These photos were taken five days ago in the mountains of northern Utah. I finally finished culling all 1400+ photos I took of the bluebirds and processed a few of my keepers to give my viewers a sense of what I was able (and unable) to accomplish photographically in the very challenging shooting conditions that morning.
Despite my efforts to photograph both the male and female about equally most of my better shots turned out to be of the male. Because of the aggravating shadows at the nest cavity that ruined most of my photos of birds at the entrance I’m including only a single photo taken there but in all of these shots the bluebirds were within a few feet of the nest.
I’ll try to keep my narration down to a minimum – the photos largely speak for themselves. Sorry, I ran out of time to include image techs.
The male keeping an eye out for the marauding House Wren who had designs of its own on the nest cavity.
Seconds later he was joined by his mate. At these focal lengths I couldn’t get both birds sharp and she’s partially obstructed by a twig but I still think the image helps to tell their story.
This was one of the male’s favorite perches. I’ll include another photo of him perched here below. I like the second one better.
This is probably my best individual shot of the female. I really didn’t have much luck with her.
One of the few times the male seemed to fully relax for a moment or two. Most of the time he was…
flitting around in a frenzy, probably because of the intrusive and incredibly fast House Wren and another pair of bluebirds that threatened to take over their nest cavity.
But in the specific situation when this photo was taken his one-wing-up posture may have been due to something else. This isn’t a takeoff posture; instead he repeatedly flicked one wing or the other but never both at the same time and I believe he was looking at his mate while he was doing it so it may have been some form of communication. Maybe not, I dunno.
Then he relaxed again but only briefly.
I had to include at least one photo of one of the bluebirds at the nest cavity. That nuisance shadow on his left wing seems less obtrusive than it usually was and I like the pose and the good look at his beautiful dorsal blues.
I’ll conclude with one of my favorite photos of the male.
I hope to have another chance at these bluebirds in the next day or two. I haven’t been back since these photos were taken because of inclement weather and especially because significantly more people in the mountains on the weekend would increase the chances that other folks would come along on the lonely dirt road and my presence near the nest tree would disclose the location of the nest cavity (otherwise nest cavities are very hard to spot.)
Nesting birds don’t need that kind of pressure, even when it’s intention is benign but sometimes it’s malicious. For the last five years my instinct to protect nest trees has been amplified by the tragedy of a Williamson’s Sapsucker nest tree that still had eggs in the nest cavity that was deliberately cut down by campers.
I’m angry again just thinking and writing about it.
Ron
Note: Blog readers and others often ask me what my typical keeper rate is when I’m culling images. In the past I’ve estimated it to be about 10% on average. With these bluebirds I took about 1450 photos but there’s probably only about 25 of them that I think are good enough to stand on their own as quality shots, some of them only marginally.
That said I actually kept many more of them than just the 25 for the following reasons:
- I have many photos that are almost identical and it takes a lot of time to inspect each one of them carefully for critical sharpness and other small details. It’s just quicker and easier to save multiple similar photos.
- I also kept quite a few photos that aren’t really quality images but they may come in handy one day for use in documenting behaviors or natural history on my blog.
I’m afraid I’ve become infatuated with Mountain Bluebirds on the basis of your photos. The colors just pop and you make them look like enchanting beings. I hope you get more “postable” photos of this pair. Sorry if it takes another 1450 photos to choose them. Makes me think twice about digital vs. film🤔
Lyle, I used to shoot film pretty seriously. Had my own darkroom with all the expensive equipment including a top of the line Besler enlarger and a quality Nikon FT3 camera.
There’s not a chance in hell I’d be photographing birds if I was still shooting film.
Late to the party, Ron, after a very long day of birding, but this series is just exceptional! Thank you!
Diane, thanks for taking the time to comment after such a long day for you.
A beautiful, beautiful series of beautiful, beautiful birds…
Thank you, Patty.
Incredible images….as usual. Thanks for the stats on your keeper rate. Your keeper rate gives me a better perspective of what it takes for even a very experienced expert photographer to get some of the great shots that you regularly get. My delete key (X key in Lightroom) is getting worn out from all of the photos that I delete….just to get a few that I find acceptable, although still way out of your league. I enjoy your blog and the opportunity to learn from it.
I appreciate your comment, Steve.
I know at least one old school bird photographer who’s very good (and extremely knowledgeable about both birds and photography) but he has a very different philosophy. He waits to pull the trigger until he knows he has a good shot and as a result he takes very few photos and misses a whole lot of very, very good stuff. I think it’s a leftover from the days of film.
That style just isn’t for me. I know what I’d be missing.
I love all of the photos. Looks like you had a enjoyable day!
I sure did, Jean. Frustrating and fun – pretty typical for bird photography.
I remember (only too well) the sapsuckner nest story.
It is chilly here (nudging zero) and just thinking about that is making my blood boil.
And thank you so much for this series – which exemplify the blue bird of happiness.
That’s right, you’re going into your winter aren’t you. I’ll bet your current cold is better than the blistering heat and devastating fires of last summer though.
Most definitely better. Much better. And to add to the bliss – we had rain for a few days last week. Gentle lifegiving rain.
