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The Beginning - My journey into Conservation Photography
A Golden Splash
Who knew that a lucky capture of sunlit golden wing feathers would lead to a learning adventure with local urban conservation lands and organizations that support them. This adventure would and still is taking me on a journey, learning how important the support of our natural resources and urban conversation lands are as they play a vital part in our mental and physical wellbeing.
Mom, Dad and their nest
Having captured the golden feathers of a mystery bird I knew I would go back to Hawk Valley Farm. I didn’t wait long and when I returned, I was able to relocate the mystery bird, but it was not alone. The bird in question turned out to be a Yellow-Shafted Northern Flicker and had a mate. The bonus of this day is I also located their nest. The male was easy to identify by his mustache that runs along both sides of his beak whereas the female does not have one.
Dad in and Mom out
This being the mating and nesting season the parents (to be) were quite busy building their nest high up in a snag. I took many pictures of the two flying in and out of their home and depending on the time of day I would vary my position to take advantage of the sun which would light their Golden underneath feathers. Many times, I thought there was going to be a crash at the entrance as one would be landing the other would rocket out the hole, but that was never the case.
Watch spot and photography setup.
Once I was confident that the snag the flickers were flying to was to be their home, I spent close to two and half months watching the Flickers from matting, nest building, raising their young to being there on the day the fledglings left the nest. I would visit almost daily and watch them from 30 yards away. I would stand quietly and watch for the first 15 to 20** minutes, waiting for them to acknowledge I was not a threat. I could tell they felt comfortable as they would start going about their daily business without paying much attention to me.
My gear for most days was my Canon 5D IV, tripod, gimbal head and cable release. I would adjust my position to keep the sun to my back and lighting their nest.
**The standing quiet start paid dividends as I noticed not more than six feet away from me was a pair of Yellow Warblers who were also building a nest and would go on to raise their young allowing me to capture their journey as well.
My gear for most days was my Canon 5D IV, tripod, gimbal head and cable release. I would adjust my position to keep the sun to my back and lighting their nest.
**The standing quiet start paid dividends as I noticed not more than six feet away from me was a pair of Yellow Warblers who were also building a nest and would go on to raise their young allowing me to capture their journey as well.
Meet the Hatchings
Meet the Hatchlings
Not knowing if, when, or if ever, I would see baby Flickers you can imagine my surprise and joy when on an early June morning while watching the female return, I saw her greeted by two hatchlings. I texted my wife to let her know how excited I was and included a screen shot from my camera. In all there were three hatchlings who remained incredibly quiet 12 inches down in their nest until they somehow knew Mom and or Dad was on the way back with breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner and then they were up at the opening, calling very loudly.
Not knowing if, when, or if ever, I would see baby Flickers you can imagine my surprise and joy when on an early June morning while watching the female return, I saw her greeted by two hatchlings. I texted my wife to let her know how excited I was and included a screen shot from my camera. In all there were three hatchlings who remained incredibly quiet 12 inches down in their nest until they somehow knew Mom and or Dad was on the way back with breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner and then they were up at the opening, calling very loudly.
Dads turn.
As they grew older only one would fit in the nest opening to be rewarded with a snack, this time Dad flew in to feed one of his sons.
Mom, off to the wild.
The next few pictures will be of Mom and Dad and although luck played a part, knowing their daily routine, where the light was coming from and having the right camera settings allowed me to capture pictures that made my daily trips rewarding and anxious to come back day after day.
Mom Returning
This is mom returning to the nest, Dad had left just seconds before. Each time they (mom&dad) would depart or return I thought there would be a collision but that was not the case.
In all his Glory
This is one of my favorites, Dad returning to the nest and it would only be a few days afterwards that all of the fledgling would depart the nest.
Fledgling One - Leaves
Almost 3 months to the day when I saw the sunlit golden wings, I got to see each fledgling leave or fledge their nest.
It was an early morning visit and maybe (I like to think) they were waiting for me to arrive. When I approached my watch spot I heard and saw both the mother and father flickers calling and flying back and forth to their nest. They would bring food to the entrance and feed which ever fledgling was first, then immediately fly back to a nearby tree/branch and start calling again.
Having watch this go on for around 30 minutes I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I did have an idea and at approximately 0824 the first fledgling popped out and flew to a nearby tree.
It was an early morning visit and maybe (I like to think) they were waiting for me to arrive. When I approached my watch spot I heard and saw both the mother and father flickers calling and flying back and forth to their nest. They would bring food to the entrance and feed which ever fledgling was first, then immediately fly back to a nearby tree/branch and start calling again.
Having watch this go on for around 30 minutes I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I did have an idea and at approximately 0824 the first fledgling popped out and flew to a nearby tree.
Fledgling Two - Leaves
Eighteen minutes later at 0842 the second fledgling scrambles out
and flies to a different tree.
and flies to a different tree.
Fledgling Three - Leaves
Now there was one male fledgling left and he was in no hurry to leave. Mom and Dad continued to call but he was not leaving. Mom eventually gave up and stayed with the two that had already fledged, leaving Dad the job to coach the last one.
I was about to leave myself when the Dad made one more return to the nest, feeding the fledgling and that did the trick, the final fledgling left the nest with a jump out. I at first thought he was going to crash to the ground, but he recovered and made it safely to a nearby branch.
The End
But really ... just the beginning for me.
I was about to leave myself when the Dad made one more return to the nest, feeding the fledgling and that did the trick, the final fledgling left the nest with a jump out. I at first thought he was going to crash to the ground, but he recovered and made it safely to a nearby branch.
The End
But really ... just the beginning for me.
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