"Ghosts Of The Forest": The Elusive Great Grey Owl

Great grey owls are some of the largest owls in the world and yet can be almost impossible to spot, let alone photograph. Oregonian Ken Shults has an uncanny ability to do both.

[@ztornow]

He has only spotted about a dozen owls... imagine how many owls have spotted him in the same time. Incredible birds

[@wendiannejohnson399]

😂lol😅

[@Claretvinyard]

Such a beautiful Owl! Very beautiful photography too. I'm in awe of these and all Owls.

[@allisonthompson9065]

Amazing!! 👏 I'm so glad he is so respectful. I live in North Idaho and have a great grey family on my property. I have been unable to photo cause we always catch each other off guard. They really are one of the most amazing creatures on earth. And I'm so lucky all I have to do is take a stroll outside my home.

[@vanomaden]

I saw one in June -- three times and it even landed in front of my motorcycle in a tree. Most intense moment in my life. I have it on video from the GoPro on the motorcycle. Very bad quality, but still. So I can relate totally. What fortunate man this photographer is. I totally get his joy.

[@smith8281]

I have seen one too. In my yard

[@mariarohmer2374]

Lucky you!!

[@MattCookOregon]

That owl is magic. Amazing. Nice shots. This is motivating to get out there and find some rare wildlife. Maybe I will go find bigfoot now...

[@CathyMatete]

😄

[@lincolny2220]

3:39 Awhh that little mweh noise, my heart

[@jameszelaznysr5179]

I sure appreciate your work and all the time to capture those beautiful pictures I hope there continues to be people on this earth like you.

[@DonGately]

How cool that he got one the day that the camera crew was there.

[@elainevankat5353]

Absolutely beautiful footage!!! The Great Grey Owl is one of my favorites (a tree with a face) truly gorgeous!

[@Drekt666]

I saw one in northern Canada driving down the two-lane highway it was dusk fresh snow on the tree line, Very still and calm. Boom the owl busts off the tree in perfect camo, the owl was massive. Easily the biggest owl I've ever seen. Ten seconds later it vanished.

[@jmi5969]

I see them not often, but quite regularly driving at night. The smaller long-eared owl is much more common (and nests just across my house), but the great grey also ventures into the open country.

[@yourenough3]

Such great content on this channel , thanks !! Happy New Year 🎈

[@digitalconsciousness]

Professor oak would give high points for 8:56 with the pose and the moon in the background.

[@edwardfoust8407]

I love that game lol. I have it on my N64.

[@sierrab5010]

4:04 “hey may I have some of your rodent sir?” “Why yes, here you go” “Thanks so much” Such amazing creatures

[@alessandrosouzzasouzza7881]

Sierra B BOM DIA AXÉ Alessandro de Souza AXÉ cabloca BELA

[@lindseyaliceford]

As a journalist. This is an amazing piece. Also, the Great Grey us my favorite owl species

[@Namaste..]

Wonderful story and nice videography!

[@MikeyDano69]

I love the Oregon woods!

[@hummiebubs6967]

I saw two great gray owls about a month ago. There appears to be a healthy number of them in the Oregon Cascades. Amazing creatures!!

[@DanSmithOfficial]

Lovely video! An amazing bird and a really inspiring and wholesome man

[@mandycleezehappyhour4238]

One of my FAVORITE Oregon Field Guide segments yet. I'd love to do a photography trip with this guy just for the chance to see this absolutely stunning bird.

[@jamesross9694]

I was real young like around 5 or 6 out hunting in Baraga in the U P of Michigan with my grandfather sitting in a blind when A giant Grey owl landed in a tree in front of us made a lot of noise landing n I pointed to the owl n my grandfather motioned to be still it was right before dusk n My grandfather said as we were walking out of the woods That I was blessed to see such a great old owl and That I would probably never see such a site in the wild again and he was so right I've never seen any owl as big ever n I cherish all the times I spent growing up with my grandparents in the wilderness of The U P of Michigan Peace n Love to all Righteous People

[@joshhead9368]

Had a Grey owl land 15 feet in front of me while I was elk hunting recently. He stayed there for 20 minutes before he went on his way hunting. I'm pretty grateful for that experience. I doubt that will ever happen again.

[@joshhead9368]

@Draper Scott Bay Tree Alberta.

[@darrendavy4248]

Brilliant video, love your photography very inspirational, thank you, Darren.

[@janeanngriffin5161]

Spectacular!

[@anitacrawford5523]

I have been blessed with finding two Great Owl nests.

[@MsShellybell12]

What you can hear in the morning is beautiful and proves God's creation is mesmerizing.

[@Stevelarge1]

Here in southern B.C. we try to keep their nests a secret like Ken does but somehow the location always gets out eventually. There are places that lots of people know about where there are entire communities of great grey owls with nests less than a quarter of a mile apart from one another. They like to build up the drama and mystique of these videos but for us they are not as hard to find as portrayed. However, we do have to drive to specific areas that we know are right for great grey owl habitat. From where I live on Vancouver Island we must take a ferry to the mainland and then drive for about 350km to the BC interior. Once on location the owls are usually within a short walking distance from the car.

