Bird Landscapes of 2024
A photo essay
It is an exciting challenge to photograph a good close-up of a bird - the colors, the feathers, the pose, all can be exhilarating if one gets the perfect shot. Birds are truly beautiful. It can be a joy to share their photographs with others who will never see them up close and those experienced in sighting birds can appreciate a good photo when it captures the essence of a particular species. Bird photography is also essential for helping further the art of bird identification.
That said close-up bird photography requires long telephotos lenses, the right location and lots of patience to perfect the craft. In this essay, I have chosen some of my best photographs that explore the bird as a part of the landscape and how its landscape/habitat defines its livelihood.
One of my favorites from 2024 is this breeding male bobolink sitting on a fencepost with a caterpillar in its beak not far from its nest. The surrounding grasses in the foreground showcase the necessity of a habitat that allows these birds to have a chance at successfully nesting. Disappearing grasslands and hayfields are contributing to the rapid decline of the Bobolink’s population.
Turkeys are everywhere now - they have even adapted to the point that they are living in urban environments. But they are really birds of the mature woodlands, feeding on insects in the summer and acorns in the fall. They prefer woodland edges and mature hardwoods in which to roost at night. This photo showcases a male turkey in its typical natural habitat.
Wooded swamps provided lots of diversity including being a prime habitat for Barred Owls. Not afraid of water, the owls will often wade in shallow areas in search of amphibians or crayfish. In the winter their plumage blends in with the surroundings.
A recently hatched brood of Wood Ducks navigates the swamp under the watchful eye of the female. Due to a long drought, invasive Reed Canary Grass took hold and provided some cover for the young ducklings from predators. This image captures the beginning of the hen’s constant battle to protect her offspring.
Another bird of woodland swamps, the Red-shouldered Hawk hunts for snakes and frogs. They will also snatch newly-hatched ducklings. Here the hawk waits patiently on the edge of the swamp to spot some prey, showcasing its ability to blend in with the surroundings.
In dappled light, a male Tennessee Warbler alights on an elm branch. Larvae on elm trees provides important food for warblers returning in spring.
Swans seem to grace any surroundings they are in. Starting in 1966, the successful reintroduction of trumpeter swans in Minnesota has created a population of over 50,000 swans now in the state! Having healthy wetland complexes are important habitat for them.
Often heard rather than seen, the Yellowthroat warbler skulks in dense vegetation at the edges of wetlands. The male sings a wichety-wichety-wichety song from the undergrowth.
Despite the distance and vastness of the lake, a male Hooded Merganser stands out with its striking plumage, a different set of colors that rival the beauty of Wood Ducks. Arriving on the northern lakes in April, these ducks are often found on local ponds using wood duck houses for nesting. They make a beautiful focal point for a lakescape!