Western Meadowlarks are non-territorial during winter but they still sing their melodious song with enthusiasm.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this one four days ago on Antelope Island. Meadowlarks can be relatively easy to approach during their breeding season as they sing from territory but during winter their singing wanes and they’re much more difficult to get close to. So I was doubly fortunate to find this cooperative bird singing from its rabbitbrush perch. I fully expected it to dive down into the grasses as I approached but it had pity on me (the entire morning had been almost bird-less) and it allowed me a close approach until another vehicle came by and I had to leave my position on the road.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The song it sings this time of year is a little different from the complex and melodious primary song of the males we hear so often in springtime but it’s still beautiful and unique. I never tire of the song of the meadowlark. Never.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This one alternated between singing and preening. Rabbitbrush produces small wind-dispersed seeds that resemble the “parachutes” of dandelions and this birds preening activities caused one of those seeds to settle on top of its head. I thought it resulted in making the bird look a little goofy but hey, I’m just fine with goofy…
Canon Vixia HF G30 @ 576mm equivalent optical zoom
Recently I purchased a camcorder that because of life’s events I’m still relatively clueless at using but this bird gave me enough time with it that I was able to get both still images and video as it performed on its perch. I thought readers might be interested in seeing a clip of this same bird as it sang and preened. I’ve always enjoyed the “chortling” sound these birds make in-between their primary calls and you can see and hear both in this clip. You’ll also hear one click of a camera shutter – that was Mia popping off a few shots of the meadowlark. The clip is 22 seconds long.
I hope to improve my video skills (both in the field and in processing) in the near future so hopefully any clips I may post down the road will be a little more polished.
Ron
Really nice to hear AND see them singing in the warmth of my house. Thanks.
Loved the video!
So Nice! Love the video!
Delightful shots and video Ron!
Charlotte
Great shots Ron. They are such pretty birds. I love their song too. Thanks for the video. That was a special treat!
Thank you, Jean.
The very best kind of magic.
Thank you.
This sublime songster is a wonderful start to my day.
I’m glad you enjoyed the performance, EC. Thank you.
Thank you Ron for this improvement on your blog. Now we can see and “hear” your photos.
I sincerely hope that this great step won’t put some extra pressure on your daily routine.
Beautiful bird (“Cotovia” that is how we call it in Portugal)
I’m glad that you see the video as an improvement, Jorge. With my present video-taking skillset I wasn’t sure it would be. I always enjoy seeing the names you use for “our” birds in Portugal.
And I can handle the added pressure as long as I get good results once in a while…
Fantastic shots and video of the Meadowlark! I didn’t realize they wintered in your area. They are always a sign of spring in Montana. I loved hearing the singing. The camcorder evidently has a superb mic. Nicely done!!
Jane, When it gets real cold (which it isn’t yet) most of them do head south for the winter but a few seem to stick around all year during mild winters.
So cute with that little rabbitbrush seed on his head. Thanks for including the video, I really enjoyed hearing his song.
The seed is subtle but I like what it does for/to? the bird, Angela. Thanks.
How about “A Seedy Meadowlark With Rabbit Brush Propagation On His Mind”… Lucky for me, you’re through with this subject and probably already in bed dreaming about tomorrow’s shoot…Hee! Hee! Hee!
Ron, I love the addition of video to your blog. Patty Chadwick put it perfectly. I’m looking forward to ‘extra sunshine’ up here in New England, thanks to your blog. What a great way to celebrate all the joys that birds bring, and I’m sure any other applications you use it for will bring much pleasure, as well.
Thanks for your confidence in me, Alison. Time will tell if I can live up to it…
Sorry, I just read the post about the viewfinder on the 7d. There is a great little magnifying eyepiece adaptor that attaches to the back view screen made by several companies. Pictureline has several types in stoci.
Brett
Thanks, Brett. I appreciate the advice, especially considering what an accomplished videographer you are.
I think I’ll stick to shooting video with the camcorder though. I tried the DSLR’s but there’s just too many issues with them when shooting birds in the field.
Thanks Ron for the lovely photos and video. I thought your video capture was very good. It is great to see and hear the birdsong as well. I don’t know if you’ve experimented with the video function on the 7d, but it has excellent quality, and though the mic on the camera is not great it can be supplemented with a small inexpensive shotgun mic. If you have any questions, let me know. We use the 7d and the 5d at work for a lot of our video capture.
Brett
Thank you so much for both the images and the songs this morning. Meadowlarks are one of the joys of living in the west, hearing their lovely songs as you drive down the road with windows open (I have an old Jeep and issues with A/C units). What a sheer delight! I haven’t heard them since I moved east and miss them so much! But now you’re reminding me of the photographers I worked with in the auto racing world! Since I was in road racing, those guys had to lug their plethora of cameras and lenses (along with boxes of film–remember film?) from hither to yon and back again to get their shots. Then again, their subjects were far more predictable in their flights since they installed their wings upside down for pity’s sake 😉
“since they installed their wings upside down for pity’s sake”
That brought a big smile, Laura – took me a split second to figure out your reference but once that happened I really enjoyed it. Thank you.