[@Kumi12341]

So yesterday I was on a drive with my family in a heavily wooded area in Otis, Massachusetts. Being from the city, I have never seen an owl (only heard), in my life. But yesterday while going down a long street with deep woods on both sides. I saw one of these sitting on a branch facing the street. I got a good look at its face before we were too far away to see each other. It was one of these and I didn’t know they were elusive, I honestly thought all owls were since I never seen one before yesterday. It was very pretty.

[@MsShellybell12]

I live in Wisconsin city and I heard the huge male owl making its mating call it sounds CRAZY 2 huge owls doing mating calls is no sound from a bird I have ever heard it was at the same time late evening into the night. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@michaelpaulphotoworks5392]

Early they say he's seen "less than a dozen". Later they say he's taken 20,000 photos of grays. It doesn't make sense.

[@smith8281]

They live in my backyard. Also great horned owls too

[@herkusr01]

That was amazing, thanks!

[@mariarohmer2374]

"Half magic, half mystery," I love that. It's very true.

[@TheMymovie]

Great video

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

If I were a Great Gray owl, at the same height (5'10") my arms outstretched would be eleven feet six inches and I would weigh six pounds three ounces

[@sluge1]

Owls are cool!

[@magnushedman1076]

I see one in my forest today here in Sweden,beautiful owl

[@yusyuanli9500]

Both are cute 🥰

[@sluge1]

Great photos, wish a great shots!

[@loucifer323]

My favorite owl along with the Barn owl

[@teller1290]

Radar dish head!! Awesome.

[@cintulator2]

Next winter, get skis, not snowshoes. Skis are better, faster and not so exhausting. A tip from Finnish owl-fan.

[@lyidacampbell5226]

It's really nothing like getting pictures of a bird in flight a wingspan and stuff is so great!! 🙂♥️🦉🦉🦉🌳🌲🌳🦉🦉🦉🌳👍✌️🖐️

[@christianabbott1984]

I love your videos

[@stompely_gat5410]

i live in sweden and i was going to see a friend when sudenly i saw a great grey owl in the woods. i was standing two trees away from it. it didnt fly away or get scared, and it was 15:00 pm

[@manelsoria2403]

Wow !!!

[@jacquesducharme3014]

Great footage and photos however the great horned owl is the tallest owl in North America. I spotted one today here in northern Alberta.

[@bryanmmusic]

The great grey, on average, is 27 inches tall. And the great horned is 22 inches tall.

[@WhiteWolf--]

The great grey owl is in fact the tallest and longest living owl, while the great horned owl is shorter but heavier

[@thetexaschainsaw9366]

I always here owls hooting but never see them which is frustrating

[@rhondatraywick7307]

Magnificent!!!

[@virginiefaure1742]

Merci... my favorite owl...🤍

[@dennisparsons4656]

Thanks!

[@onlytymewilltell]

I cant wait until I can afford a camera so I can start doing this myself but with various birds, not just owls. I live by a lake and take a particular route to work every morning bc there's a beautiful, unique bird family we have living here but have NO CLUE what kind of bird it is and really want to know. It has a body shape kinda like this owl, VERY prominent face with a long orange beak(5/6 inches give or take). I was thinking it might be a type of crane but if it is this one has very short legs bc we have those here as well. Hopefully they will still be around when I finally get a camera.

[@djkool5928]

there's one that lands on my roof at night and makes that human sounding hoot that freaks my whole family out

[@DanielDuhon]

They made it look so easy

[@alessandrosouzzasouzza7881]

Alessandro de Souza AXÉ sabedoria

[@teller1290]

Are these birds on the endangered list? Only a 1,000 in a state?

[@lawrencetravillian8199]

scew that i wanna hear em holler

[@aporue5893]

4:25''whoo-hooh!''

[@YunqAnt]

Just saw one this afternoon in my backyard

[@jeeperskreepers3967]

Plot twist he brought them to where he knew a nest was

[@otisdriftwood1697]

ggs are not nocturnal ??

[@ronbrown8559]

You ever try wearing “Earth Tone” clothing instead of blue jeans?

[@EnGammalAmazon]

I have a question for Ken Shults, "Are yo colorblind by chance?"

[@lavenderflowersfall280]

Pretty interesting how this guy is only seen 12 and 5 years and yet just a few hours and 2 filming he sees what the 13th 1 I guess? 🤨🦉

[@cv507]

onlie got a forest övvl once ^ ^ 4:20 so it does in us ^^

[@janeshattuck8681]

Awesome, I have great horned owl near where I live

[@maruku4445]

1:32

[@cherylnagy126]

"magical" beings?

[@aporue5893]

*uhoo*

[@lastdaystravellastdaystrav2233]

For a full description on how God created certain animals read Job.

[@vedghou]

You spoiled our enjoyment of watching this wondrous bird because of your excessive talk and trivial chatter

[@bradhienzachary]

He should try using drones to find them

[@jlalli84]

Ccc

[@waynewayne4448]

I have a couple living in my yard they have a huge nest they have been there about 4 years

[@davereid-daly2205]

Wow !!