The Valk Birds of Prey
At the end of March, I visited Valk Birds of Prey in Lunteren, the Netherlands, together with a photography buddy. As always, it was a pleasant day, and we managed to stay dry, which was definitely a bonus. However, the light kept changing constantly, and there were moments with quite strong gusts of wind. This made it challenging not only for us to take photos, but also for the birds to fly. These birds don’t particularly like windy conditions, which is something I can completely relate to, as I’m not a fan of it either.
This was my second time visiting Valk Birds of Prey. The first time, I was truly impressed by these birds, which was also one of the reasons I decided to return. Although I now enjoy photographing birds, I still have a certain fear of them. This time, I had a better idea of what to expect. I had requested the snowy owl, while my photography buddy asked for the black kite, and we were fortunate enough to see both. Still, I was also very impressed by the northern hawk-owl.
During the break, I took some time to look around and observe the birds. This left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it is relatively easy to photograph these birds, and during the sessions they get the opportunity to fly freely and show their natural behaviour. I also believe that birds of prey can play an important role as ambassadors for wildlife. They allow people to see these incredible animals up close and can help create a greater appreciation for birds and nature in general. And honestly, birds are simply amazing animals.
On the other hand, seeing some of the smaller enclosures did make me uncomfortable. No matter how much I enjoyed photographing the birds, it is difficult for me to see them living in spaces that feel very small compared to the freedom they would have in the wild. That is where my heart struggles a little. It is a complicated feeling: I appreciate the opportunity to see and photograph these magnificent birds, while at the same time questioning how comfortable I am with the conditions in which they live when they are not flying.
Despite those mixed feelings, I did come home with a nice series of photos. However, I’ve decided not to include these images in my gallery or projects. Not because I didn’t enjoy the experience, but because I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about photographing birds in captivity. Perhaps that is something I will understand better over time.
Until next time,
Quirina
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
