One problem with photographing bison is that they don’t do anything interesting very often. These big bulls, photographed five days ago on Antelope Island, were a bit of an exception.
1/1250/ f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm
I particularly like to photograph bison when they’re on the horizon with blue sky or dark storm clouds as a backdrop. This big guy didn’t do much but just stand there and look overpoweringly large and intimidating. I do wish he’d turned his head toward me a little and didn’t have grasses in front of his muzzle.
1/1000/ f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 135mm
Soon several of the bulls walked down the hill and began to drink from ice-covered puddles from melted snow that were very close to me. The sounds of ice breaking from the weight of their hooves and muzzles were eerie. They drank so much water I kept expecting the surface of the ice to begin bending into a concave shape. Perhaps it did and I didn’t notice.
I can only imagine how cold their innards must have felt after drinking several gallons of icy-cold water.
1/2000/ f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 188mm
When they’d lift their heads slightly there’d be drool dribbling from their muzzles. Then they’d lower their heads again and go back for more.
1/1000/ f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 263mm
Several of the bulls in the group stayed on the hill and did a little jousting. I don’t believe the fight was too serious but with these guys you never know. I think the arc of starlings in flight is a nice touch and I was pleasantly surprised to get light in the eyes of both bulls.
I’m looking forward to bison calving season and watching the “reds” (a name for young calves because of their rusty-red color) frolicking on the prairie.
Actually I’m anticipating a lot of things that are spring related…
Ron
Ron, I’ve been getting your featured photos for a couple of weeks now and want to just say they are a highlight of my day when they arrive! absolutely wonderful photos! Thank you so much for sharing!
I enjoy watching Bison as well. We have 2 ranches out here that have a few. One of the males walked up to me, as if he wanted me to pet it. His head was so massive. I chose to take a pic instead. I don’t scare easily, and he was on the other side of the fence, but he was big! Great pics Ron. I especially like the two of them butting heads. Didn’t seem to bother the birds!
Bison are intimidating when you’re up close, aren’t they Jean?
Wow! You’ve done it again, Ron. Superb shots of these magnificent behemoths! That last shot is the icing on the cake.
That’s my favorite too, Marty. Thanks.
Excellent shots, many thanks for interrupting with a US iconic beautiful mammal, even if they are not as exciting as birds or raptors, etc.
Yup, same here I am eagerly anticipating spring! However, the temperature around here is fluctuating like a yoyo! -7 C to +9 C and anywhere in between! Massive snow melt these past two days! At least the sunlight days are getting longer and the passive solar energy is delightful.
Thanks, Dick. I’m afraid sunlight is still at a premium around here…
Nice shots of these powerhouses…the first looks like it just came off the nickel! Love the composition of the last, especially the arc of the birds and those unflappable (literally) riders, unconcerned about the squabbling. I am a little surprised that these bison don’t to have heavier coats….once again,these shots prove my theory that Buffalo don’t have ears
“the first looks like it just came off the nickel”
Great observation, Patty – it certainly does!
I always enjoy seeing bison, so this series is pleasant change of pace. The shot with the Starlings almost looks as if the bulls were posing for you… Spring is starting to show its face around here. Apparently some of the ants are out, and yesterday I saw a plant bug, along with a couple of plants that are flowering very early (I know there are some that will start to bloom whenever conditions seem right, and one of the ones I saw is in the mustard family which is notorious for that – at least in my mind).
Thanks, Susan. We sure become attuned to early signs of spring this time of year, don’t we?
Ron–I, too, loved the shot with the arc of the starlings…..I wondered about the difference in bulls’ horns in shot #2—is that due to difference in age? Or do they have some kind of cleaning/polishing
technique ?
Kris, Part of the difference is that part of the tip of the left horn on the left animal appears to have been broken off.
It appears to me that the other difference is probably due to the fact that the bull on the right has spent more time rubbing his horns on various objects than the other one has. But that’s only speculation on my part. Perhaps it’s also due to an age difference, as you mention.
Ron, the pictures are just wonderful. I love those big old guys. Don’t get to see them in the wild much any more. We do have about 4 or 5 in our little wild life park in Sheridan. They roam with a small heard of Elk in the same pasture. They are fun to watch. Thanks.
Trudy, I’m lucky in that there’s always a minimum of about 500 of them on Antelope Island and at least some of them are usually accessible to photographers and wildlife watchers. In the spring after calving season their numbers often approach 700.
As a former resident of Buffalo, NY, these animals have always held a special place in my heart. Such great photos, hope you get some pics of the youngins. Thanks for all you do for us.
Thanks very much, Sarah.
There’s something delightful and almost mythical about the 2 boulder-like bison with fluttering birds alighting on their backs! Thanks for this inspiring post, Ron.
Thanks, Alison. Actually I was able to get many photos of those two bulls fighting and birds flying over them and landing on their backs. I’m going to have to cull those images very carefully to pick out the best ones.
Hi Ron! Been quietly enjoying your blog for a month or so, but I had to speak up today and comment on the excellent photo of the 2 bison and starlings. What a wonderful, magical catch! I love your work. Thanks for your generosity and for taking the time to explain how you went about taking each shot. Your blog is inspiring everyday for a person just beginning to try their hand at bird photography.
Thanks again.
Jo OB
Welcome to Feathered Photography, Joanne. Thanks for the kind words.
And I think you and I agree about our favorite photo in this post.
Wonderful photo’s, Ron! 🙂 Suspect they don’t drink often, but when they do………. Nice of them to provide you with a bit of action.:) Capturing them against the blue sky really makes them “pop”. The photo with the starlings is an added bonus. Starlings are starting to show up here which is early. Young of any species are always fun to watch. 🙂
Judy, there’s very little fresh water on most of the island (they usually have to travel to fresh water springs along the shoreline to ge4 it) so the ability to fill up their “water tanks” must me a huge advantage for them, especially in summer.
I’ve often wondered if they eat snow. I suspect they do but I’ve never noticed them doing it.