Midges with a death wish.
Three days ago I posted photos of a female Red-winged Blackbird snagging two different midges out of the air at Bear River MBR. Last night, while I was half-heartedly attempting to cull that day’s images, I discovered more photos of the same blackbird doing the same thing. Each time the midge flew right up to the face of the bird, almost as if it was volunteering to sacrifice its life for the greater ecological good, so I think of them as benign “kamikaze midges”.
I thought my readers might enjoy seeing those photos.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is midge #3 that within just a few seconds almost begged to be eaten. And each time the blackbird obliged. Or wanted to.
Here’s a closer look at the action. I was tickled to get both the bird and the midge as sharp as I did. Midges are tiny (mosquito-sized) and flitty so I don’t get them this sharp in flight all that often.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Before she could even swallow that one, midge #4 presented itself – almost daring her to take a stab at it. But midge #4 lived to see another day because…
her mouth was already full. But there’s no question that she knew it was there. Her eyes seemed locked right on it so it must have been frustrating for her.
I’m sure glad to have the midges back, mostly for the birds but for us crazy bird photographers too.
Ron
Very neat captures! So sharp.
Thank you, April
The details you captured are amazing.
Truly amazing.
Thanks, EC.
“Awesome” detail, Lyle said. I recall discussion in these here parts some time ago that that word was anathema. However, he’s right, in this case the ability to see such an insignificantly sized creature with such detail is awesome! That camera of yours, and your skillful use of it—also awesome! 😂
Ha, thanks Chris. I have no problem really with other folks using “awesome”, it just isn’t for me. And in the context of my photos I always appreciate it!
That is just awesome detail.
I grabbed some statistics off the internet (using the nutritional content of mosquitoes; couldn’t find that for midges) and calculated that a female Red-winged Blackbird would need to consume about 15,000 midges a day just to get enough calories. I’m sure I’m wildly off, but it was fun to do.
Wow, they eat a lot of them but I don’t know how it can be THAT many. They’re probably getting other stuff too. Thanks for doing the math, Lyle.
Lyle, have you heard of “predator satiation”? Perhaps that’s playing a role here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_satiation
Glad the birds can get “stuffed” – at least for awhile! 🙂 Must be something that “draws them” to the bird! 😉
Grackles and RWB haven’t figured out the caged feeder yet – a couple still trying to find leavings on the ground but put the rabbit cage down to collect leavings…… Chicadees and Downey Woodpeckers have no problem so “maybe” I’ll get lucky?
Judy, so far it sounds like you’re already lucky.
I could look at these closeup images all day – the details are just amazing! The shimmering light on the midge’s wings, legs, antenna – whew!
Her beak looks like a needle-nose locking pliers that is in our toolbox. That midge is not escaping once she clamps down!
“Her beak looks like a needle-nose locking pliers”
Carolyn, to midges I suspect that’s exactly how they felt. At least for an instant.
You had me smiling at “Kamikaze Midges”.
I wondered. What would be the human equivalent? Drone delivered sliders?
Michael, at first plain old “kamikaze midges” was all I had in my text but realizing that they presumably meant no harm I added the modifying “benign”.
The details of the midges that the R5 pick up are remarkable. Maybe those little Kamakazi flyers believe they are destroying the Red-wings as they fly in like they are hitting a WW2 aircraft carrier. But whatever, I guess the end result is that they are helping keep the birds alive and well and that is good.
Thanks, Everett. The midges sure seem to have an attitude, whatever their intentions.
Always appreciate your humor with photos Ron, thx for my morning chuckle 🙂
Good to know, Terri. Thanks.