The trials and tribulations of a bird. And a bird photographer – this one you won’t believe.
Every year in late winter, robins (and a few starlings and House Finches) feast on the shriveled up fruits of ornamental crabapples in a park near my home. Yesterday morning they were going at it again.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
By now many of the crabapples have fallen to the ground so the robins in particular often forage for them there. This robin is standing on the curb with road asphalt behind “him”. I actually think the road is a good background to set off the pretty colors and markings of the robin.
This one had just swallowed one of the tiny crabapples.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I believe this is the same robin, enjoying another crabapple. There are more crabapples beneath his tail.
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
There’s some fruit left in the trees but much of it has fallen to the ground. The crabapples left in the trees are the ones that are hardest for the birds to reach.
This robin was foraging for crabapples in one of the trees. But as you can see, there’s no fruit left on the branch he’s perched on so at this point he’s decided to move to the smaller, spindlier branch directly in front of him because that branch still has crabapples on it and near it.
Perhaps he should have realized that there’s a reason those crabapples haven’t already been eaten. That branch was so spindly…
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
it couldn’t even come close to supporting the robin’s weight, so it immediately began to bend down so far that…
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
it put him in a pose that I’ve never photographed before, in any species. Notice that his right foot is still tangled up in the original perch as the rest of his body, including his left leg, continues to drop down as the new perch bends more and more.
This is actually the only photo in the series that I really like. I’m only including the rest of them to help me tell the story.
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Finally, he managed to untangle his right foot and…
1/6400, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
bring it down to where he intended it to be. After this, his new perch bent so far down that I cut off the bottom half of the bird in my photos but I didn’t miss much because there was so much clutter in front of him. However, I’m happy to report that he did manage to pick off some of the crabapples from his new, droopy perch.
This humorous robin behavior was welcome comic relief from an unfortunate and very unpleasant incident that had occurred a few minutes earlier.
While I was photographing the robins I noticed (barely) that there was a single car parked in the parking lot sort of in front of me. Even though I assumed the car was empty I positioned my pickup so that the car had no chance of being in the background of my robin photos. After all, who wants that kind of background in bird photographs?
I was so engrossed in photographing the robins I didn’t even notice that the car had moved before it came up right next to me and stopped with our driver’s side windows less than 5′ apart. Both of our windows were down and the nasty little man who was the driver asked me in an aggressive and accusatory tone of voice “What do you think you’re doing?” At that point I didn’t even realize that it was the car that had been in the parking lot. When I concentrate on birds I really concentrate.
His unpleasant and very aggressive tone made what I call my “teacher voice” kick in (after 33 years in the classroom it’s in my genes), so I responded by saying “What business is it of yours?” At that point he began hollering at me for photographing him while he was “eating his sandwich” inside his car. I told him that I was photographing robins, not him or his car, but he didn’t believe me. I’m pretty sure he didn’t even know the robins were there.
I was about to offer to show him the robin photos I’d been taking on my camera screen when he gunned his engine and took off behind me in a huff, but not before he hollered at me “You’re a f***ing weirdo”. I responded with something equally intelligent and productive by assuring him that he was an asshole. Of that I have no doubt, even though the thought of it does a disservice to the average perfectly functional and respectable anal sphincter. Obviously, by then my dander was up.
He turned around behind me and continued to gun his engine as he…
headed for the city street, screaming at me through his open window as he passed by. At that point I decided to oblige his original accusation and take a few photos of his car as he sped by.
I’ll never understand how or why he thought I was photographing him. My lens was always pointed down at robins on the ground or up at robins in the trees and never, not once, at him or his car. I didn’t even know he was in the car.
Based on the stickers in his window he’s a Lyft and Uber driver. I hope he’s more pleasant, and less presumptuous and aggressive, with his customers than he was with me.
And I’ll tell you what. Next time I have to use Lyft or Uber I’ll be much more wary. And more reluctant to use them at all.
Ron
Really love these photos. Robins are one of my favorites. Sorry about the awful Lyft driver. My friend just had a terrible, scary experience with a Lyft driver. The worst part is there is no apparent way to deal with complaints with the drivers. Super frustrating. Makes me think I won’t use them unless I have to.
“My friend just had a terrible, scary experience with a Lyft driver.”
