Perspective. It’s all about perspective.
This is the time of year I always start thinking about Chukars again. They used to be ubiquitous on Antelope Island and by March their plumage was fresh and their springtime behaviors included frequent calling from rocky perches where they were often easily photographed instead of skulking around in the vegetation.
But their numbers on the island have crashed so I rarely see them anymore. Chukar photos of mine like these, taken on March 8, 2011, almost seem like relics of a bygone era which is probably why I cherish them as much as I do.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This presumed male was on a snow-covered rocky ledge at nearly eye level to me as he was calling. He was close and cooperative and I love the colors and textures of the setting, including a hint of the out of focus snowy hillside at lower left that looks like it might be blowing snow or even approaching low clouds.
Before we go any further some full disclosure is warranted. In the previous version of this photo I removed the out of focus grass stem poking into the right edge of the frame that we see in this version.
The Chukar posed and called from this spot on the rocky ledge for quite a while before he walked several feet to our right. I have quite a few photos where that leaning grass stem is directly in front of and pointing at his face so I’m not very fond of them.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
By the time he completely passed the leaning grass stem the sloping snow-covered hillside behind him became the primary background which gave the rest of my images a completely different feel. For better or for worse, perspective matters.
At this point I began to wonder if I’d like the deep blue sky above the snowy hillside in the background. Photographers never really know about such things until we look at our images later so I decided to see if I could get rid of the blue so I would have images that included it and images that didn’t.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
As usual I was shooting from my pickup so I raised my window and sat taller in my seat to change my shooting angle and give me yet another perspective. That little maneuver almost completely banished the blue sky from my images. In the end I’m glad I have photos that include the blue and photos that don’t because I like them all.
If I had a nit to pick I’d wish we could see his feet but that’s being pretty picky. Besides, that one little claw sticking out of the snow almost makes up for it.
Ron
Note: I posted this last photo seven years ago but the rest of them are new to my blog. For today’s post I reprocessed the last photo and I now like it even more than I did back then. In my view that raised ruff on the back of his neck is extra special.
Beautiful series, Ron. Beautiful Bird.
Thanks, Deena.
These are beautiful photos. Kind of a study in contrasts: The plumage, eyes, beak and legs are gorgeous but the bird looks comical a la Pixar studios: Chuck the Chukar.
It’s good to see you retain some of your pre-adolescent humor via the t-shirt. I guess most guys do. Now, Judy I’m not so sure about😉
I’ll have that low-level humor for the duration, Lyle. It comes natural to me and it was very helpful in the high school classroom as part of my teaching strategy – kept under control of course but subtle innuendo could be very effective.
Yes, even I can be subtle if I have to. Thankfully I’m no longer under those constraints – thus the T-shirt…
I was there at AI for two days in May and again in June last year and never saw a one !! I’ll be back out there again in May on my way up to Yellowstone and will look harder…………….
It’s sad, Gary. They used to be very common, especially on the north end of the island.
If you listen for them as part of your strategy for finding them it can be very helpful. They sound like chickens.
Good tip !! I’ll remember that one.
The Chukahs have crashed? Oh no. Do they know why?
And yes, of course I love this series.
Big time.
I don’t know if they know, EC. It can be pretty hard to find the big shots on the island to ask them.
Lovely series and the colors are beautiful. I know they are not native, do you think the park would ever reintroduce new birds?
I don’t know, April. I keep meaning to ask Jeremy next time I see him. I was pleasantly surprised to hear several Chukars calling this morning near Bridger Bay.
I may also need to buy the shirt.
Chukars are such attractive birds! I especially like the 3rd shot you included because it looks like he’s turned to you in search of approval for his singing. 😉
I thought he looked a little sheepish in that shot, Marty – like he was embarrassed by his calling voice. He needn’t have worried.
I love that last one for how hard he is trying to be heard at a distance. Throwing his voice.
Works for me…
I loved all of this morning’s images–SUCH a handsome bird……I’m so
sorry that the #’s have crashed–sad times. The very last photo, especially,
really shows the subtle gradations of color on the breast , sides, and back–I
usually don’t notice those because the other markings are so contrasty
and powerfully colorful.
Thank you, Kris.
What a delightful group of photographs! And what beautiful bird! Another to put on my list of what to look for when I go out West. Have they dwindled in numbers everywhere or are they just changed their haunts?
I don’t know the answer to your question, Joanne. There could be normal numbers of them in other areas but their numbers have plummeted on the island.
As always, a gorgeous little bird! 🙂 With the neck ruff up it almost looked like it had been collared . 😉 Backgrounds DO make a difference…… As to the “Mother Chukar” t-shirt – Thx for finding it! 🙂
I think I’m going to order a couple of them today, Judy.
I did order one – in another place I also found one(in another place) with buzzards with the “patience my ass, I’m going to kill something”. 😉 My mother got a poster of that for me MANY years ago saying it “fit” and it did/does……. 🙂
Excellent series Ron. Very colorful and interesting bird. We do not have Chukars here so I have never seen one. The third photo with the clouds and remaining blue sky is my personal favorite. And in the last one I would never have noticed that little claw had you not mentioned it.
Thanks, Everett. I’m a fan of the “little things” in my photos that provide just a little extra pizazz if you look carefully
Found it.
https://dopxp.com/mother-chukar-funny-upland-game-hunting-tshirt?gclid=CjwKCAiA-vLyBRBWEiwAzOkGVOxCk8CNsSUzqjBX1IC3naKVDhN05BlT293WFoLgOOjjqhFTFhff9BoCtZoQAvD_BwE&options=classic-mens-t-shirt-charcoal-heather&v=5e4fab8a035439b4a452d749
Beautiful series, Ron! There’s a humorous t-shirt I’ve seen with a female Chukar standing next to a nest wth the caption “Mother Chukar!” Sad to hear that they are disappearing from the island.
I’d buy that t-shirt in a hummingbird’s heartbeat! In fact I’m going to look for it.
Found it.
https://dopxp.com/mother-chukar-funny-upland-game-hunting-tshirt?gclid=CjwKCAiA-vLyBRBWEiwAzOkGVOxCk8CNsSUzqjBX1IC3naKVDhN05BlT293WFoLgOOjjqhFTFhff9BoCtZoQAvD_BwE&options=classic-mens-t-shirt-charcoal-heather&v=5e4fab8a035439b4a452d749