by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Aug 6, 2022 | Bird behavior, Photo Workshops, Tangier Island, Uncategorized, Virginia
Work boat in Tangier Harbor at sunrise.
Over the last 9 years, I have visited Tangier Island a number of times and have conducted photo workshops there in the spring. It lies the middle of the Chesapeake Bay just south of the Maryland line and is famous for its off-shore crab shacks and waterman that harvest crabs and oysters as did their ancestors. Although I enjoy interaction with the community and waterman, I most love photographing the birdlife on the island. I visit the island as often as possible since scientists believe that Tangier will become uninhabitable in the near future as waves and erosion eat away at its margins.
Tangier channel and crab shacks
Tangier Island was once 3 times its current size and included other nearby land masses such as Port Isabel and the area across the channel referred to as the Uppards. On this part of Tangier, there were several populated towns but in the 1920s the island became uninhabitable as the land eroded away and was transformed into mash, mud flats and waterways. Today’s Tangier Island consists of only 3 ridges barely above sea level and subject to frequent flooding. On each ridge there are narrow roads which are connected by bridges spanning tidal guts and brackish marsh. At the far end of the island is a narrow hook shaped undeveloped sand beach with ponds and a large lagoon. The configuration of the Tangier is ideal for wildlife photography with birds feeding in the channels and marsh adjacent to the roads and bridges. In addition, they were used to being undisturbed by local traffic.
Black Ducks, Mallards and Canada Geese nest on Tangier Island. Once spotting me, this family headed towards the water. They turned with their back to me and I no longer had the view I desired.
American Oystercatcher flying over grasses on Tangier’s beach. Used animal eye tracking to keep it in focus.
For these American Oystercatcher images, I used my Nikon Z9 mirrorless camera with animal eye tracking to follow the birds’ movement. To lighten my load when hiking across Tangier’s sand beach, I used my Z 70 to 200 mm, F2.8 Nikon zoom lens with a matched Z 2 X teleconverter. The lens/camera combination was light enough for me to get sharp images while handholding it with the help of the camera’s image stabilization. (Most of today’s zoom lenses and teleconverters for mirrorless cameras are far superior to those produced for D-SLR camera systems.) With the 70-200 mm lens fully extended and the camera sensor set to the DX mode instead of full frame, the image size in the frame was comparable to that produced by a 560 mm lens. Because of the large maximum aperture of the 70-200 mm lens (F2.8), even with the 2X teleconverter in place, I still could shoot at fast shutter speeds without outrageously high ISOs. (2X teleconverters reduce the amount of light coming into the lens by 1/4 of the original.)
Oystercatcher pair flying together. Demonstrates the flying precision of this species.
Glossy Ibis feeding in one of the tidal guts. The touch of sunlight brought out the beautiful colors of breeding plumage. With an highly overcast day, the ibis would almost look black.
Photo opportunities on Tangier vary with the tide, season, and weather. When the tide is low and channels are nearly drained of water, Glossy Ibis with long curved bills appear and probe the mud and feed on organisms beneath the surface. Secretive rails which are usually hidden deep within the marsh venture into the open. Supported by their long toes, they easily can walk across the mud snatching up snails, crabs, and other invertebrates. (Their cackle is often heard before the rail is seen.)
Clapper Rail at a standoff with blue crab.
Same Clapper Rail carrying the crab into the marsh in order to eat it.
When the tide shifts and the channels fill with water, egrets and herons fish from the shoreline, the rim of sunken boats, and abandoned crab traps. There are few natural perches along the waterways.
Immature Night Heron fishing from an abandoned crab trap.
Many ospreys nest locally on man-made platforms, channel markers, old duck blinds and abandoned docks. They are often seen flying overhead carrying sticks to reinforce their nests or carrying fish to feed their mate or young.
Osprey carrying fish in its talons with the fish oriented in such a way as to reduce wind resistance.
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron taking flight. Photographed from my porch at The Brigadune Inn where I was staying.
This May I was on Tangier when a high tide combined with a strong stationary off-shore low flooded portions of the island for 4 days. Not able to travel in the high water, I took advantage of the situation and photographed herons and shorebirds from the porch where I was staying. When the water receded, I captured images of migrating shorebirds feeding in the remaining roadside pools of water and neighboring backyards.
Dowitcher taking off after feeding in the yard of the inn where I was staying.
