The photograph shows a young, free-living eagle owl sitting on a halogen spotlight. At first glance, the picture seems irritating, but it tells a story:
The halogen spotlight is in the middle of a quarry that eagle owls have used for years as a highly welcome substitute habitat.
Suitable natural breeding sites where there is little or no disturbance have become rare for the large owls. In the old quarry, however, they find almost perfect living conditions.
They find sufficient food in the nearby surroundings, and the remote quarry offers them retreats and nesting opportunities.
The halogen spotlights are something of a tree substitute. From their tops, the eagle owls have a perfect overview of the terrain. The colorful, almost psychedelic background is created by the rock face illuminated by another lamp.
Nature Photography from North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Rhine Area; provider of high quality pictures of mammals, birds, plants, small creatures and landscapes mainly from Germany and the neighboring countries. https://www.wunderbare-Erde.de German Nature-Photographer located in North Rhine-Westfalia, Lower Rhine Area; provider of extraordinary high quality pictures of.. Read more…