bird photography and flash

[SKM]

I visit the Hawk Conservancy quite often and one of the displays takes place in a woodland setting. Due to the limited light, photographers, including myself tend to use fill in flash. On another forum I posted a portrait shot of a great grey owl, which received the comment "great shot" but was followed up with "But pity the poor owl, probably doesn't have any retinas left!"
Not sure if it was meant seriously but got me wondering if using flash could potentially harm the owls.
Has anyone got any ideas

Stan

[Kev-B]

Hi Stan ..

I love the Hawk Conservancy .. in fact when I lived in the South,I used to know someone who was a volunteer there & was privileged to accompany her & get to look "behind the scenes" ...

Obviously, prolonged flash photography of the same bird could result in eye damage .. but I doubt that any bird (even ones so used to being handled as these are) would just sit there for too long if it became uncomfortable ..

I doubt that short-term flash photography would do the birds any lasting harm .. and knowing how much the Hawk Conservancy care about & for their birds .. I think they'd soon curtail the activity if it risked either damaging or stressing the birds ...

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

[SKM]

Hi Kev

Thanks for that info. As you say if the HCT thought there was a problem they would stop people using flash.

Maybe the comment I received was just being flippant or he had no idea what he was talking about

Stan

[Kev-B]

Possibly a "leg-pull" .. tinged with a little of the "green-eyed monster" ?? ....

Bye for now ..

Kev ..

[SilverW0lf]

I'd also imagine that flash photography when it's a bit dull / shaded would have less of an impact than when really dark

But as said above if it was an isssue it wouldn't be allowed! (or so I'd hope)