WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022   |   SUBSCRIBE    ARCHIVES   

BACKYARD BIRDING
The kinds of seeds you offer at your feeders will dictate what birds are attracted. Knowing this, experienced birders focus their seed feeding on the specific birds they want to attract. Beginners often think the more variety the better, but some seeds can lead to problems with certain birds (and squirrels) that you may not appreciate. With that in mind, some birders don’t provide seeds that attract birds they don’t want to visit their feeders. The understanding of the give and take of attracting the birds you prefer with the food they prefer.
BIRDING NEWS
Audubon’s 123rd Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will be held from December 14 to January 5 this season, just a few days away, and participation in the CBC is open to everyone! Primarily conducted in the United States and Canada, the CBC now has participants active in more than 20 countries in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a great community science project conducted by thousands of volunteers as an early-winter bird census, in which birding teams identify and count all birds observed during one calendar day within a count circle, so plan to join the fun this year.
An extremely rare white Bald Eagle was spotted in Oklahoma by a college student returning home for Thanksgiving. Justin Briley said he noticed the eagle feeding at an armadillo carcass with some Turkey Vultures, and the white eagle eventually perched in a tree, where Justin took documentary photos and videos of it. Feeling very excited and lucky at the same time, Briley studies wildlife management at Brigham Young University-Idaho in the city of Rexburg.
Hovering over potential prey helps Great Gray Owls pinpoint mouse-like voles hidden beneath as much as 2 feet of snow. Several of the owls’ physical features, especially parts of their face and wings, help them correct for sound distortions caused by the snow, enabling them to pinpoint the location of prey moving beneath the snow with astonishing accuracy according to a new study. While most owls fly straight at their prey, Great Grays often hover just above a prey animal before dropping straight down and punching through the snow with their feet to catch prey, usually small voles.
EDITOR AFIELD
I was surprised to see 4, then 6, then 8 Rough-legged Hawks just 10 miles west of my office, hovering, flying, soaring, hunting, and even playing in the sky above a vast prairie, mostly on the north side of the tallest hill in the area. That was last Wednesday on my way to Bismarck, and there would be more Rough-legs widely scattered as I drove west to the Missouri River, 7 more; then 1 more miles after I turned north toward the capitol city for a total of 16 for the drive. The crowning touch came at sunset when I found a Short-eared Owl, with a second Short-ear 50 yards away!
GEAR
Zeiss believes that compromises can’t be made when it comes to bird identification – fine details need to be recognized within seconds for an accurate and reliable identification. Zeiss SF 8x42 Binoculars boast a most impressive light transmission rate of 92 percent, provided by the Ultra-FL Concept that features several Schott fluoride glasses for absolute color fidelity, brightness, clarity, and the finest resolution of details, even under challenging conditions. The 8x magnification offers the widest, most natural view with an ultra-wide field of view of 444 feet at 1000 yards.
PRODUCTS
Under Armour offers a wide variety of quality outdoor and indoor clothing and shoes for birders of all ages. An example of the quality of many favorite jackets is the Under Armour (UA) Unstoppable Printed Jacket, which is stylish, super-light and stretchy; rain rolls right off, and it keeps you warm but not hot. UA Storm technology repels water without sacrificing breathability, and the 4-way stretch-woven fabric is tough but lightweight. This new jacket features a mesh-lined hood for added breathability with a bungee adjust, and secure zippered hand pockets.
You can attract more birds and save space by offering both seed and suet in an attractive Duncraft Blue Ridge Seed & Suet Feeder from Duncraft. As a group of birds perches to feed on your choice of seeds or seed mix on the top end, other birds can feed on high-energy suet below them. Made from rugged blue recycled plastic with an over-sized roof to keep birds and food dry in wet weather, the Blue Ridge Feeder features clear plastic viewing windows and holds 1¼ pounds of seeds and 1 suet cake.
RARE BIRDS
A single Asian bird created 2 First State Records as birders in Iowa, then Missouri, documented an active Tundra Bean Goose last week. Florida birders photographed a Third State Record White Wagtail, while Hawaii birders recorded a Fourth State Record Long-tailed Duck on the Big Island. Washington added a Fourth State Record Black-throated Green Warbler along with a Sixth State Record Arctic Loon, and there are more exciting rare birds reported, including the update that New Brunswick birders continue to see the Steller’s Sea Eagle.
 

