Maintaining a Sense of Wonder- the Birds of 2018

Reviewing photos from the past year is a fun walk through the seasons and events of the past year.  I find that bird photography for me has been a great way to nurture a sense of wonder of God's creation and an opportunity to continue to remain open to learn new things. In photography as in life Julie and I talk of "Kaizen", the Japanese word for constant improvement.

Photography is a humbling pursuit.  There are always better photographers, better compositions, more perfect light and better equipment. The fun is in not being obsessed with perfection and to recognize that you can enjoy your hobby without having it produce money or fame. Productivity and competition in our work-life unfortunately has spilled into our leisure pursuits. We feel compelled to run races further, publish articles, win competitions or sell our work to prove its value. I did get a charge out of winning a first place two years in a row in the local Monticello Bird Photography contest, however if your work lights that creative spark of wonder in you...embrace and enjoy it! Make that childhood sense of wonder and discovery a lifelong pursuit.  I'll always remember my Mom sitting down at our piano playing and singing away. The piano was never in tune, a few sour notes here and there and never a public performance....however pure JOY.

This past year's pictures have been gleaned from the backyard "photo booth " areas around our beautiful Virginia countryside and a lovely Spring visit to Montana.  In addition last Spring Julie and I had the pleasure of taking two of our Grandchildren on a James river eagle tour. The discovery tour produced several great Eagle and Osprey pictures (see previous blog post). This year I've continued to dive into information on bird science through readings and lectures about these feathered creatures.  I even fell upon a passionate gathering of "Purple Martin" enthusiasts. The more I learn the greater appreciation I have developed for all our avian friends, yet with more knowledge, questions get raised. How do these pea size brains in a hummingbird prepare them to fly to Central America each year? How do flocking birds maintain such symmetry when flying in groups? What keeps a woodpecker from getting a head-ache? With that last question I digress, here are some favorite photos from 2018.

A beautiful Northern Cardinal, our state bird, in breeding plumage

Success - the female likes him!

The American Goldfinch in winter plumage

American Goldfinch

Don't overlook the "little Brown Jobs" - Two pretty Chipping Sparrows

White Pelican on the Yellowstone River with a breeding bump on its beak

White Pelicans on the Yellowstone River

A Montana Western Bluebird striking a pose 

A Killdeer

Common Mergansers on the Yellowstone River

A Barn Swallow

What's a common seagull doing in the mountains of Montana? Who knew they hang out there.

The Northern Mockingbird mimics other birds calls but he's not the only one with this talent

The Brown Thrasher and the Catbird also are in the family of Mimics

The Western Bluebird

Sand Hill Cranes in Montana - One of the great American animal migrations

The Common Cormorant

 American Bluebird in the photo booth

The Dark Eyed Junco - a Winter visiter

The Yellow Chat

Prairie Warbler

Carolina Wren

Tree Swallow taking over my bird house

This tree swallow is a welcome visiter to my backyard as they eat lots of mosquitos

Yellow Goldfinch

Winter scene of a Northern Flicker

A Red Bellied Woodpecker having a chat with a Mourning Dove

A House Finch in breeding colors

                                                Yellow Rumped Warbler - The Butter Butt

American Eagle on the James River

 Tufted Titmouse -"Julie,Julie,Julie"

My female bird brain friend who can navigate circles around me...

the Ruby Throated Hummingbird

 

The Eagles of the James River

One of the great recoveries of the late 20th century is the story of the return of the eagles to the James River. This success not unlike the recovery of all raptors throughout the United States is a tribute to the environmental movement and the work of Rachael Carson. In her book "Silent Spring" published in the 50's. Ms. Carson highlighted the broad use of the pesticide DDT which was used to eliminate insects that were menacing the agricultural industry.  DDT created in the late 1800's earned its creator a Nobel Prize for its ability to eradicate insect borne diseases such as yellow-fever and malaria. The unintended consequence of its use identified DDT as a carcinogen. DDT also worked its way up through the food chain from seeds to rodents which resulted in birds of prey laying softened egg shells which broke when they sat on their nests. As a result by the time a ban was placed on DDT in 1972 there were no nesting eagles on the James river and subsequently a reduction of birds of prey throughout the United States. The American Eagle, symbol of our country, was on its way to extinction.

This and many other facts about our eagles were shared by Mike Ostrander who runs an operation called "Discover the James". Having now traveled on two of Mike's excursions I have been impressed by his passion for these birds, knowledge about them and the James estuary which he willingly shares  These two hour boat trips which leave from Deep Bottom State Park boat landing are wonderful for photographers, bird watchers and naturalists alike. 

During our two hour excursion we passed through the territories of 5 nesting pairs of eagles and numerous ospreys. We learned how eagles protect their territories and raise their young. Eagles have rebounded magnificently in the past forty years and have been removed from the endangered species list.

Bald Eagle chasing and Osprey to take his fish - A familiar eagle tactic!

Most of the eagles on the James are native born birds except one banded bird that has been identified by its tag as a captive-born bird from a refuge in Alabama. Aptly named "Bandit" she has worked her way up to the James River to make a permanent home. Eagles remain in the area through the seasons and build their same nests year after year strengthening them each Spring.

A picture of "Bandit" from last years excursion.

  

Eagles keep their same nests year after year

In addition to the eagles one can see numerous ospreys who compete for fish in the estuary. Ospreys migrate south for the winter but return to our shores in the early Spring. A photographers prize is to catch a familiar behavior of the Osprey catching a fish ,only to be "body slammed" in mid-air by an eagle, dropping his fish. The eagle then does a swooping loop to retrieve the fish. This photo opportunity, though witnessed on our excursion, evades me still. Capturing birds in flight is a difficult genre of photography which gives great satisfaction when you get it right!

Captain "Mike" sharing his passion for the River with my Grandchildren Liam and Nora

In closing this wonderful story of conservation success, I will share with you a few more images of these majestic birds on the James river -  Enjoy