Dunlin is still mainly in winter plumage feeding in neighbors front yard after flooding.
This year in mid-May I was treated to the arrival of migrating songbirds and warblers. Following the Chesapeake Bay northward, sometimes they stop for a few days on Tangier Island to rest and refuel before continuing their journey. Many were attracted to the bushes outside the office of Brigadune Inn. So I concentrated my photography in this area and close-by locations. It was a good strategy since I was able to capture images of 8 species of birds from fairly close distances. I used a 200-500 mm Nikon lens with my mirrorless Z9 camera. Frequently, I shot from the cover of my golf cart where I had a tripod and beanbag mounted. At other times due to the birds location, I took photos by handholding the lens. Image stabilization set on “Sport”definitely helped.
When photographing elsewhere on the island, I often used a golf cart as a mobile blind. The birds ignore the cart since they are used to seeing them traveling the roads. Over the years local folks have gotten use to seeing me with a camera and long lens. Many will wave or nod as they go by. At times they stop and ask questions about what I was photographing or tell me about a bird they had seen. It is great to see them interested in learning more about the wildlife they see every day.
Northern Parula warbler sitting in bush resting during migration
Black and White Warbler perched on the roof of a nearby building.
Immature White ibis feeding in a pond with a third young bird and 2 adults..
When planning a photographic trip involving wildlife, I typically research my subjects in order to locate them and predict their behavior. I check the web and bird guides for information but also find it valuable to talk to locals who know the area well. For instance, I found these immature White Ibis after receiving a tip from a resident of the community of Canton on Tangier. He told me that often in the morning large numbers of herons landed in a pond near his house. So one day, I checked out the location. I photographed these two immature White Ibis feeding along with 2 adults and another young bird. According to local birdwatchers on the island, this was the first time this species nested on Tangier. Two adults had been seen together earlier in the summer in a nearby yard and I suspect they were a nesting pair responsible for these chicks. (In the last couple of years, large numbers of White Ibis have been seen on the barrier island of Assateague, where they now nest. In years past, this species like the Brown Pelican have extended their range farther to the north, possibly in response to climate change and warming temperatures.}
American Oystercatchers on nest with eggs.
Willets and American Oystercatchers nest each year on Tangier’s beach placing their eggs directly on the sand or on low dunes with scattered grasses. This year the high spring tide flooded the Oystercatcher nests but they re-nested later in the spring. This is not unusual for them since they tend to build their nests early and close to the water. Unfortunately, I never got shots of the hatchlings. They were nearly full grown when I returned to Tangier in September. At that time, they were gathering together in groups preparing for their migration south.
Young oystercatcher with adults photographed on the Uppards across the channel from the main portion of Tangier.
The Oystercatchers are fascinating to watch as they react aggressively to each other and other intruders entering their territory. If they feel threatened, they lower their heads, utter a high=pitch squeal, and run at whatever they believe is a threat. This includes Black Skimmers which are much larger.
Oystercatcher aggressively attacking another oystercatcher that landed in their midst.
Black Skimmer fishing.
Black Skimmers are beautiful to watch as they slice through the water in the tidal guts and beach lagoon with their lower mandible submerged. When encountering a fish, the top bill snaps shut capturing it.
Willet landing on post in the marsh.
If anywhere near a willet’s nest they will issue a constant high pitch cry and try to drive you out of their territory. Most of the time, I have no idea where the nest is located so it is hard to out-maneuver the birds.
During a boat ride out to the beach, I photographed these young terns resting on floats associated with oyster aquaculture, a new enterprise on the island.
This year I was disappointed that Black Skimmers, Fosters Terns, and Royal Terns did not nest on Tangier’s beach as they have in the past. Folks with ATVs driving along the beach have discouraged nesting. The hope is that signs will discourage people from disturbing the nesting birds. Today, due to development, erosion, and sea level rise, undisturbed beaches suitable for nesting birds are few but yet critical to the survival of many species.
Royal Tern flying with a fish. Birds are attracted to the waters around Tangier since food is plentiful locally.
In late September or early October, Monarch Butterflies often stop on Tangier Island on their way to Mexico. This year was the first time I got to witness this spectacle. Groups gather in trees around the island. But photography was difficult because it was very windy when they arrived and keeping them focus was difficult. The butterflies spent the night in the tress and when the sun rose and warmed them, they flexed their wings once or twice and took off. I choose my camera angle carefully so all members of a group were in sharp focus. I had to use a moderately large F#, high ISO, and fast shutter speed to capture all of the individuals in the cluster.
