I'd like to share a few photos (X-post in Lounge)

[Maestro]

I have spent the better part of the summer outside and traveling even with these high gas prices to try to find some wildlife that I have never seen or just wanted to photograph again. Having said that, these first photos are from my backyard. Hummingbird migration is really picking up so I have been able to find a few more hummingbirds now than all year.

These are three ruby throated hummingbirds, probably females or young juveniles.







Now down to far south Texas...In Brownsville, Texas, my wife's family's town, I tracked down the famous green parakeets that are native to Mexico but are also well established in the Brownsville area. These photos were taken on Washington Avenue, a street where my wife's grandparents lived, just about 700 feet from the border and a place that will be affected by that stupid wall if it goes in.







Still in south Texas, but now in Edinburg, Texas, I spent some time a ranch dedicated to native land conservation as well as wildlife conservation. It is called the Martin Refuge. John Martin, one of the owners along with his wife, started this other foundation promoting the conservation of land and wildlife through photography, http://imagesforconservation.org/front

First bird is the colorful green jay whose range just makes it up to south Texas.




The next bird is the very loud and boisterous Great Kiskadee, another south of the border bird that makes it to the southern tip of Texas.






One more and I will end this post and post some more later. I have so many photos from this summer. Anyhow, to end, this is a Groove Billed Ani. It is yet another south of the border bird and a member of the cuckoo family.




Thanks for looking and remember to support your local wildlife! :)

[livvy]

1. I enjoy your photos very much.

Aside from the tech stuff, which is marvelous, I really like the way you capture the birds' personalities as well. They are aware of your presence, and don't seem overly concerned, but you get a glimpse of their protectiveness, natural curiosity, and intelligence.

Just lovely, as always!

And I agree about the wall...very stupid, and detrimental to wildlife.

[Maestro]

2. Thank you so much

and I am humbled by what you wrote.

[Eurobabe]

3. Great pix Maestro

I love your bird photos. Saw a nice looking young adler (hawk) in a field today, of course whizzing by at 60mph. Too late for a pix. LOL.

[Maestro]

4. Thanks 48

I put up another round of photos that I forget to x-post here. It is right here. :)

[Eurobabe]

5. I replied, re: camera type and lens?

Outstanding photos, I always see the birds but never have my camera with me. :(

[JeffR]

6. Superb, though who would expect anything less from you?

I read about bird population declines and rapid shifts in migratory patterns and food availability, and it makes me feel sick. But I take some comfort in knowing that there are people as dedicated as you to chronicle what is and what may not be much longer. If we're not constantly and evocatively reminded of the species who have the misfortune to share this planet with us, those species will all be gone.

Strangely, maybe it's just as well for them that they die off before we complete our despoiling of the world. I like to think more positively, but it's very hard not to despair sometimes.

[Maestro]

8. You are very kind.

Here is another thread that I forgot to place here.

I hope we, as a race, can change our destructive ways. There is still so much natural beauty left and even what we have spoiled can probably recover if we just start being a bit more respectful of what we have here on Earth.

[Richard D]

7. Beautiful!

Might you be willing to share some of your techniques/equipment? My pictures of birds are always rather insipid, and I'd love to improve.

[Maestro]

9. Thanks so much Richard D

My equipment for most of my bird photography is a Canon 40D with a EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM lens or a Sigma 500mm APO EX DG F4.5 prime lens. I place the 40D and Sigma lens on a tripod because it lacks image stabilization. My tripod is a Manfrotto 475B with a Wimberly Head II.

As far as techniques, well, much of it is simply a case of observing and watching the birds to see where they prefer to land or from which flowers they prefer to feed. Many times if you observe them you will find some routines. For example, I watched an eastern bluebird this spring flying from its perch heading to roughly the same place on the ground catching different insects. I sat out in my yard for about 30 minutes watching it go back and forth, back and forth. In the end I caught it on the ground which is what I wanted. Here you go. ;)



If you have specific questions, I'd be more than happy to try to answer them.

[Richard D]

10. Thank you

That's a great start. I just need to get a larger lens now.