For the past several weeks we’ve been photographing a family of Loggerhead Shrikes on Antelope Island. I’ve photographed juvenile shrikes for years but I’ve never encountered any so fearless as these.
They were banded as chicks by my friends at the Great Salt Lake Institute, associated with Westminster College.
First, a disclaimer. All of these images were taken on the same morning (July 16, 2013) and there was overcast to the east so the light was poor. In addition many of the images were taken through my dirty windshield so this post is about the experience, not image quality.
These young birds loved clamoring around on the hood of my pickup. They would look at their reflections, pick at smashed bugs and generally act like inquisitive kids. It wasn’t unusual to hear a bird clicking about on my roof at the same time one of its siblings was on my hood.
Occasionally there were two birds on the hood at the same time.
A familial squabble broke out right after this bird landed but I lost focus on the birds through the dirty windshield.
One of them spent quite a while on the passenger’s side mirror. Here it may be fussing with the band.
This one landed on my mirror (driver’s side) right in front of me (the mirror is pushed forward so it doesn’t interfere so much with my shooting). It was so close I could have reached forward with my left hand and tickled it under the chin.
These birds were landing all over my pickup – on the bed rails, tailgate, bumpers, tops of my tires – almost anyplace that wasn’t too slippery for them. I think they were mostly curious about my pickup, about Mia and I and about those clicking noises emanating from inside the truck. It would have been pretty comical if you could have seen me juggling three different cameras with different lenses attached (depending on how close they were to me) and squirming around in my seat trying to shoot in front of me, behind me and to either side. The steering wheel had me pinned down pretty well and then there’s that darned headrest behind me…
1/500, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, natural light
Occasionally one would even land on a natural perch. This one looks like it’s glaring at me with evil intent but I’m almost convinced it was contemplating landing on my lens that was sticking out the window only a few feet away. Several times some of these birds attempted to do just that but changed their minds at the very last second when we reacted to them unexpectedly being so very close.
I’ve never before experienced anything like this with wild birds. I know that some folks have been able to coax chickadees, jays and hummingbirds to land on their hands. But these were shrikes! and their parents were almost as gutsy.
An experience I won’t soon forget.
Ron
Note: These birds were not baited.
That’s delightful and what a shot at the end with the bird looking right at you!
Wow! What a wonderful experience! I have a difficult time even imagining it. Fun and great shots!
Charlotte
What a wonderful experience! Those young birds are very personable. One thing I like about your experience is that you didn’t do anything to entice them (they might argue with that premise…) except be in their territory. That is much better than having one land on you because you have coaxed them into doing something unnatural. These birds were just being themselves.
I agree with you 100% Susan – it was so much more special because the birds weren’t baited. For me, baiting ruins everything – the experience and the photographs.
Wow again! These birds are so smart, curious and handsome, I love watching them hang out on the fence in Teasdale. Thanks for the great story!
I think it is very clever of these and other birds to eat the smashed bugs off of cars.
They were working at those smashed bugs, Tana but I don’t think there was much nutrition left…
What fun!! When you have an experience like that who cares about the light as long as you can get some decent images of what is going on!! I banded birds for 36 years and loved every minute of it, especially involving teenagers with banding. Many thanks for being witness to your experience!!
I must say, I have only seen one shrike in my lifetime – it is on my life list, but I would truly like to see more someday!!
I agree Dick, it was the experience that counts.
I like to watch and photograph the birds at our feeders from my van, windows. A chickadee flew in my window,right through the car and out other side…so… WATCH OUT!
Don’t worry, Patty – I will. If I’d had the passenger side window fully open I suspect the one on that mirror would have flown into the pickup.
WOW!!!
I echo Elephant’s Child’s sentiments. It would have taken my breath away. What a wonderful experience for you and Mia! One cold morning when my husband and I were sitting by the little pond in our back yard, a house sparrow flew from a tree and landed on his arm. It was there for several seconds before it realized where it was and flew off. It too, was a breath-catching experience.
It did take my breath away, Sharon. I was mesmerized…
What a magical experience. Wow, wow and wow again.
I’m delighted that you enjoyed these little characters, Elephant’s Child.