From Kevin Lohman

A juvenile Great Horned Owl, about five months old, takes off and flies in my direction, appearing for a moment to be heading straight toward me. As it gains momentum, it rises above me and continues on to another part of the forest.

It is always amazing to watch an owl fly, but especially one of this family that I have been photographing since the two young owls hatched. One of the things I value most is being able to observe them behaving naturally. They preen, yawn, rest, call, hunt, eat, and sometimes fly right past me. Most of the time, they simply go about their lives as if I’m not there.

As always, I give these owls plenty of space, use a long lens, and move carefully to avoid disturbing or influencing their behavior. If an owl chooses to move closer, I stay where I am and let the owl decide where it wants to go. Being able to watch them simply “being owls” is one of the most rewarding parts of photographing this family.

Santa Cruz, California

23 August 2026