“Fly! Fly! Fly!”

“Fly! Fly! Fly!”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

The Lord blesses me all the time, especially with my photography. I was alone in Cades Cove searching for wildlife when I heard crows mobbing a predator. Mobbing occurs when a group of crows find a predator and call their buddies in to pester them.

 

I went towards the mobbing. Before I got there—short-eared owls took to the air. It reminds me of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz, telling the monkeys to “Fly! Fly! Fly!”

 

I was excited to get two owls in the same frame. The crow in my photo had no details—he was a black blob, so I left it that way.

 

There are many reasons people believe crows mob. The crow may be saying, “Hey, this is my turf. I’ve been here all year—you can’t show up for the winter in my area.” The crows then called for backups.

 

They could use mobbing out of self-defense to protect a nest/breeding area. Crows also prey on sleeping birds, so they may alert little birds by drawing attention to the predators. The crows also could want to have fun. Either way, it’s a great way to find owls!

 

I miss them already and look forward to their return!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

 

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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