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

The big winter blizzard that passed through the northland a few weeks ago created an early seasonal break in birding action, which left me having to look 3 to 5 hours beyond local nearly birdless landscapes for more substantive birding trips. But my birding fortunes were restored last week with the influx of several Rough-legged Hawks into a broad valley covered by grasslands and frozen marshes. At least 8 hawks were present some days – just 10 miles from my office! Their appearance provided renewed excitement when I explored the area a couple hours a day, with some photo rewards for spending some time in this remote area with temperatures mostly between 10 and 20 degrees – not so cold for the hawks perhaps, coming from the Arctic as they did.

So when I least expected it, there they were; and I took full advantage of the hawks’ stopover to try to create a few photo opportunities. That turned out to be a continuing challenge as the hawks tended to hunt and perch in open areas and away from any road access, although the Rough-legs provided many interesting observations day after day. They sometimes hunted or perched in groups of 2, 4, and 5, although individuals usually hunted solo, and I watched for these hawks that often hovered and dived at potential prey, making successful strikes periodically. With only a few roadways in the area, I tried to position at locations where the hawks were hunting near a lane with the hope that they would fly near.

It was usually difficult to get within zoom lens distance of the Rough-legged Hawks, but Sunday morning this hawk flew past, then circled back to face into the sun for a series of photos (aperture f-7, shutter speed 1/2000, ISO 400).

There was one excellent opportunity to photograph a couple interesting-looking Rough-legs: As I approached a turnoff I parked at to scan the area periodically, I was surprised to see 1, then 2, then 5 hawks, all perched within a 50 yard space – 1 female-colored Rough-leg, 2 adult males, and 2 dark morphs! As I passed 1 hawk and turned into the approach I photographed 1 of the males, then inched forward to photograph 1 of the dark morph hawks as it perched on a low fence post. I had a nice view of the mostly black hawk broadside and took a couple photos before it turned to look in my direction, which made the white plumage around its beak stand out. Appreciating how lucky I was to have the hawk dismiss my approach, I noticed some white spotting on its black plumage, which I expected should show up well in the photographs.

While photographing this dark morph Rough-leg perched low in a broadside position, Paul began to notice some white markings on its side and vent area, and counts this portrait of a rather uniquely colored hawk among his favorites for the week (aperture f-7, shutter speed 1/500, ISO 400).

Other hawks began taking flight, and this fine black foto subject followed after another moment’s hesitation. Almost immediately the 5 hawks began hunting roughly a quarter-mile to the south for a time, coursing above the grasslands, hovering time and time again. It was quite a sight, until 3 of the hawks began circling into a soaring flight that brought them back in my direction, with an especially black dark morph circling overhead for a few photos. The “Group of 5” provided a few unforgettable moments when I had to react pretty quickly; and while I didn’t want to disturb the hawks, I feel I did my best not to frighten them. In hindsight, when the hawks took flight, they transitioned quickly into hunting mode, and the fact that they didn’t immediately flush showed a level of trust that provided a favorite portrait of the “speckled” dark morph Roughleg.

Below are added insights into my camera settings and photo activities that I think provide a good basis for you to consider and adjust to your own conditions and preferences. Here goes:

Ready by Presetting – On a sunny day, I preset my camera using an ISO of 400 and a pretty standard aperture of f-8, which usually provides ample depth of field and a corresponding fast shutter speed – fast enough to stop avian action. Then, as time permits I second-guess and adjust the settings if I want to make any changes, especially as lighting conditions change. For this particular situation though, I dialed the aperture to f-7 to provide a little faster shutter speed while preserving what I expected would be plenty of area in sharp focus to include the broad wingspan of the hawks.

Sun Lighting – The simplest and most important photo rule of thumb for the best photo lighting is to keep the sun at your back. The other rule of thumb for me is to photograph when there is angled sunlight (not overhead). That’s easy during this time of year, when the sun is angled throughout the day while it is positioned in the southern half of the sky; even so, mid-morning and mid-afternoon stand out as prime times to photograph during sunny days. Cloudy conditions usually don’t provide the bright colors, sharpness, or shutter speed that you will get when using unfiltered sunshine coming from behind you. I almost never get good photos during cloudy weather, so limit my photo time to sunny periods.

As many as 3 dark morph Rough-legged Hawks provided limited photo opportunities, but perseverance provided a number of chances to document their distinctive black and white feather patterns (aperture f-7, shutter speed 1/2500, ISO 400).

Aperture Priority (Av) – By using the Av setting, my camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed with respect to the f-stop setting and the amount of ambient light. I always encourage photographers to never use an automatic setting, which is too common among beginners; use the Av setting instead – that’s some of the best advice I can offer you, in addition to my simple lighting tips above.

