Owl update: sad

[Crush]

Went back to see the Great Horn nest hopefully to see some babies. We walked up to the nest and this is what flew out.
http://www.pbase.com/crush1287/image/42584813

We got a little closer and found this baby on the ground.
http://www.pbase.com/crush1287/image/42530508

And 5 feet away we found this one dead.
http://www.pbase.com/crush1287/image/42584812

What do you do? We decided that nature should take its course. We took a few pics and left. With lumps in our throats. That RedTail was circling above when we left.

[MarkoPolo]

Wow! I think you did the right thing, but I got a lump in my throat just reading your post! Nature is kind of tough sometimes.

[2goldens]

I do agree. You have to let nature take it’s cource. Very Sad. :( :(

[LazyPhotographer]

So sad. I'd let nature take its course - but after I put the live chick back in the nest.

[Crush]

Hopefully the parents come back, but noway was I going to put that baby back in the nest for the hawk.

[mr.photoguy]

I don't think I would have left it there.. I would have called the local police, and tried to get a hold of a local wild life sanctuary, that could come, and get the baby owl.
This could be 1 Owl that would help to reproduce 5 more Owls, and this would have been possible because of you.

yes nature must take it's course, but if you got hit by a car, and you were on the ground bleeding, would you want someone to walk up to you take your pic, and then walk off mumbling, " I will let nature take its course"...

I think not.

[allanc]

The red-tailed hawk doesn't have a right to hunt, eat, and feed its young?

[mr.photoguy]

Ofcourse it does, but if I walked up, and was that close to the owl, I would at least try to call for help. Shoot, I don't care what anyone says, I would feel great knowing I at least tried to get it some help. I wouldn't have picked it up though as I know an owl can turn it's head all the way around, and a so called peck would hurt like hell.

[zacker]

i agree with MrPhotoguy.. i couldnt have walked away while the baby OWL was laying there helpless.. I know the hawk needs to eat and nature needs to take its course but.... he already killed one, let the thing go find some mouse or rat or something and bring the little Owl to the Nature center.

-zacker-

[JTF]

Most states have bird recovery sites that would gladly take the owl, however it is nature taking its course so don't feel too bad. This happens all the time including to hawks.

[Michaelmjc]

It's sad but its nature, alot of sad things happen. Just the way life works.

[sparker1]

I think you did the right thing. Great shot of the hawk.

[O/confusion]

It's a difficult situation to be in, I admit. Not sure how I'd have tackled it.
For some reason, I'm reminded of the old story about the two photojournalists sharing stories about their recent trips to war-torn countries. One of them shows the other a shot of a small child about five years old, covered in filth and crouching in the gutter holding out a begging bowl. He explains that the boy's parents had been killed by a land mine, that he had no other family to support him, and that he hadn't eaten in several days. After a moment's silence, the second photographer asks "So, what did you give him?" The first man replies "1/125 at f8"

Terry.

[AcuraFan]

you shoulda stayed home and played with the nintendo

j/k :D great shots of the hawk.

[Crush]

yes nature must take it's course, but if you got hit by a car, and you were on the ground bleeding, would you want someone to walk up to you take your pic, and then walk off mumbling, " I will let nature take its course"...
ummmmm hmmmmm. Im stumped on that one. Im not even going to comment.

But thanks everyone for your opinion on what you would have done. Believe me it wasnt easy.

[dewmuw]

Thanks for sharing. I can see you had a difficult choice. Personally I would have tried to get the chick to a wildlife centre, but I respect the call you made. You were there - I wasn't.

I think also that the fact that owls in the UK are rare would have altered my reaction.

[mgash]

Nature can be cruel, but walking away was the correct thing to do

[defordphoto]

99.9% of nature's problems are from human interference. Good choice Crush. Great shots.

[Belmondo]

Hawks have to eat, too. Well done.

[O/confusion]

Hawks have to eat, too. Well done.

Quite agree, Eric.

regards,
Terry

[4nR]

thats the 'national geographic' method of photography; dont interefere with nature. I dont think anyone here can really judge what was the right or wrong thing to do in this case. very sad but good pictures.