Tag: nest building
Magpie Rising In Iridescent Splendor
Iridescence in Black-billed Magpies is fleeting but quite spectacular when you can catch the light just right.
Lark Sparrow Trying To Manhandle Nesting Material
I often enjoy the little dramas in the lives of birds just as much as I do the bigger ones.
An Osprey Behavioral Mystery – Any Thoughts?
Magpie In Flight With Nesting Material (and the frustrations of nest building)
Finding nesting material and carrying it to the nest is only the beginning of the battle.
Male Western Kingbird Displaying, Then Taking Off
The Western Kingbird is known for its belligerent behavior and at least 9 aggressive displays have been identified. The Wing Flutter is one of them.
Magpie Ballet With A Stick
Ballet and sticks may not typically go together but that combination still comes to mind whenever I see this image.
An Entire Magpie Landing Sequence At 10 Frames Per Second
Photographing a bird as it lands is much more difficult than when it is taking off.
Magpies – They’re Already Building Nests
My Favorite Image From My Time With The Nest-building Kingbirds
Earlier this week I spent several mornings photographing a female Western Kingbird as she was constructing her nest. Out of the many hundreds of shots I took of her the third image in this post is my favorite.
Black-billed Magpie Just After Take-off
Each spring I spend time photographing magpies on Antelope Island. Not many images of them are keepers but this is one I like.
Magpie With Nesting Material In Flight
One of the reasons I like to see iridescence in Black-billed Magpies is that it brings out detail in those areas of the deep blacks where you normally don’t see any. Flight shots are inherently more difficult than static shots but ironically I find it easier to get the iridescence to show in flight than I do when they’re perched.
Black-billed Magpies Constructing Their Nest
This post is largely about behavior. The image quality ranges from good to mediocre but I think each photo contributes something to a better understanding of magpies. Black-billed Magpies begin nest-building as early as January and these particular birds have been at it for several weeks now. Actually, in this case it’s more a “remodel” than it is “new construction” since this nest has been used for at least the last three years. All of these photos have been taken this week, which accounts for the relatively bright snow and ice background in some of the shots. 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light One of the first things you may notice is the fact that sometimes these Black-billed Magpies don’t seem to have black bills. Part of nest construction involves mud gathering and the drying mud on the bill can significantly alter the appearance of the bill. 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light Both sexes contribute to nest construction and they’re quite industrious in their efforts. The size of the twigs they bring in is often impressive. 1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light The nest is buried deep in a greasewood bush at about eye level for me. Typically a bird bringing in construction material will land on a nearby perch and look over the nest for a few moments – seeming to plan placement of the twig and an approach path through the myriad of vertical greasewood stems that present significant obstacles to proper placement of such an unwieldy…
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Magpie Rising In Iridescent Splendor
Iridescence in Black-billed Magpies is fleeting but quite spectacular when you can catch the light just right.
Lark Sparrow Trying To Manhandle Nesting Material
I often enjoy the little dramas in the lives of birds just as much as I do the bigger ones.
An Osprey Behavioral Mystery – Any Thoughts?
Magpie In Flight With Nesting Material (and the frustrations of nest building)
Finding nesting material and carrying it to the nest is only the beginning of the battle.
Male Western Kingbird Displaying, Then Taking Off
The Western Kingbird is known for its belligerent behavior and at least 9 aggressive displays have been identified. The Wing Flutter is one of them.
Magpie Ballet With A Stick
Ballet and sticks may not typically go together but that combination still comes to mind whenever I see this image.
An Entire Magpie Landing Sequence At 10 Frames Per Second
Photographing a bird as it lands is much more difficult than when it is taking off.
Magpies – They’re Already Building Nests
My Favorite Image From My Time With The Nest-building Kingbirds
Earlier this week I spent several mornings photographing a female Western Kingbird as she was constructing her nest. Out of the many hundreds of shots I took of her the third image in this post is my favorite.
Black-billed Magpie Just After Take-off
Each spring I spend time photographing magpies on Antelope Island. Not many images of them are keepers but this is one I like.
Magpie With Nesting Material In Flight
One of the reasons I like to see iridescence in Black-billed Magpies is that it brings out detail in those areas of the deep blacks where you normally don’t see any. Flight shots are inherently more difficult than static shots but ironically I find it easier to get the iridescence to show in flight than I do when they’re perched.
Black-billed Magpies Constructing Their Nest
This post is largely about behavior. The image quality ranges from good to mediocre but I think each photo contributes something to a better understanding of magpies. Black-billed Magpies begin nest-building as early as January and these particular birds have been at it for several weeks now. Actually, in this case it’s more a “remodel” than it is “new construction” since this nest has been used for at least the last three years. All of these photos have been taken this week, which accounts for the relatively bright snow and ice background in some of the shots. 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light One of the first things you may notice is the fact that sometimes these Black-billed Magpies don’t seem to have black bills. Part of nest construction involves mud gathering and the drying mud on the bill can significantly alter the appearance of the bill. 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light Both sexes contribute to nest construction and they’re quite industrious in their efforts. The size of the twigs they bring in is often impressive. 1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, natural light The nest is buried deep in a greasewood bush at about eye level for me. Typically a bird bringing in construction material will land on a nearby perch and look over the nest for a few moments – seeming to plan placement of the twig and an approach path through the myriad of vertical greasewood stems that present significant obstacles to proper placement of such an unwieldy…