No great photography this morning but this Chukar just might bring a smile to your face.
Three days ago I approached this bird with ambivalence. I had a clear view of the Chukar on the elevated perch and it let me get close but it was side lit, facing away from me and the rock perch was bright and not very attractive. I took a few shots that I was unenthusiastic about (I include this image only for context) but I mostly just watched.
And then something fun happened.
When Chukars decide to leave a perch they seldom fly from it – instead they tend to jump to the ground and scurry away through the vegetation. But this boulder was huge and steep and it was a long way to the ground so this bird attempted to negotiate the boulder for as long as it could before jumping.
This first slope was so steep that the Chukar couldn’t get enough traction to walk down it – instead it slid down the incline with its feet sticking straight out in front of it, almost in cartoon fashion. It slid like this for almost two feet down the rock. Both Mia and I immediately broke out in laughter and I almost missed the rest of the shots as a result.
And then the already very steep slope turned vertical and it was still a long way to the ground…
so the Chukar did something I seldom see them do – it used its wings to soften the fall. This bird isn’t taking off – its falling almost straight down. I cropped the image to emphasize the boulder that the Chukar had to negotiate.
Birds are unpredictable subjects so occasionally a less than ideal photographic situation can morph into something interesting. The photographer has to be ready for action when it happens (and avoid laughter, if possible…).
Ron
I like the succesion of movements as he climbs down, or slides down, whichever.
Big smiles. And a little envy. I would like wings to soften my falls too. Thanks Ron. You introduced me to chukars and I have a soft spot for the Beagle Boys of the bird world (yes I know, I have a soft spot for most birds).
I do remember that you developed a soft spot for our Chukars, Elephant’s Child. I’m wondering if you have any similar upland game birds in Australia?
Wow! They are amazing birds, and so are your shots Thanks for sharing Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
These photos are priceless, and I bet it was fun to watch. I, too, slide down steep rocks. And last week I got to see a lizard scrambling for traction on a very slick rock in one of the ‘caves’ at Hueco Tanks State Park. I don’t generally think of lizards as having difficulty with traction, so the poor thing got a good laugh from me. It had probably come into the area not realizing there were people present, and was most likely trying to get out of sight as quickly as possible, even though I was quiet and not moving. I’m so glad you were able to capture this behavior, and thank you for starting my day with a smile.
Yes, it certainly was fun, Susan. I too have seen lizards slipping on slick rocks. I’m glad you started your day with a smile…
Chukars remind me of an old cigarette commercial, “So round, so firm, so fully packed”…they’re so curvy they’re cute.
Reminds me of a sparrow i watched “ski” down a frozen mound of snow that had built up under the lower rail of a split rail fence many years ago. The bird hopped down from the rail onto the snow and found itself sliding o the bottom of “mountain”. it apparently was after something that had fallen rom a a nearby bush. It flew back to the rail, cocked its head, then tried again…same results. It seemed to lose interest in feeding and just kept flying up to the rail and skiing down, using its wings for balance…I laughed so hard I almost choked on my coffee.
I understand the laughing, Patty. Laughing isn’t a good thing, though – when you’re trying to focus a 500mm lens on a moving bird.
Just how I go down an unexpected steep hill when out walking. How great. People imitating birds–or is it the other way around…..
I think the imitation can go both ways, Diana. Thank you.