Not only that upside-down wing thing, but racers are noisy and whiny, too. Much better to listen to meadowlarks and hawks 😉
Great photos and video Ron. What a beautiful bird with such a great song.
Thanks very much, Colin.
Ron, your video is just fine. My husband prefers a video camera to a still one, and so is always videoing everything of interest. Even though he’s been doing it for years, you video looks as good as most of his… It was great being able to watch and hear the Meadowlark. And I love the photo with the seed on its head. It’s priceless.
Susan, it’s a tough choice for me sometimes – do I go DSLR or video for a particular bird. And I’m so new at video that I often even forget that I have that option. And I still fumble with the controls of the camcorder, big time. But it adds another dimension to the possibilities and I like that!
Lovely to hear this beautiful Meadowlark also.
Thanks, Cindy. I think the clip (including sound) adds a new dimension to my typical posts.
More power to you Ron – I’m too old to multi-focus on both a camcorder and a camera. I already carry two cameras and lenses when I’m in the field. However, that being said, your video and sound of the meadowlark was very good, and it seems to me you are a multi-talented photographer.
It has always been a concern of mine whether to accept this new technology using camcorders or stay with still images. For your blog I think the added camcorder, especially when dealing with behavior, singing or mock battles, etc., is really neat. I hope you will stay with it. But for me, unless I get caught up with a new toy, I will be sticking with lenses and camera bodies and enjoy both worlds through your blog!
Dick, When I’m in the field I have three DSLR’s with me attached to different lenses plus the camcorder. Oh, and the phone camera. It’s a good thing that I’m usually shooting from my pickup instead of on foot…
One of the reasons I wanted to shoot video is to photograph interactions between raptors in flight. Hopefully I’ll get some opportunities like that this winter.
You’re not “too old to multi-focus”. If I can do it, so can you!
WOW – three DSLR’s and a camcorder from your truck – amazing!!
I have to admit that 95% of my shooting is done from my truck. Didn’t use to do it that way, but ever since I started to read your blog that is what I do now.
It is still difficult to grab the other camera to get the shot when there is a ton of activity, and to have three at the ready is mind blowing, But, thanks for the vote of confidence.
I know what you mean. You ought to see me fumbling with all that gear in the excitement of the moment. Lots of decisions have to be made quickly in order to get the best possible images with the right gear and those decisions are often wrong, depending on what the bird decides to do. But when I get it right it’s ohhh so rewarding!
Thanks for the wonderful, unexpected treat! I love to hear these birds…and also love the chortle/chuckle that concludes their “real” song. A “medicine man” I know claims he “understands” what they are “saying”. All I understand is that they sing a lot and it sounds beautiful and joyful….beautiful images, too. They make me think of liquid sunshine pouring out into the universe, making it a happier place.
“They make me think of liquid sunshine pouring out into the universe”
Perfectly said, Patty – for me your comment applies to both their color and their song.
Yes!!! Exactly…
I especially like the seond shot..as that’s how I always think of them….mouth open, blasting out song…or bursting out from the bushes, and swooping along to the next ones…
Ron, great start on the video. I especially like the sound coupled with the video. So often there is too much noise for good sound in addition to the video.
Richard, I was wondering if you’d see this post. It was actually one of your comments a few weeks ago that got me thinking seriously again about doing video. That comment cost me some dough (the price of the camcorder and accessories) but I’m still grateful for it… 🙂
My favorite songbird. Great stuff, Ron.
Thank you, Adam.
Good pictures and video, Ron. The colors seem brighter than what we see here. Meadowlarks are a summer bird for us. Cameras without viewfinders don’t work well for me either. 🙂
“Cameras without viewfinders don’t work well for me either”
Agreed, Judy. I experienced nothing but frustration trying to use video on birds with my DSLR. I photograph birds partly for the fun and that took all the fun out of it…
Ron – is there a reason for a separate video cam rather than shooting it through your DSLR? Liked the vid – thanks for posting.
Yes, there are several reasons, Mark – among them the fact that this camcorder has a viewfinder. One can’t use the viewfinder when shooting video with a DSLR and I find it almost impossible to “aim” and see what I’m doing using the DSLR camera screen, especially in the bright light usually needed for shooting birds.
Thanks for the quick reply. Your reason is good. I use the Canon SX60 HS when I am in the field birdwatching for ID purposes and I do not like using the cameras screen. I use the electronic viewfinder because of the sunlight problem with the screen too.