Is Flash Photography Safe for Owls?
Owls have long been a source of fascination to people: The birds were imbued with wisdom and prophesy in early Indian folktales, considered a protector of ancient Greece, and even associated with witchcraft during the Middle Ages because of their “eerie” after-dark activities .
Part of this allure comes from their large, round, forward-facing eyes, a feature that also makes them a popular subject for wildlife photographers. Yet the same nocturnal habits that link owls with black magic also make them difficult to photograph. To solve this problem, some photographers use flash—but whether it’s ethical to flash an animal that