IN THE COMPANY OF OWLS

On any given morning, you'll find A.J. Berard trekking through the woods and mountains of Montana with a 45-pound pack and his Siberian huskies.

- A.J. Berard

He's on the hunt but, unlike other wilderness enthusiasts at the crack of dawn, it's not for game. He's owling; meaning he's tracking the owls that reside around his hiking loops in hopes of capturing the awe-inspiring photographs he is known for.

He wouldn't consider himself a traditional birder—birds of prey have always intrigued him. “I’ve never really had to pull out the rig to look at a yellow-bellied warbler,” says A.J. “It’s not for me. But if it’s an eagle or something predatory, I would photograph that.” His daily photography sessions have even led him to form bonds with certain owls over the seasons. But that connection isn’t possible without locating them first.

THE SEARCH BEGINS

Finding an owl starts with sound. As A.J. hikes, he's listening for any hoots or calls coming from high in the trees or at the edge of a clearing.

He says, “When I’m out at 3:00 in the morning, just the dead of night, you hear so much more.”