It's not that I do not like photographing birds, it's more that I enjoy watching them go about their normal daily routines more. I've been watching two bird nest cams for a couple of months and have learned a vast amount of things that birds do. It's more like John Muir. Observe and leave no footprint. I've seen experienced birders come plopping through like it was a grand picnic gathering!
Yesterday, I was able to do the John Muir thing and found the second nest of a pair of red shoulder hawks in a matter of a few minutes. First, you listen. The female on the nest will call out to her mate for nest change duties and even food for the kiddos. It's a screeching sound. It sounds like a crying out. Also, the male will never be far away from the nest. The nest is in his territory and he protects that airspace from intruders. It's kind of like a fighter jet being scrambled when a plane wanders into controlled air space.
Then, secondly, you watch such things as shadows on the ground of bigger birds, especially if there is an open area near the nesting site. Dad will be flying overhead to the nest, but never directly from where he is. It's a diversion plan that nature plants an inate ability to do such things from birth. Nature's software implant, if you will. It took three trips around before the male actually made it to the nest. The pattern was like a triangle elongated. Amazing, actually.
Then, finally, when the nest change is made or Dad flys off after delivering food to the nest, you watch to see where he went. Usually, it will be into a stand of trees. There is that inate non-direct route to the watchtower post where he watches the area near the nest. It's quite a routine. It's nature at its best.
From what I have learned from the Eagles nest is that feeding times will vary, usually the 10-11 and the 2-3 time slots are the best and most active for the nest. I applied that to the Red Shoulders and by-golly, it was like hitting the jack-pot. I also observed something that I had never seen before. A Red Shoulder on the ground only a few feet away from a squirrel and it was like I know you are there but hey! they just mowed the grass and the bugs are like going to the Dairy Queen for ice cream!
No one was in panic mode and the Red Shoulder flew up into a tree en route to his scheduled weigh point to his hangout tree,having taken a few bugs while on the ground.
DISCLAIMER To My Editor, et al: In a lifetime of photography, I will never ever use a computer tool like Photoshop on any of my images. That is a deep seated law from years and years ago. Last night, when talking to a friend in an e-mail, I sent her the image to view since it was so cute. She photo shopped the image and sent it back to me. Therefore, there is one image that is out there that I am now aware of that has my numbering system on the photo with the added word Kindle to the image. I am very sorry about that fact and have now destroyed the RAW image completely. Therefore, there is an amended copyright now that will show for that image MA203670_kindlephoto_52742762.jpg. That image has been altered from the original by a third party. dallaspaparazzo retains copyright for that image with the alteration noted and published herein.
Still, enjoy the cuteness
Yesterday, I was able to do the John Muir thing and found the second nest of a pair of red shoulder hawks in a matter of a few minutes. First, you listen. The female on the nest will call out to her mate for nest change duties and even food for the kiddos. It's a screeching sound. It sounds like a crying out. Also, the male will never be far away from the nest. The nest is in his territory and he protects that airspace from intruders. It's kind of like a fighter jet being scrambled when a plane wanders into controlled air space.
Then, secondly, you watch such things as shadows on the ground of bigger birds, especially if there is an open area near the nesting site. Dad will be flying overhead to the nest, but never directly from where he is. It's a diversion plan that nature plants an inate ability to do such things from birth. Nature's software implant, if you will. It took three trips around before the male actually made it to the nest. The pattern was like a triangle elongated. Amazing, actually.
Then, finally, when the nest change is made or Dad flys off after delivering food to the nest, you watch to see where he went. Usually, it will be into a stand of trees. There is that inate non-direct route to the watchtower post where he watches the area near the nest. It's quite a routine. It's nature at its best.
From what I have learned from the Eagles nest is that feeding times will vary, usually the 10-11 and the 2-3 time slots are the best and most active for the nest. I applied that to the Red Shoulders and by-golly, it was like hitting the jack-pot. I also observed something that I had never seen before. A Red Shoulder on the ground only a few feet away from a squirrel and it was like I know you are there but hey! they just mowed the grass and the bugs are like going to the Dairy Queen for ice cream!
No one was in panic mode and the Red Shoulder flew up into a tree en route to his scheduled weigh point to his hangout tree,having taken a few bugs while on the ground.
DISCLAIMER To My Editor, et al: In a lifetime of photography, I will never ever use a computer tool like Photoshop on any of my images. That is a deep seated law from years and years ago. Last night, when talking to a friend in an e-mail, I sent her the image to view since it was so cute. She photo shopped the image and sent it back to me. Therefore, there is one image that is out there that I am now aware of that has my numbering system on the photo with the added word Kindle to the image. I am very sorry about that fact and have now destroyed the RAW image completely. Therefore, there is an amended copyright now that will show for that image MA203670_kindlephoto_52742762.jpg. That image has been altered from the original by a third party. dallaspaparazzo retains copyright for that image with the alteration noted and published herein.
Still, enjoy the cuteness
 | |
| Diclaimer applied. Baby Red Shoulder Hawk at White Rock Lake. |
No comments:
Post a Comment