18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Spotted Owl Pair Preening Each Other

I was on a private trip to India. On this day we were out before sunrise. We stopped at a pond and took many pictures. Then the guide said there was another water area close by. After driving for 20 minutes, I asked how much further. It was another 45 minutes. I asked the driver to turn back to return to the original pond while the light was good. ON the way back I noticed an owl. We stopped and I started taking pictures. Then we heard another owl. It was the partner. That owl flew over to where the original one was.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2018
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: India
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Copyright: © Marian Herz