Northern Saw-whet Owl, British Columbia, Canada

A Northern Saw-whet Owl peers out of her nest cavity in a trembling aspen. During late winter, I spent a couple days snowshoeing through a mountainous area of British Columbia’s Southern Interior, searching specifically for what you see here. Generally migrating relatively short distances or making seasonal elevational movements, the tiny Saw-whet is one of the very first birds to re-establish a territory and initiate breeding. What a privilege it’s been to experience many close encounters with this species, far off the beaten track. I get goosebumps thinking about crunching through the snow, listening to the high pitched songs of males ringing out unwaveringly through the clear air of bitterly cold winter nights.

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