A video recording made by a camera showed the curiosity of a family of owlets, which attracted significant attention from internet users. These shots were captured by Adilson Soares Pinto, a 38-year-old resident of the Jardim Califórnia neighborhood in Pauz Alegre, Minas Gerais state.
Adilson shared that he had long been observing these owls, which inhabit a plot near his home. The idea to capture the family came after he acquired a GoPro camera, as this equipment allows for longer recording and placement more discreetly than a smartphone.
He recalled: 'I was walking by, saw a commotion, more than five owls. And I thought: 'I'll put a camera there to see if I can catch an interesting shot.' To avoid scaring the birds, Adilson placed the camera near the burrow and stepped back about one hundred meters. After about fifteen minutes, the birds started coming out of the opening. He only learned about the results of the filming after transferring the materials to his mobile phone.'
The video demonstrates the curious behavior of the birds. As they emerge from their dwelling, they notice something unusual in the environment. A chick appears first, carefully examining the object, turning its neck in different directions, as if trying to understand what is in front of it.
Then an adult bird and other chicks appear. One of them spreads its wings, staring intently at the camera. In total, the adult and five chicks observe the foreign object. According to Adilson, there is another adult and one chick in the family who were not captured.
This owl family's video received more reach than Adilson expected and went viral on social media, gaining thousands of views. He noted: 'When the first one comes out and turns its head in all directions, and then the whole family looks while standing on its feet, I thought it was very interesting, but I didn't think it would go so viral.'
Photography as a Hobby
The recording of the owls is just one of many photos taken by Adilson during his walks around Pauz Alegre as part of his pool cleaning work. He is passionate about photographing and filming animals, flowers, nature, and the city itself. For this, he uses a phone, GoPro, and drone, and publishes the results on a special Instagram page.
Thanks to his attentiveness, he has already taken excellent shots, such as a hedgehog walking on a wire. He has also recorded hawks, toucans, and seriemas. Adilson's interest in photography and videography began in his teenage years. In 2012, he bought his first camera and then gradually acquired additional equipment.
He is not afraid to take risks for his videos, even putting his equipment at risk of damage. He admits: 'I was afraid the camera would fall into the burrow because I placed it close, what if one of them flies away or lands on the camera and drops it inside, but I take the risk because such a shot is worth it.'