WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2025   |   SUBSCRIBE    ARCHIVES   

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
 
Rarely are we able to take a perfect photograph of a bird, even in the best of conditions. But we can always improve a good photograph and make it great by using a quick and simple method – Cropping! After sharing a number of photographs of a Prairie Falcon that provided a surprise photo session last week, I wanted to share how easy it is to change the look of a single photo and improve the initial image you take in the field, sometimes dramatically. I also take that idea a step farther to show that you may have a number of cropping options that allow you to create a series of impressive images from the initial photograph.
BIRDING NEWS 1
 
As we enter the beginning of a new birding season that marks the beginning of a new migration, BirdCast is again providing birders with a most impressive suite of migration monitoring opportunities for the fall migration season – and they are all Free! “Fall” migration really begins in early July for individuals of some species – some shorebirds in particular, but some songbirds too. As the post-nesting dispersal ensues and early migrants relocate to stopover and wintering areas, BirdCast provides a wealth of information for your county, your state, and across the Lower 48 States.
BIRDING NEWS 2
 
If you are wondering when bird migration will peak in your area, a list of the peak migration period for birds in the 1,000 largest cities in the Lower 48 States is available now courtesy of BirdCast. The “peak periods” are the date ranges when 50 percent of all nocturnal bird migration takes place over each city. This peak period was determined by examining radar information of bird migration collected during the past 25 years. Knowing when the peak period of migration takes place in an area can help inform people who plan birding activities, engage public interest, and inform conservation action.
BIRDING NEWS 3
 
Learn from a pro, on your schedule, online: Tamron Americas just announced a Free online master class, “The Art of Photographing Birds,” presented by professional photographer David Akoubian. This multi-part course is designed for birders interested in elevating your bird photo skills and creativity. Participants can access and complete each class at their own pace and explore David’s artistic journey through storytelling, video and still photos, and philosophies that connect art with birds and their natural surroundings.

EDITOR AFIELD
 
Remember my sighting of a Burrowing Owl last week that fairly surprised me for being so far east of the species’ western range? Well, of course I wanted to check back to see if I could find it again. My original sighting was the evening of Saturday, July 27, so the next evening I returned and saw no sign of an owl, even after checking a couple miles south, north, and west. Frankly, I didn’t expect to see it again, but I wanted to check for it anyway. Tuesday evening I returned to look for the owl again, but again, without luck - these kinds of sightings are usually a one-time surprise.
GEAR
 
On Sale now, Kowa Wide-Angle 8x42 XD Binoculars feature Kowa’s environmentally friendly XD objective lenses. This high resolution ED glass has a high percentage of fluorite crystal – the best material available today to increase light transmission and ensure edge to edge sharpness and virtually zero chromatic aberration. Providing an exceptionally wide-angle field of view – 429 feet at 1,000 yards – this Kowa model also close focuses to less than 6 feet, great options for birding anywhere you go.
PRODUCTS 1
 
The new Aquanura Mini-Fountain for Birdbaths provides the sight and sound of moving water that will make your birdbath even more attractive to birds, especially during migration. Powered by patented IntelliSolar technology, this unique mini-fountain provides a consistent water flow, even when sunlight conditions change to overcast and cloudy. When the built-in solar panel is positioned in full sunlight, it runs the fountain and charges a backup solar-charged battery to keep the fountain running during cloudy weather. It’s easy to use too – just place it in your birdbath!
RARE BIRDS
 
A Tristram’s Storm Petrel photographed during a pelagic birding trip offshore from Bodega Bay established a Fourth State Record for California, as well as the Fourth North American Record for the species. Other recent rare sightings included a Second State Record Royal Tern in Iowa, and a Third State Record Hermit Warbler in Alaska. British Columbia birders were especially lucky, documenting the Third Provincial Record of a Masked Booby and a Fifth Provincial Record Arctic Loon – and there is a memorable list of continuing rare birds too.
 
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