Bobbi, that just reinforces my newly developed wariness of using both Lyft and Uber.
Good to hear from you again. Especially when it doesn’t involve another MRI… 🙂
I like that photo as well, but it does need the other photos and narrative to fully appreciate the action.
To bad such a fun episode was followed by that grumpy encounter. I know I feel pretty self-conscious when I walk the neighborhood with my binoculars. I get some funny looks. A lot people going around thinking that everything is all about them. I’m reminded of the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s “Talkin’ World War III Blues”. The last verse goes:
“Well, now time passed and now it seems
Everybody’s having them dreams
Everybody sees themselves walkin’ around with no one else
Half of the people can be part right all of the time
Some of the people can be all right part of the time
But all of the people can’t be all right all of the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that
I’ll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
I said that”
Amen.
Amen indeed.
If binos make you feel that self-conscious, image how you’d feel carrying a lens that’s over 2 feet long with camera attached. That, and my bad back, is why I don’t do it.
Well, at the Robin’s expense, I had a good laugh (and have done the inadvertent splits myself, so also felt his pain). In that 6th image he looks utterly shocked and googly-eyed with the lifted wing blocking part of his face (took me a second or two to realize it’s the split eyering giving that appearance).
The rest of your story, not so much as a giggle. He’s a jerk, for sure, and also probably paranoid about his employers’ ability to track his every move. Still no excuse for obnoxious behavior but that’s the world we live in now. 😕
“and also probably paranoid about his employers’ ability to track his every move”
I hadn’t thought of that but you may be right, Chris.
Nice sequence and narrative. I have passed up some good shots because I would need to point the camera towards someone’s home.
So have I, Ken. Pointing a long lens at someone’s home, especially their windows, is different legally and ethically from pointing one at a person in a public place. Which I didn’t do.
Great series and so nice to capture an unusual and interesting incident. It may happen more frequently but seldom is there the opportunity to get a photo. Like other very common birds, robins are often neglected so it’s very nice to see these photos. I used to give my students a very detailed description of a robin but leaving off the red breast. Most of them didn’t know what bird I was talking about because they had always ignored the other details like the split eyering or the white streaks in the throat. These birds have a lot to offer so it’s nice to see them showcased here. As for the non-human sludge, well, you got to learn the extent of his verbal skills and the satisfaction of giving your opinion. I suspect I would have done very much the same thing.
Thanks, Dan. I may not have chosen the wisest course but I can’t change it now. And at this point I don’t think I would if I could.
Love the silly robin photos. Right now they are competing with hordes of cedar waxwings for the berries on our cotoneaster. The waxwings are so frenzied in their flying and the robins just sit there and eat. We it up swinging cds to keep the waxwings from hitting our windows in their wild flights
Catherine, I keep expecting to see waxwings at these crabapple trees but it hasn’t happened yet.
Photographing robins or an oxygen thief? What a hard decision you faced in deciding which one to focus on.. NOT.
I feel for that robin, and am very glad it did get some of those teeny weeny crab apples.
He got quite a few of those crabapples, EC. He was obviously quite hungry.
A Robin version of doing the splits. Love it.
The Turdus and the turd. Definitely not a good name for a pub, but fits the story.
“Definitely not a good name for a pub, but fits the story”
Agree on both counts, Lyle.
Scary, really. But i’m glad you were of equal intelligence in your comments and let your emotions run – bottled up stress isn’t good. My mother always called people a horse’s ass (when she thought they were), but that seemed unkind to horses.
“but that seemed unkind to horses”
Nina, perhaps it is but it still makes the point effectively. And I’ll bet horses don’t mind… 🙂
Some people are so “important and entitled” that they believe they are worth photographing. I think your response was just right.
I love Robins and was delighted seeing your photos of them.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks on both counts, Kaye.
Good for you for standing up to him. Too many people just passively accept that kind of belligerence, but that just makes them feel more comfortable in being gnarly towards others. Sure, there is a risk, but IMO more risk of doing nothing.
Your philosophy on the matter is my philosophy, Kent. That said, if something similar happens again I’ll try to quickly read, and weigh, the situation before deciding on my response.
Love birds….
Some people not so much…
My sentiments exactly, Diana.