One of the plants they were attracted to was goldenrod. In order to add variety to my photos, I walked down the beach in search of blooms with butterflies clinging to them. In the case of this image, since I was magnifying the butterfly a great deal, I had limited depth of field. Therefore I had to be careful to line up the face of the lens parallel to the wing’s surface and butterfly’s eye.
Monarch resting on a goldenrod bloom.
In the fall and winter, waterfowl flock to the waters around Tangier. I have never visited in the winter but hope to this year. Thousand of waterfowl spend the colder months of the year in the Chesapeake Bay, with many in the waters surrounding Tangier Island.
No matter when you visit Tangier Island, there is always something wild to photograph.
Tundra Swans, Swans, Snow Geese and a variety of ducks arrive in the late fall and stay through the winter.
TRAVEL TIPS
Access to the island is primarily by “passenger only” ferries from Crisfield, MD or Onanock, VA. Be sure to check out the ferry schedules and make reservations. The dates and times vary with the season and days of the week.
Overnight accommodations in Tangier are limited to a few B&Bs. This spring and summer I stayed at the Brigadune Inn with very comfortable accommodations. Currently there are only two restaurants on the island and kiosk where you can purchase hamburgers, etc. However hours of operation and opening dates vary each year and can be effected by local events. There is a grocery store on the island that in the recent past has not been well stocked. But it has a new owner, so this may change.
To travel around the island, you can walk, rent bikes or kayaks. You can rent a golf cart but there only a few available.
Particularly in the spring and summer, bring insect repellant. A head net and insect jacket can be handy since gnats, mosquitos, and biting flies can be can be annoying
Snowy Egret taking flight.
Snowy egret taking flight. Because I shot with continuous auto-focus and at a high number of frames per second, these two images captured very different wing positions.
PHOTO TIPS
Using continuous auto focus, animal eye tracking, and a high number of frames/second you can capture that perfect shot. As above, this technique resulted in two very interesting views of the bird.
When photographing, try to be as close to the subject as you can without disturbing them. The farther you are away, the more likely that heat ripple, dust, pollen, moisture, etc. can soften the image quality.
Try to capture behavior and the bird’s unique features.
Stretching wings, shifting weight, bending knees, nervous chatter, or stretching the neck upward, may indicate the bird is ready to fly.
This Peregrin Falcon is stretching wings on top of Tangier’s water tower. For a number of years, a pair of falcons have returned to this high perch. Since the top of the tower was far away, getting. this photo required high magnification. For a sharp image, I needed a windless day, sturdy tripod, and a cable release to fire the camera without touching it.
If your camera system has image stabilization, check what setting should be used if the camera is mounted on a sturdy tripod. This varies with the camera model and lens.
Walking through the marsh and crossing ponds and lagoons can be dangerous. The bottom often consists of soft mud. You can easily sink down to your knees in the mud and lose your balance as well as your equipment.
To photograph flying birds, image stabilization and animal eye tracking on newer mirrorless cameras increases your keeper rate. For a flying bird, it is best to use a shutter speed of 1/2000 of a second or higher if the bird is a fast flier or is close. Start focusing on the bird at a distance using continuous auto focus. Follow it until it is close enough for the image you have in mind. Shoot a burst of shots at a high number of frames/second.
I typically shoot a short burst of shots at a high number of frames per second even if I have a stationary animal to capture the best image with the eye open, best pose and sharp focus.
It is helpful to remember that birds typical take off and land into the wind. Choose your camera position and angle accordingly.
Photograph subjects at eye level for a smooth, blurred, distant background, less distortion, and a more intimate photo. Of course this is not always possible or wise. Always look to avoid distractions behind your subject — bright branches, shiny leaves, a cluttered shoreline, etc. Soft light can minimizes background distractions, with fewer hots spots and dark shadows. Shooting from a low angle is not always good if you are trying to capture reflections. A higher angle may be better.
The more you photograph, the better your images.
Pelicans stacked up on the tip of Tangier’s beach. Most afternoons they are found there.
