Less is Often More in Bird Photography!

Background, Year 4, ,

Quick! Grab your lens with the longest reach, zoom in and take a bird photograph! How many of you, myself included, have this viewpoint when it comes to birding photography? While I understand this philosophy, quite often “less is often more” in bird photography. Your goal should not be to always get the closest view for an image. A good landscape photographer understands that composing the shot is as important as the physical land being captured in an image.

Put another way, if possible every picture should tell a story. Over the past two days I have arrived on my “owling grounds” 20 minutes before sunrise. Here are two sequence of photos which tell different stories. In each case the second image is the “traditional” birding photograph. Which photo is better? Neither! Photography is art. Don’t get stuck in a rut of always taking the “zoomed in” photograph.

Sunrise Over the North Woods (not zoomed in 100% in order that more trees are captured in the background reflecting dawn’s early light)

Great Gray Owl at Dawn (zoomed in as much as possible to get my birding photograph)

Owling! (or Humaning!)

Great Gray Owl at Dawn (zoomed in as much as possible to get my birding photograph)

Finally, Pine Siskins greeted me when I returned home from birding this morning. A few winter finches are beginning their long trek back north.

Horned Larks: Northward Migration Starting Now!

Year 4

Today’s bird of the day is a very early harbinger of Spring (not even 1/2 of the way through February). In theory Horned Larks do not over winter up here in the Northland. I found a pair in the Duluth area this morning feeding on the side of the road. Given Horned Larks nest as far north as the shores of the Arctic Ocean, along with Snow Buntings they tend to be some of the earliest birds to start the northward migration through our area.

Five Owl Friday!

Year 4

Yesterday was special. When I am able to spend quality time out in the Northwoods with friends and later by myself, finding rare birds … Uff dah! In the morning I had fun showing off the area to some new friends who for them, seeing a Great Gray Owl was a first in the life experience. I will admit, given the sunny skies our owl was buried deep within the pine forest and had no intention of coming out into the bright snow reflecting sun.

Later in the day I returned by myself arriving at my favorite haunts about 45 minutes before sundown. This allowed me to find two Great Gray Owls while the light made that exploration still possible, but still watch one of the birds hunt till 30 minutes after sunset.

Here are a few photos from yesterday, and the day before.

Stop and Smell the Lake Superior Roses! Two nights ago at sundown the light was so perfect I decided against owling and instead hiked over to a cove which gave me this vantage point of Splitrock Lighthouse.

Just Saw-Whet and Me! My thanks to Jeff Moravec, an outdoor writer for the Star Tribune down in the Minneapolis area (read his owling article). While birding together earlier this week, we had the amazing experience of getting up close and personal with this owl. Jeff took this photograph of me taking a picture of the sleeping owl. After ten minutes we left it snoozing in the tree, dreaming of its upcoming evening hunt.

Word to self … don’t block favorite hunting perches!!! Just before sundown yesterday I found two Great Gray Owls hunting. While standing next to my car, approximately 40 yards from this owl, it started to fly directly at me!! Amazed, and a touch frightened, the owl and its talons cleared my head by less than 2 feet. A second or two later it landed less than five yards from me on this post. Fishermen can be pretty fierce when it comes to guarding their favorite fishing holes. Guess owls are similar!

The Evening Hunt! Don’t even dream of stealing my supper! I found this owl 15 minutes before sundown, and photographed the bird after a successful kill 30 minutes after sunset.

Unfortunately Great Grays are not unaccustomed to humans and our technology. This owl was smacked and killed by a car yesterday. The bird is being held by Laura, who is both a veterinarian and the wife of a National Geographic Photographer. I met this team out on the trails yesterday. National Geographic and this team (Laura and Neil) are working upon a wildlife documentary about our area which will air next year. Should you find a dead raptor along the road, please call the game warden. The warden will give you instructions on how to proceed.