Great Gray in Flight

The Great Gray Owl is considered the tallest of all our owls in North America. I’ve actually held one of these beautiful creatures in my hands, and though they look very large, it’s almost all feathers. Some studies suggest their average lifespan in the wild can be 7–10 years, but as many as 15–19 years under ideal conditions. 

The typical habitat of the Great Grey Owl consists of dense, old-growth coniferous or boreal forests, with boggy areas or mountain meadows. Places similar to the locations we’ll be visiting in the Canadian Rockies on our Alberta Owl tours next year. If you’re interested in joining us, visit our Invitational Photography Tours page for more information.

To learn more about the great gray owl, visit our friends at the Owl Research Institute. You can also read this story I did for National Geographic on these beautiful birds.

Be sure to download your free September 2026 calendar featuring Great Gray in Flight. This gift from Daniel J. Cox/Natural Exposures is for personal use only and cannot be used for any commercial purposes. Commercial licensing of Great Gray in Flight is available through our website, or send your inquiry to info@naturalexposures.com.

PetaPixel
Dan discusses capturing the acrobatics of Pacific white-sided dolphins on one of this year's Canadian Bald Eagles & Coastal Wildlife trips—and the importance of being ready for unpredictable moments—in his recent article for PetaPixel.

"One of the lessons I’ve learned in my nearly five decades as a wildlife photographer is that you almost never get second chances. When you see something incredibly unique and are unprepared to capture it, it’s painful to know you’ll probably never see it again.”

Read the full article for tips on how you can be prepared for these special moments at Photographer Captures Acrobatic Dolphins Leaping From the Water. If you'd like to join Dan in 2027, these tours are now booking!