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A Chattanooga photographer who captured images of Hamilton County’s first-ever snowy owl shares tips on bird photography

Photo by Kathleen Greeson / This snowy owl was spotted perched on a home near Chickamauga Lake — hundreds of miles south of its typical range, and to photograph the bird was a "once in a lifetime experience," says local artist Kathleen Greeson. Photo by Kathleen Greeson / This snowy owl was spotted perched on a home near Chickamauga Lake — hundreds of miles south of its typical range, and to photograph the bird was a "once in a lifetime experience," says local artist Kathleen Greeson.

By Sunny Montgomery June 1, 2021 6 min read

In late January, Chattanooga’s first-ever snowy owl was spotted perched on a home near Chickamauga Lake, hundreds of miles south of its typical range.

The sighting attracted birders from across the region – among them, Signal Mountain’s Kathleen Greeson, who was determined to photograph the Arctic bird.

But the conditions of her first trip were not ideal.

“I was worried about the owl,” she says. “It looked hot and uncomfortable.”

The next day was cooler and overcast. Greeson arrived before sunrise, Nikon in tow, and spent the next 10 hours snapping photos. Eventually, she says, a nearby homeowner brought her a chair.