If you lie on the ground and shoot, look for grasses and other objects that your focus will lock on instead of on your subject. You may have to manually focus. The subjects eye must be sharp or the whole image is compromised. Also if you are shooting at a low angle and there is a rise in the land in front of your subject, it may be out of focus and distracting. Or it may undesirably hide the feet or other critical part of your subject. On the other hand, it can create a soft vignette or frame around your subject.
Refine your images. If the subject is still present, explore alternate camera angles, magnifications, backgrounds, lenses, etc. Look for ways you can improve and vary your approach.
Subjects present, bird behavior, and coloring changes with the season and year. Check field guides and locals for advice.
Get the image right in the camera and don’t depend on post processing to fix it. Many problems are not fixable.
The more you observe wildlife, the more able you are to anticipate what they will do next.
Tri-Color Heron canopy feeding. It creates a shadow that attracts fish. I had to time the shot and choose the camera angle carefully to avoid the heron’s face from being shaded or blocked by the wing.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Aug 9, 2021 | Bird behavior, Bird photography, Chicoteague, Digital Photography, Nature Photography, Photo Tours, Photo Workshops, Rookery, Spring Photography, Spring Photography, Spring Photography, Wetlands, Wildlife Photography
May/June 2021- Heron Rookery Photo Project
From 24 April until 18 June 2021 I was on the road. One of my projects involved documenting the activity in a heron colony populated by a variety of wading birds–Great and Snowy Egrets, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Tri-color & Little Blue Herons, and a few Glossy Ibis. The rookery was in a large marsh on a ridge where low shrubs grow such as Bayberry and Wax Myrtle. Nests were low and among tangled branches that help protect the nests, eggs, and offspring from predators. It was a perfect locations with little chance of flooding and rich waters nearby with abundant food to provide for the growing youngsters.
Photographing colonial birds in a rookery setting requires a very careful approach as to not negatively effect breeding success.
Herring Gulls
Surrounding the heron colony in the tall stands of salt-meadow hay Herring Gulls nested. They chose a perfect location since they could swoop over the rookery harassing the herons and attempting to grab eggs and hatchlings. On several occasions, I saw a gull dive down and hit exposed heron. There was evidence that high water flooded the lower part of the marsh and destroyed some of the nests.
Precautions
I took great care to minimize any disturbance of the nesting birds to avoid interfering with nesting behavior, possibly causing displacement of eggs or the herons abandoning nests. I keep. my visits infrequent, limited in time, and when temperatures were moderate. Since my intent was to document natural behavior and interactions between individuals, I would have been foolish and unethical to disturb the birds.
My route through the marsh was difficult since I had to avoid soft mud, holes, and tidal guts. I benefited from past experience reading the marsh and noting what grasses and substrate would support me.
Dressed in camouflage, I approached the colony slowly and indirectly. I photographed from a low position, sitting or kneeling on the soggy, water-saturated ground. Once in place, I minimized my movement. It was usually distant noise that would cause the birds to flush from their nests -- the rumble of trucks, planes, boats, and construction projects.. Luckily, the birds quickly returned to their nests and young.
Equipment
Lenses primarily used included my 200-500 mm and 80-400 mm Nikon lenses.with my D500 and D850 Nikon cameras attached. The telephotos were necessary to keep my distance from my subjects and yet isolate them. Zoom lenses provided for flexibility. As the birds moved and interacted, I could adjust my focal length to capture the range of motion. Most shots were taken using a tripod with a sturdy ball head or gimbal mount. I used waterproof sleeves over the base of the tripod legs to protect the joints from damaging grit and corrosive brackish water.
Changes from May into June
During May, many herons displayed breeding plumage and bright colors around the eyes and bill. A few still were engaged in mating, courting and nest building, with some birds carrying sticks. In mid-June, courtship feathers were less obvious and the facial colors had faded a bit. There were eggs in some nests and young birds in others.
Capturing action
One of my goals was to capture arial fighting and aggressive behavior as birds landed in the bushes and jockeyed for position to access their nests. I carefully observed the colony concentrating on areas where there was more activity and less tolerant birds. Aggressive actions included nipping, stabbing, feather pulling, hackle raising, or just landing on the back of an opponent.
I had the best luck capturing the arial fights when using my 80 – 400 mm lens and shorter focal lengths since it was nearly impossible to predict exactly where and when the action would occur.
