Today marks six weeks since my knee replacement surgery and the recovery is going well. During this time, I have not been able to travel and hike in some of my favorite local wildlife refuges for photography. Taking advantage of this “down time” I decided to concentrate on the birds that are visiting our backyard this Spring. The careful placement of a few feeders allows me to stay still and practice techniques to capture the birds in flight and while they engage in different behaviors.
Photographing backyard birds is a real challenge. The most common visitors are the Common House Sparrows, which my photographer friends call LBJs (little brown jobs). Two are shown here as one approaches a feeder. Regulars also include House Finches with their orange- red head (shown in flight). Robins predominantly forage on the ground, while Grackles, identified by their bright yellow eyes and dark feathers, tend to dominate the bird feeders. Unlike the slower flying egrets, eagles and ospreys, the birds in the back yard seem to move at the speed of light. Photographing at high shutter speeds reveals some interesting details about the flight of these birds. For example, sparrows and finches can fly between 25-30mph and it’s fun to watch them “put on the brakes” as they approach a landing on the feeder. On take off, they may tuck their wings for a short free fall before leveling for flight. A clear hierarchy exists, and feeder disputes are frequent.
What I am learning during the last six weeks is that there is a lot going on with the birds in my own backyard. I was able to practice photography skills, but more importantly I learned to practice patience, how to observe changing light patterns, and to notice the interesting behavior of multiple species interacting in a small space. You don’t have to go on exotic trips to see nature in action. Nesting season is in full swing and I will return to this topic for future posts.