Yes there are more weirdos out there than I want to think about. But my first thought on reading this was that it’s lucky (and just chance) that he didn’t have a gun. Or maybe he did, and just didn’t use it. But responding in kind to crazies is tempting fate, if you ask me. Just my two cents—-take them for what they’re worth!
“Just my two cents—-take them for what they’re worth!”
I always do, Sue… 🙂
What an AH for sure. Ruined this neat story about the very agile gymnastic Robin. If a person was concerned that possibly you were taking photos of them wouldn’t it be more wise to first ask – excuse me, but were you taking photos of me and my car?
But back to birds. Love that balancing photo – that is really neat. We have experienced the Robins and other gobbling up all available berries, Will send you photos of a flock of robins devouring all the berries on our Pyracantha shrub.
“wouldn’t it be more wise to first ask”
Everett, this guy’s middle name isn’t “wise”…
Not knowing what a better tasting crabapple they are in the tree vs those on the ground, I would imagine even the Robin had a few choice words for the stumbling branch path to his next gulp. Incredible that you had caught those images and very humorous as they unfolded. On the other hand, your polished teacher voice that had kicked in, engaging in another humorous/tense event as it unfolded, has saved you from a potential worse outcome than the stumbling path of the Robin. I must say, your years of teaching has developed the reporting writer in you which has also built a tolerance level when recognizing poor human behavior and an enormous amount of self restraint. I guess he wasn’t feeling very good about the privacy he thought his car could give him. Next time your taking photos and a distant car is in your bokah, ensure any uncomfortable loud mouth their appearance was improved with a Robins beak. Well, don’t say that, be the teacher you are and tell them you’re reporting them to the principle of the photographers society. Thank you for the humor, I’m sorry folks are out there testing your skilled patients which you’d rather use for photography. Keep up the good photography!
I’m glad you enjoyed the robin photos, Deb. Hopefully I’ll be able to enjoy them more than I do now when I can get the Uber guy out of my mind.
Smile, say “Have a nice day”, roll up your window and drive away before it escalates ! If he follows you drive to the nearest police officer or police station. There are too many weirdos out there today looking for trouble.
Great Robin pics by the way. We’re getting your weather -5 degrees and 25 mph winds this weekend. Wish you had kept it out there !!
“Smile, say “Have a nice day”, roll up your window and drive away before it escalates”
Gary, no way was I going to drive away and let that jerk come between me and the birds. I see your logic but that’s the decision I made and it’s too late to change it.
Next time, maybe. Maybe not.
Atypical robin behavior.
Typical human behavior. I’ve had people chase me, scream at me, and similar assholeriness (I made that up some years ago. Please feel free to use it.)
The Robin was delightful.
“Please feel free to use it”
You’re too late, Arwen. I’ve been using it, and some variation of it, sporadically for years!
Hahaha. Dang it! I thought I made it up. 🙂
Loved the Robin images! So sorry what happened with the crazy Uber/Lyft driver. That is one of the reasons I have never used ride shares without my Husband being present. I believe Lyft drivers have to have a background check, but Uber drivers do not. As kids we are all told not to get into a car with a stranger…I think that advice still holds as an adult. People are stone CRAZY these days. I am glad that the situation did not escalate any further.
” People are stone CRAZY these days”
I certainly wouldn’t dispute that, Rene. At least more of them are than used to be.
That “windmilling” robin reminded me of myself when I lose balance– never
thought I’d see a BIRD in that position–they maneuver so gracefully ! The
guy sounded positively paranoid– and what was that vertical stick-like thing
against his dashboard ( I’ve never taken an Uber or Lyft– is that part of their
working gear ? )
“what was that vertical stick-like thing against his dashboard”
Kris, it’s his phone holder. They use their phones for navigation and other purposes while they’re driving customers around.
Great Robin behavior! Weird human behavior. It seems we are living in a time that humans are easily triggered. Hopefully when that happens they aren’t packing.
“Hopefully when that happens they aren’t packing”
Sadly, that’s always a possibility. Especially these days.
How funny! Robins, or other birds, doing the splits is NOT a common occurance! 🙂 Guess they, like us, mess up up on our calculations now and then….. 😉
Perhaps the other driver was somewhere he shouldn’t have been and was concerned he was being “tracked” 😉 Sure don’t need THAT shit!
Judy, whatever his motivation he’s a nasty man. And not the sharpest tool in the shop.