Birds can be volatile. The mood on a pond can change from peaceful to stressful or even violent in an instant.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning I spent some time with a family of Western Grebes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. It was a peaceful familial scene much of the time as the parent grebes spent most of their time fishing and the youngsters waited on the surface to be fed. I like this image of one of the chicks because of its fine detail, good light on the bird and the clear reflection in the smooth water. And for me it has a calm, peaceful feeling.
But the mood on the pond can change in a nanosecond.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The adult grebes were extremely possessive of their hunting territory, especially since they had chicks to feed. These birds were fishing near a small bridge where the current presumably concentrated small fish and the parent grebes weren’t in the mood to share. Whenever another adult grebe would approach, one of the parents would assume a threatening posture and if that warning wasn’t heeded the grebe would attack. When they do so their acceleration and speed in the water are truly impressive and the effort leaves quite a wake in the water behind them.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
It’s even more impressive when you realize that they’re using only their legs and feet to accelerate – never their wings (in a similar situation Pied-billed Grebes use both their feet and their wings). Having a needle-nosed bird coming at me at that speed would certainly get my attention!
While these birds can and do physically fight (they may attack underwater, stab with their bills and fight face-to-face on the surface) that’s something I’ve never seen in this species. Each time one of these attacks has occurred in my presence the less dominant interloper has fled before physical contact was actually made.
This behavior is challenging to photograph. Even though I often anticipate the attack their acceleration is so lightning-quick that I usually cut off the head of the bird in the first frame of the burst. Yesterday I just got lucky with these two shots.
Ron
Late to the party, Ron, but I really enjoyed this series! That chick looks so innocent until you scroll down and see the intensity of the adult!
Thank you, Diane.
Ron:
I see you then Canon 7D & Canon 7D Mark ll.
What improve have you found with Mark ll for bird photography particularly for birds in flight.
Doug
Doug, My Mark II is in the shop. Again (long story).
When it’s working right the Mark II focuses faster (significantly faster, very important for birds in flight) and has a faster burst rate, among other improvements over the 7D.
The needle-nosed torpedoes would get my attention too. I am pretty sure that if I was the subject of it, I would decide quickly that discretion is the better part of valour. She who fights and runs away lives to run another day. Brilliant series Ron. Thank you.
Thank you, EC.
Wow! That is an impressive wake there! Toss them in a pool in Rio, I’d put my money on the grebes!
Yeah, that’s a good way to put it, Jeff.
Impressive behavior and photo’s for sure! You’d never catch it if you weren’t paying attention!
Exactly, Judy. Even when I AM paying attention I usually miss it.
WOW! What a spectacular series of shots! They really generate a LOT of power in their attack! I know I’d back off pretty quickly faced with that situation.
Laura, it’s simply amazing how fast they accelerate. Even when I’m pretty sure it’s coming and leave extra room in the frame in the direction they’re facing I still usually cut off their heads on that first shot.
I’m so in AWE of birds (and other critters)! I would love to see that action real time. The more I learn about birds, the more I really want to have really good (raptor) wings and feathers should the reincarnation folks have the right answer…just in case!
I held a golden eagle yesterday–a male, only eight pounds, but WOW! They truly gaze into your soul. In my fantasy, I fly a golden eagle in falconry in Utah and Wyoming, but that time is long ago and far away. I can handle a redtail, a Harris’ hawk and a Kestrel 😉
From the serene to full scale menance! The first is so tranquil–and the third so full of menace and agression! The bird in that last frame looks about as tranquil as a torpedo!
I like your torpedo analogy, Patty. Thanks.
Love the first photo of the juvenile. Definitely calm, and a photo I should return to multiple times a day to help me become more calm. The behavior of attacking adults may be difficult to photograph, but you seem to have succeeded admirably in capturing it. Even though Grebes are clumsy on land, their legs are still, obviously, very powerful. I would love to be able to observe behavior like this.
“Grebes are clumsy on land”
They sure are, Susan, and that last photo demonstrates why. Their legs attach so far back on their bodies that they really can’t walk on land.
I watched one with a fish. Did not know their necked stretched so much. Fish was not small, gone in seconds.
It generally doesn’t take them long to swallow them, Steven.