Excellent!
Ron – Envy is just oozing from me. These Mountain Bluebirds are just gorgeous. That photo with the spread wings in front of the cavity is one that I think at least 50% of your followers will want a print of when the Covid scare is over. I have never seen one here, but I believe they are here up in the higher altitudes. Outstanding photos.
Thank you, Everett. Range maps indicate that you’d have them at higher elevations in your general area. Hope you get to see some one day. When they’re in small migrating flocks their flashing blues when they’re in flight are really something to behold.
These are just lovely, Ron. Even though the female is out of focus in #2, I really like the way the line of her tail feathers sort of echoes the small branch in front of her, and the one of the male with outstretched wings is awesome. Very sorry to hear about that felled aspen tree in Idaho. Behavior like this is certainly one of the reasons I prefer birds and other animals to (some) people. Sorry if that makes me a bit of a misanthrope. 🙂
“Sorry if that makes me a bit of a misanthrope.”
If it does you’re certainly not the Lone Ranger, Cathy. Count me among’em.
I think 3 and 7 are my favorite. Mostly due to the pose and the background. # 3 I like the simple perch and lighting on the broken branch. These are all wonderful.
Something about the pose, colors or face of the photo that you said is your favorite reminds me a the painting, Little Boy Blue. I grew up with a water color replica my artist uncle did when he was in high school.
April, I remember that Gainsborough painting well. Haven’t seen it for years.
Beautiful pics Ron! I have a question or two for you.
Did the Bluebirds carve out their own nesting cavity or did they inherit the cavity from other birds with carving capabilities? And, is this the normal nest for a Bluebird?
The only birds in our forest that I’ve personally witnessed creating their own nesting cavities are Nuthatches. I watch the Downy, Hairy, and Pileated woodpeckers working on a variety of trees, but I’ve never witnessed them carving out (or actually using) a nesting cavity. The only “borrower” of an abandoned nesting cavity that I’ve witnessed this year is a Chipmunk.
Thanks very much for any light that you can shed on the nesting cavities, who carves them, and any other facts you may have on these holes in trees.
Rick
Rick, bluebirds and many others are what we call “secondary cavity nesters” meaning they don’t excavate their own nest cavities, instead they take over cavities excavated by other species – especially woodpeckers. This particular cavity was most likely originally excavated by Northern Flickers. Some cavity nesters have adapted well to nest boxes – bluebirds and kestrels come to mind. Nest boxes are still “cavities”.
Quite a few nest boxes in the Highwood Mountains for the Blue Birds. On year a bunch of “kids” tore down many of them – got caught – guess what they got to spend their spring/summer doing! 😉 GREAT way to get their attention..
I love that they got caught and their punishment was apparently so appropriate.
Punishment of rebuilding and installing the nest boxes was definitely a case of the punishment fitting the crime!……. 🙂
No words can describe the beauty of all those blues! Score one for Mother Nature for sure today.
I agree, Marty.
A cup of coffee and beautiful pictures❤️
Perfect way to start my day ❗️
I think I might have found a great horned owl nest ⁉️🤞🏻 A secret location that I’m keeping to myself.
Take Care All
“A secret location that I’m keeping to myself”
Excellent, Diana. Somehow, mysteriously, nest locations nearly always seem to get out even when I’ve only revealed them to those who promise to never tell anyone else. Funny how that happens so I just don’t do it anymore.
What an exquisitely beautiful way to begin this difficult morning! Yesterday’s image was an unmitigated delight, too. Thank you SO VERY much for beginning my day with joy!
If there’s one bright spot to this pandemic, it’s that humans are (or have been) giving the Earth and its inhabitants a bit of a break from our incessant noise and our disruptive presence. That’s ending now since many humans can think only of what we want like a bunch of spoiled toddlers in a tiresome tantrum! It’s times like these that I’d jump species if given half an opportunity!
Again, thank you!
Thanks, Laura. Agreed, there’s far too many selfish and unthinking people out there.
And a loud and emphatic YES from me too Laura.
Beautiful! The shot of the bird at the nest cavity is REALLY gorgeous shadow be damned! The eye contact, wing spread and color has a VBG on my face! Good to have some to go back to as, at different times, they tend to “speak” differently….. 😉
“at different times, they tend to “speak” differently”
That’s exactly why I want to go back, Judy. A week later the sun angle will be different, their behaviors will likely be different and potentially it’ll give me additional chances at situations that I botched the first time. And believe me, there were a bunch of them…
I especially admire the last two shots you posted –the wings-opened-
at the nest cavity image is such a clear display of the subtle shadings
of the flight feathers from tips inward–they really frame the brilliance
of the dorsal blue and set it off…..
Thanks, Kris. I like that one better than most others I got at the cavity entrance because that twig shadow on his wing doesn’t stand out quite so much. With his head at that angle I’m just lucky I got a catch light in his eye. Without it that photo would never have seen the light of day.
The one of the male at the cavity with outstretched wings looks as if he’s protecting it.
It does, but if I remember correctly (and I believe I do) he’s actually about to take off.