Inspiring Photo: That's why ... #56682

That's why ...

Uploaded: November 15, 2002

Description

... they call me birdie. Self-portrait with a Tawny Owl 1 minute prior release into the great wide open...

Comments

Carolyn M. Fletcher November 16, 2002 0

Ok, gals, which one is the cutest? haha. Nice shot, birdie!! #13175

Lianne E. Cook May 27, 2019 0

Wonderful! :o) #23825

Carol Sherman May 27, 2019 0

Nice to meet you Birdie and the birdie!

Loved the shot and the ending...Freedom! #23828

Sharon E. Lowe May 27, 2019 0

Great shot - glad to have a face to go with the photos!! Lucky owl too. #23829

May 27, 2019 0

Nice to see the face behind your images....I often wonder where your name "birdie" came from......now I know! #23831

May 27, 2019 0

Hi Birdie, That's a cool shot! Jeannie dysert #23837

Janelle Barry May 27, 2019 0

This is GREAT, Birdie - a wonderful illustration of your nickname! #23840

Patricia Arrance May 27, 2019 0

Good picture of the two of you. Some shots are just meant for black and white and this is one of them.How did you come about having the owl? #23845

Gary H. Minish May 27, 2019 0

It's a pleasure to meet you .. and your friend .. Birdie! I've rescued a few birds in my time and I know how sweet & sour it is when it's time to let them go. We could use your talents here in Alaska. There are a lot of large birds here, and we find injured ones quite frequently. Keep up the good work, both with the birds and with the photography! #23852

Henny Grevelink May 27, 2019 0

Good composition Birdies! Great picture Wolfgang! ;>0 #23886

clifton Mair May 27, 2019 0

Great photo!! It's good to meet the man behind the camera birie :) #23893

Ruth Denton May 27, 2019 0

I have nothing original to say ;) so I'll just agree with the rest that it's nice to put a face with the name. Great photo! #23930

Wolfgang Dolak May 27, 2019 0

Thank you all for that positive echo. I posted the photo to explain my nick. I saw several portraits of some of you in their homepage bio. Thought I could show the person behind the (sometimes strange :-) ) photographs.
In my spare time I run a small private raptor rehab doing behavioral studies on captive and wild birds. That's why there's always some of these wonderful beings around.
The Tawny Owl in the photo had a broken wing, the upper arm was broken right below the shoulder joint, which is the most stupid spot you might find. I always have a long "talk" with the birds when they arrive at my place to find out if they want to go for it or rather want to end their lives. I nearly always manage to get to the same wavelength with the patients and this one had a strong will to survive. Well, we did it. Took about four months and a lot of flight training.
Carolyn: That's the crucial question! Haha!
Thanks again!
birdie
#23994

Carol Sherman May 27, 2019 0

Thanks for the info. Even Better for me was to find out that I wasn't the only one who talks to birds and gets response. I've run a domesticated bird rescue for about 8 years now and have had some of my best conversations with them plus learned a lot, once I understood birdese.lol
re: Carolyn's question -
'k....you win hands down, but Tawny Owl makes my heart Soar! lolol I'm known for being a fence sitter. #23999

Sharon E. Lowe May 27, 2019 0

Well, the owl is the cutest but birdie is much more handsome!

Carol and birdie - what nice things you are doing! We are far too cruel to our animal friends so it is nice to see people giving back - we can't live without them! #24032

Cathy M. Gromball May 27, 2019 0

Awesome portrait Birdie, and I will echo what has been said, in that it is nice to meet the man behind the name. This shot captures your obvious love for birds, but also shows this bird's obvious love for you (such contented expressions on both your faces). This is a wonderful, wonderful b&w portrait! Keep up the good work, both Birdie and Carol!

Cathy :) #24180

Carol Engstrom May 27, 2019 0

Cogratulations birdie!! This is a shot I missed when I was out of town last month so I am really glad I got to see it with the winners! This is great! By the way I will second Sharon's answer to Carolyn's question. #31990

Kathleen Clemons May 27, 2019 0

Congrats to you, birdie!!!!!! :) #32030

Carolyn M. Fletcher May 27, 2019 0

Congrats,birdie!!! #32056

Jill Battaglia May 27, 2019 0

Congrats Birdie! Nice to see ya! :-) -Jill B #32069

Carol Sherman May 27, 2019 0

Congratulations on the good news Birdie!!!! #32088

Donna R. Moratelli May 27, 2019 0

Birdie, Birdie, Birdie, I love this picture!!!!! Congratulations on a ultra-wonderful image. #32151

Dolores Neilson May 27, 2019 0

Oh Birdie...simply lovely! I love it too!! Beautiful portrait! #32167

Bernard B. Travers May 27, 2019 0

OK Birdman, which one is you?

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S,

B I G

B U D D Y. #32179

Sharon E. Lowe May 27, 2019 0

Congrats Birdie - well deserved!! #32181

Henny Grevelink May 27, 2019 0

Congrats Birdie!!! ;>) #32223

Wolfgang Dolak May 27, 2019 0

THANK YOU so much for always taking time to have a look and comment on the photos. Thanks for your wishes and especially the ladies for adding nice comments on birdie himself... haha!
I must say I would not have expected to reach finals with this photo, it was only posted to show who I am and why I got this funny nick. Anyway - finalist or not - I must tell you that I have really enjoyed the time I have invested in posting and looking at others photos among this forum, all of you have inspired me with their photography - doesn't always have to be Jim Brandenburg or Art Wolfe (it's not that I don't like what these guys produce!). Each and everyone of you has given me ideas and inspiration and again I'd like to mention the one (I really don't know him/her!) who donated his/her gallery to me and Jim Miotke who agreed to let me have it. This is very generous on the one hand and really unusual on the other! Thanks again to both of you!
Receive my heartfelt congratulations all of you who have won a prize or made it up to the finals!
Kind regards to all
birdie #32265

Jeff Galbraith May 27, 2019 0

Hi Birdie,
Congratulations on making the finals. #32307

Cathy M. Gromball May 27, 2019 0

Congratulations, Mr. Handsome Birdie! This is a great shot and deserves to be in the winner's circle! I was so happy to see you have a gallery now - a big thanks to that generous person out there!

Cathy :) #32334

May 27, 2019 0

Hi Birdie, CONGRATULATIONS on your photo! #32350

Robert Pranagal May 27, 2019 0

Congratulations, birdie! #32365

Lorraine T. Lynch May 27, 2019 0

Hi Birdie! Congratulations! It has been a pleasure getting to know you since I have joined.....keep going my friend! #32398

Lorraine T. Lynch May 27, 2019 0

Hi Birdie! Congratulations! It has been a pleasure getting to know you since I have joined.....keep going my friend! #32399

clifton Mair May 27, 2019 0

Hey birdie, your a winner, on all levels :) #32441

Donna J. Eaton May 27, 2019 0

Congratulations Birdie on being a finalist! Beautiful shot! I too work for a raptor rehab center so I totally understand the communication! I always get tears in my eyes when I say goodbye to one of our birds! I always hear music when they are released! #32455

Monika Sapek May 27, 2019 0

Congratulations on your winning photo, Birdie!
Monika
#32510

Gary H. Minish May 27, 2019 0

Birdie, I think it's very appropriate that this is the photo of yours that gets the recognition...after all, it's the essence of what's "birdie". The man, the soul, the closeness with nature, the benefactor of raptors and the photography! Congratulations and may it fuel further and even greater efforts!! #32600

Wolfgang Dolak May 27, 2019 0

Thank you all for your kind and very personal wishes! What a great feeling to know you are all out there!
THANK YOU again!!!!!!
birdie #32812

Darren M. Alexander May 27, 2019 0

What a spiritual image! Very nice! #118577

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