Focus Difficulties
If the birds were flying with sky in the background, I focused using a small group of focus sensors. When multiple subjects were involved, I selected an f-stop that offered a bit more depth of field than usual such as an F11 or 16. But to freeze action with high shutter speeds, I had to use higher ISOs than I typically prefer (often 1000 or 1250). When the birds were perched on branches or were landing, I often used a single focus point over the bird's eye.
With auto focus, I had problems with the sensor locking on branches and leaves, not the bird. Sometimes manual focus was required. Because the nest were located deep within shrubs, I struggled to get clear shots of the birds landing and interacting without branches, grass, shadows or the wings blocking their faces.
Final Thoughts
Most folks find marsh foreboding with muck, unpleasant smells, and pesky flies and mosquitoes. For me, they are marvelous places filled life and new things to discover. When involved with projects like this one where I am deep within a marsh, I find solace and a connection with nature.
Marshes are critical ecosystems that need our protection, not destruction They are highly productive and a haven for wildlife. They trap sediments and remove nutrients and toxins from the water that can clog our waterways, poison wildlife, and deplete life-giving oxygen.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Oct 7, 2020 | Bird behavior, Bird photography, MD, Nature, Nature Photography, Photo instruction, Photo Technique, Photo Workshops, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Urban Wildlife Photo Project
Raccoon Eyes
Overview
As mentioned in my last newsletter, in recent months I have reconnected with an old friend who has been allowing me to photograph on her property. She lives nearby and owns several acres of land with an open area, vegetable garden, flower beds, woods, and a pond by the house with aquatic plants, dragon flies and frogs. She has two permanent bird feeder locations that are near bushes and tall trees. One is located at the far end of the yard with the other near her house. Bushes and tall trees were nearby both. They provide cover from which the animals could safely approach the feeders as well as escape if threatened by hawks, foxes, or other predators. When the weather allowed from late April until today, I would spend several hours early in the morning or late in the afternoon photographing in her yard. In July when, temperatures soared into the mid to high 90s and humidity rose feeder activity slowed and was limited to the cooler times of the day and after sunset. The drop in activity seemed to continue into September.
Red Fox emerging from woods.
Initial setup
In late April, I began photographing at the bird feeder nearest the house. It was close enough that I could photograph from my friend’s dining room window. In addition to standard bird seed and suet feeders, we hung a thistle sock on a branch to attract gold and purple finches. The non-melt suet, that could withstand the summer heat, attracted the small woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. At times we added meal worms to the mix, which seemed to be a favorite of the Carolina Wrens. The bird feeder at this location was elaborate with arms and multiple hooks from which to hang a variety of feeders. I added a few natural perches for the birds to land on, but to my disappointment, they seemed to prefer sitting on the iron appendages of the feeder stand. After several days shooting, I concluded that the way the sunlight hit the area was not ideal for it cast unwanted shadows on the birds. In addition, the bushes behind the feeders were very close making it difficult to blur the background even with the lens wide open and a shallow depth of field. It became even more distracting when hit by bright sunlight.
Raccoon eating apple put out to attract deer.
Second location
Adaptability, perseverance, and patience are all keys to successfully photographing animal behavior. When I failed to get satisfactory results at my first location, I shifted my attention to activity around the permanent feeder at the far end of the yard. Nearby, there was a bird bath and kiddy pool filled with water to attract wildlife on hot dry days. Since I did not want to photograph the birds at the feeder, I created what I have affectionately call my animal jungle jim. With logs, tree roots, branches, other items that I collected roadside and from nearby woods, I created a setup where I hung additional feeders and provided a safe place for the birds to perch. At key locations on the logs, I smeared peanut butter and suet. For the squirrels, raccoons, and jays, I added unsalted, raw peanuts to the wildlife buffet. After watching squirrels for an extended period of time, I am convinced that they are smart and agile and that very few bird feeders are squirrel-proof.
Black-capped Chickadee with the sun breaking through trees behind it.
Post to attract woodpeckers and the birds with suet block nearby.
Urban Wildlife Photo Project (cont.)
Periodically, I changed the arrangement to vary the background in my photos. For variety, I added a vertical 4-foot-long tree trunk cemented in a bucket that I could move to different locations. I baited it with a peanut butter/suet mix and placed a cage filled with suet nearby hoping woodpeckers and other birds would first perch on the trunk before jumping to the feeder. I added a small tree to the mix for birds to perch in, hoping to vary the appearance of my images.
Carolina wren on post.
