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LONG-EARED OWL 



[URING my travels in Birdland, extending back for 

 ten years, I have taken several thousands of 

 photographs of wild birds, and if I was asked 

 to choose my favourite picture, I should without 

 hesitation select the one opposite. It lacks the 

 pictorial qualities of some of my photographs, but those who 

 know this beautiful Owl in his forest home, will agree with me 

 that it is certainly a very realistic photograph of the bird, and 

 gives a vivid portrayal of what the bird looks like at dusk, just 

 before he leaves the dark pine branches to go out in quest of food. 

 Another reason why this photograph is attractive to me is the 

 fact that it reminds me of the great pine forests of the North, 

 where I have seen him sitting in just such a position haunts 

 where he is unmolested by the egg-collector ; and wild, bleak 

 haunts they are too, great black forests of pine on the giant 

 hills, surrounded with far-stretching open moors, where the cries 

 of Curlew, Golden Plover, and other moor fowl are the only 

 sounds, save when the wind whistles through the coarse grass 

 and makes the only music known on the mountains. That is 

 why I like this picture, and it should also appeal to all those 

 who love Nature in her wildest mood, for it is a bird which we 

 find in far-away haunts where man is seldom seen. 



The Long-eared Owl is a great hunter, and will be out at 



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