Heather Earl Photography

This may feel like a fairy tale, but this photograph was taken on a farm in Florida. There is nothing more magical than a connection between a girl and her horse. ❤️

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This pair of male northern cardinals was having a very serious debate. They were flying around, chasing each other and generally being cocky! ❤️

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, the male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder.

Canon Cornell Lab of Ornithology Chattanooga Audubon Society

Two young white tailed deer stare at me from a beautiful field of flowers in the morning light ... am I seeing double? 🌼🦌💛
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I spotted this yellow-billed cuckoo with at Rankin Bottoms Wildlife Management Area. We heard him and then saw him and his mate. They stuck around for just long enough to capture a few shots of them eating little caterpillars and then flew away! 💛 🐛

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, yellow-billed cuckoos are among the few bird species able to eat hairy caterpillars. In the East, they eat large numbers of tent caterpillars—as many as 100 in one sitting!

Canon Cornell Lab of Ornithology Chattanooga Audubon Society

A curious eastern bluebird checks me out as I check him out! 💙

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, bluebirds can sight their tiny prey items from 60 feet or more away. They fly fairly low to the ground, and with a fast but irregular pattern to their wingbeats. Males vying over territories chase each other at high speed, sometimes grappling with their feet, pulling at feathers with their beaks, and hitting with their wings.

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A beautiful blue tree swallow snags a feather to add to her nest. 💙🪺

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, the female does most of the nest building, taking between a few days and two weeks to finish the job. She collects material on the ground near the water’s edge, usually within 100 feet of the nest site. The nest is often made entirely of grass, but may include pine needles, mosses, rootlets, aquatic plants, animal hair, and artificial materials like cellophane or cigarette filters. Within the cavity, the female presses her body against the nest material to shape it into a cup, about 2–3 inches across and 1–2 inches deep, and lines it with many feathers of other bird species. In some populations the male gathers most of the feathers, and in others the male and females split the duty evenly.

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This curious little carolina chickadee has a giant-sized black sunflower seed snack!

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, pair bond between a male and female carolina chickadee can remain intact for several years. The probability that a pair will remain together seems to vary among populations, with nearly all pairs remaining together in subsequent years in a study in Texas, but only half staying together in a study in Tennessee. If a nest attempt fails, a female may seek out a new male on a different territory.

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This adorable song sparrow snagged a little bit of nesting material to add to its spring nest. 🪺

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, song sparrows seem to have a clear idea of what makes a good nest. Field researchers working for many years on the same parcels of land have noticed that some choice spots – the base of a rose bush, or a particular hollow under a hummock of grass, for example – get used over and over again, even when entirely new birds take over the territory.

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Not my usual subject matter, but I could not resist taking a photo of curious cows in this beautiful backdrop with the clouds and the sunset! 🐮🌅❤️

A beautiful male northern cardinal strikes a curious pose. ❤️



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Caught this coyote eyeing me from a field of clover. 💜 🐾

According to NatGeo, the coyote appears often in the tales and traditions of Native Americans—usually as a very savvy and clever beast. Modern coyotes have displayed their cleverness by adapting to the changing American landscape. These members of the dog family once lived primarily in open prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent's forests and mountains. They have even colonized cities like Los Angeles, and are now found over most of North America. Coyote populations are likely at an all-time high.

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Happy Mother's Day one and All! 🦉❤️😍

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, burrowing owl chicks hatch from an egg after a 28 to 30 day incubation period. Newly hatched chicks are helpless, covered in grayish white down, with their eyes closed. The mother stays in the burrow with her chicks, feeding them with prey caught by the males. After two weeks, young burrowing owls are able to stand and walk around. They are seen roosting at the entrance to their burrow, waiting for their parents to return with food. Juveniles begin learning to fly after four weeks, but are not capable of strong flight until they are about 6 weeks old, when they leave the nest. They start chasing live insects after seven or eight weeks, but they remain with their parents until they are able to sustain themselves at about 12 weeks old. Burrowing owls become sexually mature after one year, and typically live six to eight years in the wild.

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I have been longing to see a screech owl in the wild for many years and finally was able to observe one. Their camoflauge is absolyutely fantastic! If you didn't know what you were looking for and where to look, you would never see them!

Did you know, according to Cornell Labs All About Birds, smaller birds can help you find screech-owls during the day. Listen for a commotion of Blue Jays, chickadees, and titmice—they may be mobbing a screech-owl (or other raptor), swooping around it with noisy calls. This can be enough of a nuisance to make the owl move on, and it alerts other birds to the predator’s presence and teaches younger members of the flock about the danger.

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I had the opportunity to visit Six Mile Cypress Slough a month or so ago and what an amazing place it was! I definitely want to go back. I caught this alligator sleeping on the job! 😆🐊

The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a long, narrow wetland with slowly flowing freshwater. The entire Preserve is eleven miles long, one-third of a mile wide and is over 3,500 acres of intermingled wetland and upland. The appearance of the Slough changes with the seasons from dry (October-May) to wet (June-September). The Slough catches and slowly filters rainwater on its way towards Estero Bay. Animals adapted to life in wetlands, like alligators, turtles, otters, and wading birds, live at the Slough year-round. Additionally, many types of migratory birds use the Slough as a rest stop and feeding area.

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It looks like she is giving him a piece of her mind! 🦉😆

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, threats to burrowing owl habitat include, agriculture, construction and development activities, as well as the eradication of prairie dog colonies and other burrowing mammals. Unfortunately in some places, these owls get evicted from their homes in favor of development. Fragmentation and isolation from habitat loss may create additional threats to burrowing owls in breeding areas as unpaired owls may not be able to find mates in small and localized populations. Pesticides, collisions with vehicles, feral animals, electrified fences, collisions with wind turbines and shooting are also sources of mortalities for these birds. Climate change leading to increased fires, spring heat waves, drought, as well as flooding, may also impact burrowing owl populations.

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This burrowing owl looks how I feel on Monday mornings!

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, burrowing owls are still numerous, but their populations have been declining for many years, owing primarily to habitat loss. Declines have been particularly sharp in Florida, the Dakotas and coastal California. This species is listed as endangered in Canada, and a species with special protection in Mexico. In the United States it is listed as endangered in Minnesota, threatened in Colorado and Florida and as a species of concern in California, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. It is considered vulnerable or imperiled in almost all states in its range. Burrowing owls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be a bird of conservation need.

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I am thrilled to share that two of my photographs were selected by The Best of The Universe of Colour Photography as “Best of the Week.” I am grateful and humbled to be recognized alongside some truly amazing photographers! These photographs along with all of my work are available to print at heatherearlphotography.com

This adorable burrowing owl is enjoying the morning light. 🦉❤️☀️

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, burrowing owls hunt at all hours of the day and night. Usually staying close to the ground, they fly, hover, walk, or run, seizing prey in their talons. Between forays for food, they sleep on dirt mounds at their burrow entrances or on depressions in the ground. Disturbed owls bob jerkily up and down, as do hunting owls pinpointing prey.

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Look at these adorable baby burrowing owls! 🦉😍

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, the nest burrow can be several yards long and is usually less than 3 feet deep, but size depends on the mammal that originally excavated it. Burrows tend to make numerous twists and turns, with a mound of dirt at the entrance and an opening at least 4–6 inches wide. The owls often line their burrow with livestock manure, sometimes with feathers, grass, or other materials. When owls dig their own burrows, the process may take several days, but it takes them less time to prepare the burrow for nesting when they use an existing burrow.

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This adorable burrowing owl tends a beautiful garden near its nest! 🦉🪹

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, nesting owls tend to use areas with a high density of surrounding burrows, which may provide extra escape options for developing young. Preferred sites have loose soil, a bit of elevation to avoid flooding, and nearby lookouts such as dirt mounds, bushes, fence posts, or road signs. They use burrows dug by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, badgers, marmots, skunks, armadillos, kangaroo rats, and tortoises. Both members of a pair enlarge and maintain the existing burrow by digging with their beaks and kicking back soil with their feet. Most owls use existing burrows, but in Florida and the Caribbean, they usually excavate their own burrows and on rare occasions western owls excavate their own burrows. Nonmigrating owls use burrows year-round.

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Last month I traveled to Cape Coral, Florida to see the famous burrowing owls and boy did they not disappoint! These little cuties are so stinking adorable!

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, burrowing owls live in open, treeless areas with low, sparse vegetation, usually on gently sloping terrain. The owls can be found in grasslands, deserts, and steppe environments; on golf courses, pastures, agricultural fields, airport medians, and road embankments; in cemeteries and urban vacant lots. They are often associated with high densities of burrowing mammals such as prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and tortoises. Breeding pairs stay near a dedicated nesting burrow, while wintering owls may move around and may roost in tufts of vegetation rather than in burrows.

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Here is one of many photos I took today of the absolutely adorable adoptable dogs at Polk County Animal Control -Florida. They ranged in personality from clown prince to sweetest princess and I had so much fun taking their new headshot photos to help them have a better shot at getting adopted! There were so many wonderful dogs there looking for their "furever" homes! Please remember to and consider volunteering at your local animal shelter! 🐾❤️

Look at this handsome male egret in his breeding plumage displaying his courtship ritual looking for a mate. ❤️

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, early in the breeding season adults grow long plumes on their backs, which they raise in courtship displays. Males perform most of the displays, which can involve preening the wings, ducking the head, holding and shaking twigs in the bill, and stretching the neck. Nestlings compete fiercely with each other, and dominant chicks sometimes end up stabbing the youngest siblings to death. The chicks also threaten and attack intruders.

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This beautiful roseate spoonbill is showing off his beautiful breeding plumage while walking a tightrope of palm fronds! 💓

According to the American Bird Conservancy, like the Wood Stork and Brown Pelican, the Roseate Spoonbill nests in colonies, which often include egrets, herons, and ibises. These busy “bird cities” are often prowled below by alligators that feast on fallen young, but also, by their presence, provide some protection to nests from raccoons and other arboreal predators.

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A great egret displays its beautiful breeding plumage and colors.

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, great egrets form monogamous pairs each breeding season, though it’s not known whether the pair bond lasts through multiple years. Early in the breeding season adults grow long plumes on their backs, which they raise in courtship displays.

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This double date has gone wrong with the boys against the girls! 😳💓

According to The Smithsonian, typically roseate spoonbills do not breed until their third year. To attract one another, courtship displays include ritualized exchanges of nest material, dancing and clapping. Female spoonbills create deep, well-constructed nests out of sticks using materials brought to them by males. The Florida population usually nests in red and black mangroves sometimes with wood storks, while the Texas and Louisiana populations often nest on the ground in offshore island mixed colonies with gulls, terns and herons.

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A great egret brings the perfect stick in for his mate to build their nest and their family. 🕊

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, males choose the display areas, where nests are later constructed. The nest itself is up to 100 feet off the ground, often over water, usually in or near the top of a shrub or tree such as a redwood, tamarisk, live oak, eastern redcedar, yaupon holly, wax myrtle, mangrove, Australian pine, buttonwood, Brazilian pepper, black willow, or privet. Great Egrets occasionally nest on the ground or on artificial platforms.

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Roseate spoonbills are one of my favorites - especially when they are in their full breeding plumage!

According to Cornell Labs All About Birds, the flamboyant roseate spoonbill looks like it came straight out of a Dr. Seuss book with its bright pink feathers, red eye staring out from a partly bald head, and giant spoon-shaped bill. Groups sweep their spoonbills through shallow fresh or salt waters snapping up crustaceans and fish. They fly with necks outstretched, to and from foraging and nesting areas along the coastal southeastern U.S., and south to South America. These social birds nest and roost in trees and shrubs with other large wading birds.

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This little sandhill crane c**t is wishing you a Happy Easter! 🐣

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Canon Cornell Lab of Ornithology Audubon Florida

What do you see or hear, Junior? This great horned owlet is on alert, but I was unable to see or hear what he was experiencing. 👀🦉❤️

According to the International Owl Center, the first year of life is the hardest to survive for great horned owls and depends heavily on food abundance. Once they reach adulthood, survival rates are very good. They have no natural predators as adults, so most owls admitted to rehabilitation centers are the result of human-caused problems: poison, hit by cars, shot, electrocuted, caught in barbed wire, etc. Natural causes of death include starvation and hunting injuries.

PSA from me: Many owls die from ingesting rat poison. It's important NOT to use rat poison or bait. If the rats have eaten rat poison, the owls ingest the rats and the poison and die an excruciatingly painful and terrible death. If you have owls (and you do, even if you don't see them), they will take care of the rats - no poison needed.



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