Snowy owl invasion a treat for Ottawa photographers

RaminIzadpanah has beentaking photos of snowy owls in and around the Ottawa area every winter since 2012, butthis winter he and other wildlifephotographers are in for a treat.

An unprecedented numberof the mighty birds are migrating south, spurringtheInternational Union for Conservation of Nature to point to climate change as a threat to the snowy owl.

The agency has raised the snowy owlfrom "least concern" to "vulnerable" on its species "red list."

In the Ottawa area, researchers are hoping to learn about the owl's migration patterns from an electronic transmitter strapped to the back of one particular snowy owl namedHardscrabble.

• Snowy owl's return to Ottawa may hold clues to Arctic changes

Theinvasion of snowy owls from the Arctic to the Ottawa region has made for stunning photos for photographers likeIzadpanah, whose work has been featured inNational Geographic. He also teaches photography at the Ottawa School of Art.

For the best shot,Izadpanahsaid he likes to wait for what he calls "golden light" the warm, sunny glow that paints the earth in the moments just before sunset and after sunrise. He then shoots the birds with a telephoto lens from a safe distance.

Just three weeks ago, Izadpanah said he spotted a male snowy owl from his carin Ottawa South. (He doesn't want to disclose the specific location to avoid others disrupting the animals.)

Thrilling encounters

What excites him during his birding outings is seeing other native birds, such as crows or hawks, harasssnowy owls who encroach on their territory.

"They are close, face-to-face. And the crow, [its] wing is totally openand [it's] trying to go at [the owl]," he said.

"That's nature. That's the world of birds."

Below are some of his best shots of snowy owls spotted in the Ottawa area.