Downey woodpecker on side of tree trunk.
Frog escaping from backyard pond.
Dragonfly at pond
A couple days when activity at the feeders was low, I switched my attention to smaller subjects, dragonflies and frogs. But I only had my Nikon 200 to 500 mm lens with me instead of my 200 mm macro lens designed for close focusing. When I moved forward towards the subject to increase magnification to what I desired, the autofocus could not lock on it. Remembering a similar situation in the past, I switched to manual focus and discovered I could get closer to the subject and still keep it in focus. For the dragonfly, I had to avoid my shadow falling on it. I took advantage of the fact that if it flew away, it typically returned to the same spot. For the frog photos, I had to be careful to stay low and move slowly. The biggest problem was finding a camera angle where the background was satisfactory.
Gray squirrel peaking around tree trunk.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Mar 23, 2020 | Bird behavior, Bird photography, Blue Heron Reclamation Wetlands, Florida, Florida's Atlantic Coast, Nature Photography, Orlando Wetlands, Photo Workshops, Waste Water Reclamation, Wetlands, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Florida Sandhill Cranes at Orlando Wetlands
This is Part 1 of a report on the photography along Florida’s East Coast.
The last two weeks of February I flew to the East Coast of Florida to scout for a future photo workshop in March of 2021 or 2022. In the past, I have conducted several workshops in Florida but on the west coast and in the Florida Everglades. This time, I spent 12 days visiting 18 locations along the east coast from St. Augustine to Boca Raton. Sites included wildlife refuges, state parks, zoos, gardens, and wastewater reclamation wetlands. I spent the majority of time at locations where wildlife was abundant and accessible. At other sites, I limited my visit to just enough time to evaluate the area for inclusion in a workshop.
Because of my busy lecture schedule, my visit was limited to late February. Even though it is a month earlier than I plan to offer a workshop, wintering birds were present and nesting was beginning. Breeding birds were carrying sticks, constructing nests, fighting over territory, mating, and displaying. Many wading birds displayed nuptial plumes and the color changes that come with breeding. In a few nests, chicks were present. In late March and early April, heron rookeries are much more active with screeching, hungry chicks and parents busy feeding in order to care for their young.
Sandhill Crane Feeding in field. Orlando Wetlands.
Snowy egret photographed at Orlando Wetlands
Two sites covered by this newsletter are Orlando Wetlands and Blue Heron Water Reclamation Facility and Wetland Area. These are natural and man-made wetlands fed by reclaimed wastewater, creating an environment beneficial to wildlife. Both are within a short drive from Titusville. Florida has a number of these sites with some open to visitation by birders and photographers and others are closed to the public. Some encourage visitation with boardwalks for easy access and viewing of wildlife. Several have bird rookeries within their boundaries.
Limpkin with snail at Orlando Wetlands.
What is reclaimed waste water? It is raw wastewater that has passed through a sewage treatment plant to remove solids, toxic contaminants, and some nutrients. To kill pathogens, the waste is treated with chorine which dissipates before entering the wetlands. This “reclaimed,” non-potable water is sometimes discharged into waterways or dedicated to uses like watering lawns and other purposes, but not as drinking water. However, in some cases when discharged to waterways, the nutrient loading may be high enough to create choking algal blooms which can lower oxygen levels as the algae dies and is decomposed by bacteria. Low dissolved oxygen in waterways can produce “dead zones” where aquatic animals cannot live. On the other hand, when discharged into man-made or natural wetlands, the marsh plants take up the phosphorous and nitrogen and flourish, creating environments suitable for wildlife. For sites using wetland treatment of waste, they are proactively managed and the water tested. Their condition is monitored to benefit flora, fauna, and biochemical processes. In simple terms, at both Orlando and Blue Heron Wetlands, sections of natural or man-made marsh populated with native aquatic plants are impounded and surrounded by dikes with provisions for adjusting the water level as needed. Wetland plants support large populations of tiny aquatic organisms that form the basis of a food chain that supports higher organisms. This rich supply of food acts as a magnet attracting wildlife. In addition, wetlands provide shelter and nesting habitat for birds and serve as a nursery for aquatic organisms.
Double-crested Cormorant at Blue Heron Wetlands Facility
In the case of Orlando Wetlands, you can walk along the extensive series of dike roads. At certain times, you can take a tram tour of the facility. In the case of Blue Heron Water Reclamation Wetland Area, you must sign-in & out at their administrative office on site. When I was there, you could drive selected dike roads that provided great opportunities for photography with animals at close range and use to human presence. However, for all locations that I mention in this and the following newsletter, you must check current conditions and regulations.
A number of images in this newsletter are labeled with the location where they were taken. I first visited Orlando Wetlands about a half hour from Titusville. I walked along the dike roads expecting wildlife to be far away and intolerant of my presences. I was pleasantly surprised that many animals just ignored me and went about their normal activities. Alligators, limpkins, ibis, egrets, gallinules, and sandhill cranes were within easy camera range for photography. After conducting several December photo workshops at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge where thousands of sandhill cranes spend their time from mid-November to mid-February, I was surprised to see several cranes feeding in the first field I encountered. These Florida Sandhill Cranes are resident birds that nest in Florida and don’t migrate. They are omnivorous eating seeds, insects, frogs, mice and other organisms abundant in the marsh. Near Viera Wetlands, I actually saw a crane feeding in someone’s front lawn in the middle of a development. Later I discovered that they can be found on golf courses, parks, and in other public places.
Wood Stork sitting on branch at Orlando Wetland.
To visit Blue Heron Wetlands on weekends, you must make prior arrangements. In general many of the locations I visited were closed on certain days of the week. Those providing early entry for photographers who have purchased photo passes, such as St. Augustine’s Alligator Farm and Gator World’s rookery near Orlando, limit this privilege to certain days of the week or particular months, unfortunate for me February was not included. It is critical to check each location before visiting for rules, open dates, and conditions. For example, a favorite of many photographers, Green Cay Wetlands was closed to visitation due to renovations starting in November 2019. I had visited it several years ago and was impressed with its long boardwalk and large population of nesting birds.
Great Blue Heron at Blue Heron Reclamation Wetlands exposing underside of wings.
In following newsletters, I will cover Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Canaveral National Seashore plus several other areas along Florida’s east coast. The pelican/spoonbill photo at the opening of this newsletter was shot on Merritt Island one morning during my recent visit.
Great Blue Heron resting at Blue Heron Reclamation Facility.
Great Blue Heron at Blue Heron Reclamation Facility.
Red-shouldered Hawk perched in tree on Blue Heron Reclamation Wetland.
Purple Gallinule Feeding ay Blue Heron Reclamation Wetlands.
Tricolor Heron stretching on Merritt Island NWR Subject of next blog.
White Pelicans and Spoonbills at Merritt Island NWR.
by Osprey Photo Workshops & Tours | Mar 27, 2016 | Bird behavior, Digital Photography, Nature Photography, South Texas, Tangier Island, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Black-Bellied Tree (whistling) Duck feeding along the edge of pond.
Photo Blinds for Wildlife Photography
Blind Construction
Blinds or hides are used by both hunters and photographers. By the word blind, I mean a tent or structure made of camouflage material to hide you and your camera from the animal you intend to photograph. Typically they are placed in locations where animals visit frequently. They allow you to photograph wildlife in its natural state, without its behavior being altered by human presence – feeding, courting, caring for young, interacting with other, etc. Typical places to locate a blind are near a watering hole, food source, den, lodge, nesting site, baited area, backyard bird feeder, etc. Blinds need not be fancy or perfectly match the surrounding as long as their shape is somewhat disguised by the pattern of the fabric or materials used in construction. It is important that the fabric does not flap noisily in the wind. Success is most likely when the blind is in place for enough time for the animal to become acclimated to it.
Blinds along side lake. Wooden frame.
I have used blinds suitable for photography from the following web sites: http://www.sportsmansguide.com, http://www.basspro.com, http://www.cabelas.com, http://www.dickssportinggoods.com, and http://www.rue.com. The best are lightweight, easy to set up alone, and relatively inexpensive. Even cheap tents can be modified to suit your purpose by camouflaging them using spray paint. I typically modify the blind I purchased to better suit my needs for photography, adding openings for my lenses on 3 or 4 sides. I fit the holes with sleeves made from camo mesh (2 or 3 layers) to cover the lens and I add an elastic closure to adjust the sleeves to the diameter of the lens. The mesh disguises the lens while allowing me to look for the approaching animals. I also add small observation windows of the same multi-layered mesh for the same purpose. More permanent blinds that I have constructed, I have a wooden frame made from cheap 1 x 4 and 2 x 4 pieces of lumber, approximately 42 inches long. I cover the frame with cotton camo material purchased from a fabric store, which I staple in place. Burlap is a cheaper cover used by many photographers but I am allergic to it. Side pockets inside the blind are useful for storing small accessories. You can further disguise your blind adding branches or grasses local to the area.
