Snowy Owl drawing by Kelly Ballantyne
Let's all work together to make Chicago an "Owl Friendly" city.
The CAS Board has decided to ban all Owl Photos in its Facebook Group as of February 1, 2022.
It is impossible to tell from many photos whether the photo was taken in an ethical manner. We know that most of our photographers follow the rules, but the temptation to get a little too close is great, and some people do disturb owls to get a photo, intentionally or not. Owls are nocturnal and need to rest and hide from predators during the day.
We recognize that banning photos on one page may not deter many photographers from taking them, but we hope that many will rethink their approach to taking owl photos.
We enjoy over 300 bird species that migrate and nest in our region. They should offer plenty of creative photo opportunities.
By following the guidelines at the link: A) we will protect smaller owls from predators 2) make sure owls do not abandon their nests C) owls are able to get badly needed rest.
Should we spot or visit an owl, we should keep our distance (approx. 40 yards+) and not gather in groups anywhere near roosting & nesting owls. We can use binoculars or spotting scopes to get a look, and won’t linger in the area. For those who must have a photo - invest, rent or borrow a long telephoto lens.
A sleeping owl is a happy owl and the most ethical image you can capture as a photographer.
Thank you to our CAS members for all your support and the beautiful photos you post every day.
For more info about ethical owl-watching practices visit Judy Cheske’s Post: