Join JPI in Cape Coral for an exciting opportunity to photograph the adorable Burrowing Owls. These small, sandy-colored owls have vibrant yellow eyes and live underground in burrows they've dug or taken over from a prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise. They are found in grasslands, deserts, and other open habitats, where they mainly hunt insects and rodents. These fascinating birds live in the area throughout the year, usually nesting around March. We might even see some cute chicks between April and June as they stick their heads out of their burrows.

It's important to note that Burrowing Owls are protected by local, state, and federal laws, and harassment is strictly prohibited. Please review the burrowing owl viewing etiquette at the following links to ensure we respect these fantastic creatures.

https://ccfriendsofwildlife.org/wildlife/burrowing-owl/

http://www.billmajoros.com/photoalbum/categories/new/florida2010/owlmap.pdf

Recommended Equipment: D-SLR or Mirrorless Camera—A Sturdy Tripod with a Gimbal—A super-telephoto lens. Adding a gimbal can increase your workflow in the field.

Recommended lenses:

• Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 I.S.
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 VR S
• Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F 4.0 - 6.3 ASPH. Power O.I.S.
• Sigma150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN O.S. Sports for Sony E or Leica L Mount

The answer is yes if you're wondering if you need a super-telephoto lens. It will give you much better access to photograph magnificent creatures. A standard telephoto lens will require you to crop more, which can lower the quality of your image. Also, standard telephoto lenses may not be sharp enough to capture these tiny creatures with the level of detail you want.

Note that the lenses listed above are for Mirrorless cameras. If you own a Canon or Nikon D-SLR, you have limited options. Sigma and Tamron still have a 150-600mm lens available for either mount. Nikon is still making its AF-S 200-500mm, and Canon has a limited EF 100-400mm supply.