be seen here. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
Ferruginous Hawk catching and eating rodent series - 9 photos. Please comment on which is your favorite.
Contributor(s): United States. Public Health Service
Publication: [United States] , 1914
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Communicable Disease Control,
Rodent Control,
Plague -- prevention & control
Abstract: Examination, in New Orleans, of rats suspected of carrying bubonic plague.
Extent: 1 photographic print
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101405387
NLM Image ID: A024245
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101405387
Publication: [between 1914 and 1920]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Communicable Disease Control,
Plague -- prevention & control,
Rodent Control,
United States. Public Health Service.
Genre(s): Portraits
Abstract: Group portrait of nine rat-proofers, posed standing, holding sticks, pick axes, and shovels, during the Public Health Service campaign against the New Orleans plague epidemic, 1914-1920.
Extent: 1 photographic print : 17 x 13 cm.
Provenance: Donation; Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: Black and white
NLM Unique ID:
01443613
NLM Image ID: A015954
Last year my wife and I had an owl nest box installed on our property. We did it for rodent control, and because we like birds, and hoped we would get to see some owls. Within 10 days of installing the box we had a pair of Barn owls move in, and in not too much time, a pair of young owls was born in the box.
This year another pair of owls was hatched in the box, and in the last month, my wife and I have had the pleasure of watching the young owls come out of the box every evening, and finally learn to fly and hunt for themselves. The young owls are pretty entertaining too watch, because, although they appear to be full grown, they are not that coordinated, or accustomed to flying.
In all the time we've had owls living here, I've never used a flash to photograph them because I was afraid of disturbing them. These young owls are very used to seeing us, because we go out every evening at dusk to watch them, and I read on the net from someone that had an owl house with a web cam, that the birds are not bothered by lights. So, I thought, "what the hell" and put a flash on a light stand outside tonight and took a few pictures. In this picture the young owl has come out of the box and is just seconds away from flying off. The owls did not give any indication of being upset, so I think it's OK. Also, I'm really happy to finally have some decent pictures of them, because in a small way we feel like they're family.
I'm also happy to report, that the owls have done an amazing job on rodent control. We, and my neighbors, have witnessed an astonishing decline in the local rodent population.
Strobist info: One SB600 on a lightstand in TTL mode. Strobe triggered by pop up flash on my D90 in commander mode.
I've put together a small set of pictures relating to the owls. Here's a link to that set www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
Publication: [United States:] , [between 1914 and 1920]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Plague -- prevention & control
Rodent Control
United States. Public Health Service.
Abstract: Six men stand at a table applying Stearns' Electric Rat and Roach Paste to loaves of bread for use as rat bait during the New Orleans plague campain, 1914-1920.
Extent: 1 photographic print : 25 x 19 cm.
Provenance: Donation; Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101405391
NLM Image ID: A024250
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101405391
Publication: [between 1914 and 1920]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Communicable Disease Control,
Rodent Control,
Plague -- prevention & control,
United States. Public Health Service.
Genre(s): Portraits
Abstract: Group portrait of six male rat-proofing volunteers posing with rat traps, cages, and rat collection buckets during the Public Health Service campaign against the New Orleans' plague epidemic of 1914-1920.
Extent: 1 photographic print : 24 x 19 cm.
Provenance: Donation; Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101443609
NLM Image ID:A015952
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101443609
Publication: [1907 or 1908]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Communicable Disease Control,
Plague -- prevention & control,
San Francisco,
United States. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service.
Extent: 1 photographic print : 18 x 13 cm.
Provenance: Donation; Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 01443669
NLM Image ID: A015972
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101443669
Publication: [between 1914 and 1920]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Rodent Control,
African Americans,
United States. Public Health
Service.
Abstract: View of a commercial building on Canal Street undergoing rat-proofing during the New Orleans plague; an African American work crew in front of the building cleans up the debris.
Extent: 1 photographic print : 18 x 13 cm.
Provenance: Centers for Disease Control; Donation; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101443819
NLM Image ID: A016060
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101443819
Publication: [1907 or 1908]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Communicable Disease Control,
Plague -- prevention & control,
Rodent Control,
San Francisco,
United States. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service.
Extent: 1 photographic print : 13 x 12 cm.
Provenance: Donation from the Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101443661
NLM Image ID: A015967
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101443661
Publication: [between 1907 and 1909]
Format: Still image
Subject(s): Plague -- prevention & control
Health Personnel
San Francisco
United States. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service.
Genre(s): Portraits
Abstract: Group portrait, facing front, of Rupert Blue (front row, fifth from left), another U.S. Public Health and Marine Hospital Service officer (front row, sixth from left) and unidentified public health service workers (?), in front of an unidentified building.
Extent: 1 photographic print : image 17 x 8 cm., on sheet 18 x 13 cm.
Provenance: Donation; Centers for Disease Control; 1983.
Technique: black and white
NLM Unique ID: 101443687
NLM Image ID: A015981
Permanent Link: resource.nlm.nih.gov/101443687
Last year my wife and I had an owl house installed on our property. We did it because we wanted the rodent control that owls provide, and we wanted the experience of having these beautiful birds living on our property, and to be able to see and hear them. Within ten days of the owl house being installed, a pair of Barn Owls moved in. In a short time, two little owls appeared. The babies grew up and moved out over the summer, but another pair (or the same pair) have had more babies this year, and the parents are busy feeding the young owls. I read a statistic that said that a barn owl can account for one thousand rodents in a year. Even if that's a gross exaggeration, and the reall number is half of that, it's a lot of rodents. I was talking this week to my two adjoining neighbors, and all of us have noticed a reduction in the rodent population on our properties. We live in a rural area where the minimum lot size is one acre. I think the above picture documents why we are seeing fewer rodents.
I'm sorry if this grosses anyone out, that's not my intent. Owls gotta eat. If you start looking at birds of prey and are realistic, that's how it works. They're not vegetarians.
I've put together a small set of pictures relating to the owls. Here's a link to that set www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/...
In this image, taken three seconds after the previous one, the young barn owl has jumped down from the roof of the owl house to grab the rodent that its parent has just delivered. It probably hasn't eaten in seventeen hours, is very hungry, and has been screeching "feed me" for the last two hours. The one young owl, remaining on top of the owl house, really wants something to eat.....soon.
I lit this with one bare strobe on each of the tall light stands on either side of, and close to, the owl house. This house is about thirteen feet off of the ground, and the light stands are positioning the strobes a little below and off to either the side of the house. I'm using a YN560 and YN560-II in manual mode at 1/2 power, and they are triggered by a Yongnuo RF-603N trigger. I sit in a chair away from the camera and trigger the shutter with the same trigger that fires the flash. I have one trigger in my hand, one receiver on my camera, one receiver on the YN560-II, and the YN560 is in slave mode which fires when it senses the other one firing.
Other pictures of the barn owls can be seen in our Barn Owls set. www.flickr.com/photos/9422878@N08/sets/72157630045851110/