Great Gray Owls in Winter Day Tour
Widely known for my outstanding great gray owl photography join me in the field as I share my knowledge and years of experience. As an award winning wildlife photographer I will share my expertise and help you on your photography journey whatever your level of skill. From understanding great gray owl behaviour to learning how to approach an owl to capturing sharp inflight photos and composing compelling images these trips are designed to improve your photography skills and offer you the opportunity to photograph these mesmerizing beauties.
February and March is great gray owl mating season and the owls are frequently active during the day. For the 2024 season I am currently following three different great gray owls in the Lac La Biche region. Great gray owls are not easy to find and knowing the area they are in is still no guarantee of actually finding one. Please note although I will try my best to locate great gray owls there is no guarantee any will be seen and if seen sightings can be as short as minute or last for hours.
2024 Tour Dates
February 24 - booked
February 25 - booked
March 2 - available
Costs
Costs $650. An additional maximum of two participants can be added to a day tour for $200 per additional participant. Additional participants will be billed separately and payment for additional participants is due within 14 days of the tour.
$650 - One participant
$850 - Two participants
$1050 - Three participants
What is covered in the cost?
- Pick up and drop off at your accommodations for tour
- In-field photography tips and teaching
- Light snacks and a limited selection of refreshments
What is not covered in the cost?
- Transportation to and from Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada
- Accommodations
- Meals
What level of physical activity is required?
- You will need to be able to carry your own camera gear for 100-200 meters in cold weather and uneven terrain.
What will the weather be like?
- This year has been a mild winter. Temperatures tend to be around -15C to -20C in the morning and around -10C later in the day.
- There has been very little snow this year so snow depth will not be problematic
- An updated forecast will be provided closer to the actual date of the tour.
What should you bring?
- Warm clothes and footwear to be outside in -20C for long periods of time. Dress in layers, however there will always be access to the tour vehicle to warm up.
- Plenty of batteries as they drain quickly in cold
- A lens that has reach to at least 400mm, 600mm is ideal
- Tripod is optional, but is not required. Donna will not have a tripod.
Itinerary (subject to change)
7:00 am - pick up at accommodations
7:30 - 8:00 am - arrive at first location
8:00 - 10:30 am - look for owls at first location and travel to other locations if needed
10:30 - 11:00 am - return to accommodations
2:00pm - pick up at accommodations
2:30 - 3:00 pm - arrive at first location
3:00 - 5:30 pm - look for owls at first location and travel to other locations if needed
5:30 - 6:00 pm - return to accommodations
Why take a tour with me?
With an undergraduate degree in sciences and a doctorate in Adult Education, I know biology and I know how to teach! An award winning instructor and an award winning photographer I have been a finalist in Nature Photography of the Year, Travel Photographer of the Year, NANPA, Share the View, WildArt POTY, Nature Canada, Remembering Bears and Nature TTL, included receiving special mentions, commended, Top 100 and Top 250 awards and winning the Grand Prize of Nature Canada's Photo contest in 2023 with a great gray owl photo taken right the region of this tour!
My works have been featured in print in both national and international publications, including the most recent Best Wildlife Photographers of 2023 by Canadian Geographic. Named one of the top 16 wildlife photographers in Canada this past year by influencer digest + I live in Northern Alberta, Canada and specialize in photographing the wildlife of the Boreal Forest. I am a member of the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective and am committed to protecting wildlife in Canada and their habitat. I recently worked on the collective's Crossing Paths campaign highlighting the issues when various modes of transportation intersect with wildlife. I routinely mentor aspiring wildlife photographers and hope to inspire them to tell the story of the wildlife they experience from their own unique perspective and helps her students uncover their unique personal style.
Nature Canada Grand Prize Winner 2023
Cancellation and Refund Policies
- Up to 45 days before the tour $500 refund
- Between 29 - 14 days before the tour $150 refund
- 13 days before the tour no refund
For all tours, each participant will be required to sign a Release of Liability and an Assumption of Risk Waiver before the start of the tour. Some tours may require a non-disclosure of location agreement (great gray owls and fox kits) and you will be asked to sign a photo release form (optional).
For more information email me at donna@donnafeledichukphotography.com