Blind opening with flash using dropped mesh fabric rather than sleeve.
Hot Climates
When working in hot climates, I add ventilation holes made of camo netting near the top of the blind to allow the hot air to escape. Photographers have been known to suffer from heat stroke when exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time. Always take water into the blind. If extremely hot, carry a spray bottle filled with water and spray it on your skin. The cool water drops your body temperature. Even wetting down the interior wall of the blind can lower internal temperatures. When working in hot humid conditions, avoid bring the camera and lenses indoors unprotected where the moisture from outdoors will condense on the glass. Place camera and lenses in a plastic bag where any moisture will form on the surface of the bag and not the equipment. Similar problems can develop when lenses are taken from a warm room into cold. In humid conditions, consider storing camera gear in a bag with silica gel, a drying agent.
Blue wing teal attracted to corn in the bottom of the pond in South Texas where temperatures can soar into the high 90s & low 100s in the summer.
Entering a Blind
I enter the blind at times of low activity or in the dark. For a nervous subject I place the blind at some distance away from the final position and move the blind in place over a period of time. A tactic to fool your subject into thinking the blind is empty is to have two people go into the blind and then one person leave. By watching the animal’s reactions, you can determine if they have accepted you and the blind. In its presence, they should resume their normal behavior.
Osprey landing on nest. Placed blind a distance away to observe the osprey’s behavior.
Placement
For placement of the blind, I consider the background behind the subject and the surroundings where the subject will be photographed. Bright rocks, shiny objects, bright colors, and dark strong forms if distracting should be avoided. The direction of the sun at the time of day you plan to photograph should be considered. Usually I prefer to have the sun to my back or to the side. On ponds, I often have two blinds, one for morning and one for evening shooting. Some photographers working on long-term projects place their blinds over a dug out trench. Chairs are placed inside so the photographers can shoot at eye level with their subjects. I find with a long lens such as a 600 mm and a little extra distance from the subject, the angle of view is relatively horizontal giving the illusion that you are shoot eye to eye with the subject. For best results, while in the blind stay alert. Animals approach very quietly. Listen carefully and watch for movement. It is not the time to read a book.
Deer attracted to water near one of my blinds during a dry period.
Cover Scents, Game Calls
If the animal has a good sense of smell such as a coyote, then fox urine, skunk and other cover scents distributed around the blind will help disguise your presence. Like hunters, you could use game calls to attract animals closer to the blind. Duck and turkey calls, courting sounds, and predator calls can be bought in most hunting stores. Decoys placed in front of the blind can also increase your chances of success. Decoys are available for ducks, geese, turkey, etc. From their stands or camouflaged boats, duck hunters use both calls and decoys placed in the water in front of their blinds to attract waterfowl flying overhead.
Turkey are attracted to game calls during breeding season.
Baiting
On privately owned ranches and farms, baiting is a great tool to attract wildlife. Obviously you must have the owner’s permission to be on their land. You typically want to bait areas where you want your subjects. For deer, javelina and waterfowl, I have used whole corn (in water it sinks under surface). For songbirds bird, sunflower and other birdseed is perfect and for woodpeckers depending where you are located, suet or fruit may be effective. Cat food works well for raccoons and some other mammals. On federal land, private blinds and baiting are typically prohibited. However on some refuges, blinds are provided for visitors. Without bait and decoys, these are often not as effective as a blind where you can add enticements. I spent a lot of time in South Texas on a ranch where I could deploy blinds where I desired, at watering holes etc. In many cases, I enhanced the environment with logs, bushes or perches. I have also placed a blind in a ditch or pond using a float designed for fishing or a Styrofoam platform of my own making.
Turtle on a prop provide in pond near my blind.
No mater what approach you use, working from blinds can be very exciting and rewarding. There is nothing like being just a few feet from wildlife and walking away with great photos.
Hawk drinking shot with 600 mm lens which gave the illusion that I was shooting on eye eyelevel.
Skimmers courting. Blinds help capture behavior otherwise seldom seen at close range.