Using a Mobile Blind – During these raptor photo sessions, when temperatures were almost always frozen between 10 and 20 degrees, using my heated vehicle as a “mobile blind” was a must. But when photographing in this way, be sure to turn off the engine when you are actually taking photos to avoid the vehicle’s movements when running. You probably already know that I like to range widely and use my vehicle to approach birds that tend to react less to a vehicle than to a person. Many people feel the need to get out of their vehicle to photograph, but it’s always best to stay inside and photograph through an open window when possible. If you must get out, don’t slam the door, and keep a slow, low profile.

On Foot – When walking, don’t approach a bird directly; instead, walk slowly at angles that get you ever-closer without giving the bird the impression it is the focus of your attention. Try not to look at the bird until you are ready to photograph it; somehow instill a sense of trust – smile? Take a couple photos along the way as you try to get into the best possible position. Be aware of the bird’s demeanor too; does it seem to ignore your approach, or does it become ever-more wary? If you get the impression it is uneasy and might flee, stop for a few moments; perhaps it will relax again so you can take a few more cautious steps forward – you get the idea.

Keeping Steady – In my mobile blind I lightly brace my lens against the window frame, or rest it on top of the rolled down window glass. Because I won’t be encumbered by a tripod, I am always trying to steady my camera lens in other ways. When walking, a tree or branch, post or pole can provide a helpful brace; but if you are in the open, you can use your body to help steady your camera. While holding your camera and lens, tuck your elbows against your chest or sides to form a “bipod” that will make a considerable difference in steadying your camera. (This is a good technique when holding binoculars too.)

Hold Your Breath – The final act of steadying your camera is to hold your breath just before you press the shutter button. That tends to keep your body as motionless as possible during the fraction of a second when you take your photo(s).

Anticipate – Bird photography often requires split-second timing. Try to anticipate the bird’s next move and be ready for action.

It was especially rewarding to photograph this female Rough-legged Hawk in a classic gliding hover position as she focused intently on a vole or mouse on the ground below (aperture f-7, shutter speed 1/2000, ISO 400).

Following Flights – Practice following the flight of birds with your camera, especially birds that are relatively close so you can lock your camera’s autofocus on the moving subject. Try to keep your movements fluid and as steady as possible. We all know it’s difficult to keep a flying bird centered in the photo frame, so emphasize that as you follow the flight. Try to keep your composure, don’t tense up (as I often do), and you should get some nice action photos – maybe even some dramatic flight photographs.

Rapid Action Tech – In anticipation for photographing birds in action, it’s best to keep your camera’s Al-Servo setting in “Continuous Drive Mode,” which allows you to take 1 photo by pressing the shutter button once, or a series of photos by simply holding the shutter button down ‘continuously.’ Using this feature, some cameras will take 3 to 20 photos per second – for as long as you hold the shutter button down. Then, as you follow a bird in flight, you can concentrate on the action without concern about when to snap the best photo. In the process of photographing the Rough-legged Hawks, I used the continuous drive at times when hawks were in flight, but took single photos of perched hawks. Overall, this is a fun and often more fruitful method of photographing active birds, although I use it sparingly and often still enjoy selecting when to snap individual photo frames as the action takes place.

Part of the excitement of photographing the Rough-legged Hawks assembled in the broad prairie basin was the diversity of plumages, ranging from the black and chocolate-brown dark morphs to the varied gray shades of adult males and the more common plumages of females and first-year immatures (aperture f-7, shutter speed 1/3200, ISO 400).

Simple Photo Editing – I always say, “Good photographers are better photo editors.” After you’ve taken a good series of photos, the editing process becomes primary. First select the best photo or photos. Then make any simple adjustments to the images, such as cropping extraneous background, which effectively enlarges the bird in the cropped image. Other photo editing options are up to you, but I would suggest trying not to over-edit photos using photo-editing software. Keep your images as natural-looking as possible in the editing process, unless you are in a creative mood that inspires you to turn your photos into artwork – then go for it.

Most of the above suggestions, tips, and techniques are second nature to me now, but that comes with years of field experience, and I’m still always trying to anticipate how I can improve my bird photo techniques – pretty much day by day and bird after bird. Bird photography is never an exact science, but any time you can improve your chances of a successful photo opportunity, that’s a win. Practice is paramount, and with it comes experience, but with a few tips from this helpful fellow photographer, you can reduce the learning curve, and increase your percentages of successful photos. Oh yeah, and then there’s luck – did I forget to mention that luck plays a big part in bird photography? Good Luck!

Article and photographs by Paul Konrad

Share your bird photos and birding experiences at editorstbw2@gmail.com

 
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