Day 002: Frozen Harbor Goldeneyes

Year 1

My assignment today was to photograph birds in Duluth’s frozen harbor. This shipping season ended on January 15th, and the Coast Guard and tugs are no longer breaking ice (see my video). Given that birds tend to like open water, and not ice, if I could find some open water, then one should find birds. I could only think of two areas that would give me open water: Canal Park (harbor entrance) and the Water Treatment Plant (warm water discharge).

Getting to Canal Park was easy, but trying to get close to the water treatment plant (WLSSD) proved impossible. Although I could see the open water from the highway, and even view bald eagles attacking other birds, once I exited from the interstate it was impossible to get anywhere near by car, which would have then allowed me to continue on foot.

Although driving around the port in the industrial area was an interesting experience, I can see from my inability to gain access, I will need to be a bit more intelligent about finding and location birds of which I am able to gain viewing access. I now know that a rare bird alert exists for the Duluth / North Shore area. Anyhow, here is today’s photograph: A Gaggle of Goldeneyes!

002-Birds-365-Goldeneyes-Canal-Park

Day 001: Mr. Snowy Owl Leads Off!

Year 1

Today is the start of my 365 Days of Birds photography project. Please read the background information. I am quite lucky to lead off with a Snowy Owl. Here in Duluth, Minnesota, we are enjoying an small invasion of Snowy Owls. I am fortunate enough to live less than a ten minute drive from this owl’s Winter territory, and have been watching him for over one month now. Thus, he gets to be my first bird.

A few other comments that related to this project. My camera is a modest Canon Sx40. While it would be nice to have an expensive DSLR with a huge telephoto zoom lens, this camera is amazing with what it allows me to accomplish in terms of a limited equipment budget.

The other surprise from photographing birds during our recent cold snap (i.e. it’s been -15F to -20F many, many mornings this January) has been that the lenses on my binoculars fog up from the warmth of my eyes while sitting in the car and investigating habitat for birds.

001-Birds-365-Snowy-Owl

My 365 Day Photography Project

Background, Year 1

Please allow me to introduce myself, Rich Hoeg. I live in northern Minnesota on the edge of Duluth across the road from a stream that roars down to Lake Superior, Amity Creek. I have decided to embark upon a year long photography project which will combine my love of the photography, the outdoors, and birds. I hope to improve my photo taking skills via this effort, while at the same time providing enjoyment for my readers.

This project starts on my wife’s birthday, January 23, 2014.

Some Quick Notes:

  • I am not a professional photographer
  • My only project rule is a “bird” (abstract or real) must appear in every photograph.
  • My camera is a Canon Sx40 … thus not an expensive DSLR
  • Index of this project’s photos (updated weekly)

I plan to organize and take photos / tag by …

  • season … Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall
  • date
  • location
  • weather … clear, mostly clear, mostly cloudy, cloudy, rain, sleet, hail, snow
  • available light … twilight, golden hour, day, night
  • habitat … lakes, rivers, meadows, farms, forest, urban, etc.
  • bird type … song birds, raptors, ducks, etc.
  • photo content … abstract, birds only, birds & people, birds & landscapes, etc.

I welcome ideas for photoshoots, or ways you believe I should organize / categorize / tag my photographs. I hope you enjoy taking this journey with me.