Northern hawk owls are often found in areas where forest fires have taken place. This little guy, a young chick, sits atop a burned pine in northern Montana. Northern hawk owls are a great example of how some species actually thrive from changes, including fire, in their habitats.
I photographed this fledgling back in 2006 while working for my good friend Denver Holt of the Owl Research Institute (ORI). Back then, there were only seven known northern hawk owl nest sites in the lower 48. ORI has since documented 15 additional sites. This is a prime example that a burnt forest is not a dead forest. Lots of animals depend on wildfire and the natural cycle of a forest to live. Please visit ORI to support their owl research.
Visit the Natural Exposures Blog to find out more about how I use my photography to make a difference and how you can tell stories that are important to you to encourage change and understanding.