Dusk’s arrival emboldens more lively activity in young owls, as was the case with this fledgling Northern Saw-whet Owl who dropped down from its roost in a dense spruce, into the comparatively sparse understory. Intersibling competition often results in these youngsters hopping about from perch to perch and fidgeting almost incessantly, eager to position themselves for prey deliveries from dad.

As you can imagine, keeping tabs on the birds themselves, framing up compositions, locking focus, and obtaining any long exposures that are critically sharp can be next to impossible. Despite the challenges, watching the transformations of day to night, and static ball of feathers to spirited little predator is always a worthwhile endeavour.