And breakfast was delivered while the parent was in flight.
I’ve only had one good opportunity to photograph this behavior but I was lucky to get quite a few photos of it. I posted one of them a couple of weeks ago but these three are new to my blog.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This recently fledged Barn Swallow at Bear River MBR three years ago acted like it was starving. While its parents were out hunting for insects this bird stayed relatively calm on the perch but it always kept a watchful eye out for a returning adult. Whenever one came into view the youngster went into a squawking, begging hissy-fit. Based on its performance you’d think if it didn’t get the most recent bug it would immediately topple over and die of starvation.
A melodramatic youngster to be sure, at least by human standards..
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
My goal was always to photograph the transfer of food but it wasn’t easy to keep both birds completely in frame, avoid getting a rear view and get light in their eyes. A few times I could see the insect involved but that was always before the transfer. The adult stuffs the insect so far down the fledgling’s throat that at this stage of the transfer the bug can’t be seen.
Sometimes a fledgling can get a nasty surprise with its snack
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
This time the adult apparently picked up a twig in its beak while it was snagging the bug. I’m not sure how that happened because they usually catch the insects in flight but I can think of no other logical explanation for how it got there. The fledgling must have turned its back on me to get rid of the twig (assuming it didn’t swallow it) because I didn’t keep any of those photos.
Eventually youngsters will fly out to meet their incoming parents and the transfer of food will take place while both birds are in flight but this young swallow was just a little too young for that.
Ron
If that mouth had opened any wider the entire parent could have disappeared into that gaping maw.
What an incredible sight to see, and capture.
Thank you, EC.
Wonderful shots Ron. It is hard to get everything you want in a picture, and you did well. Birds are so quick!
“It is hard to get everything you want in a picture”
You’re sure right about that, Jean. Thanks.
Just love that mouth! Great action shots. I see these swallows frequently, we have so many farms around here. The other day , four of them were sitting on a wire and the parents were just frantic trying to keep them fed! The little ones would just crowd each other pushing and shoving with mouths gaping…so funny. One was a little braver and attempted to fly out for something but as the parent returned he retreated back to wire to push and shove again! 😍
Kathy, I’ll bet it didn’t take very long at all for those youngsters on the wire to learn to fly out and meet their parents in the air to be fed in flight.
How nice to see more photos of this behavior. In the first one, the baby is obviously a good boy scout: prepared for the incoming meal. We were just out at the park and there was an adult sitting on the nest (it’s just above the door to the park headquarters building), where last Saturday we saw 3 babies. I guess they could be gone by now. It’s always fun to watch the Barn Swallows.
“It’s always fun to watch the Barn Swallows”
I agree, Susan. I used to spend hours watching them in their nests as a kid because hundreds of them nested on and in an old abandoned barn on the Montana farm.
Very nice photos as usual.
Thank you, April.
I can’t wait to see Dick’s carved version of this…parent feeding young…havecseen photos of his work and he is AMAZING!!!
I’ll bet he’s good. Knowing Dick he’d pay very close attention to detail in his carvings.
Like you, he is , I think , OCD where detail and accuracy are involved….BEAUTIFUL results…
🙂
Great captures🐛🦋🐞 swallows are so pretty
Thank you, Linda
Outstanding Ron – those two feeding photos have to be among the best I have seen. The second one in particular. Great job.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Good to know you like them that much, Everett. Thank you.
“A twig for you!”
Lol
🙂
Ron, I just noticed you were not using the 1.4TC for these shots. I would think you needed it specially with small birds like swallows?
Nice to see you’re looking for things like that, Elmer. It tells me that the extra work it takes for me to include my image techs is worth it.
These swallows were in the cattails growing right up to the road edge so I was too close to reliably keep two birds in the frame if I was using my tc. So I removed it.
REALLY neat photo’s capturing the transfer of food (and twig!) 😉 Amazing how all those contortions take place and work! Yard has gone “quiet” bird wise the past few days – usually doesn’t happen until Labor Day – hope it doesn’t mean an early winter! Also have a cross bill around – VERY unusual! Lots of smoke/heat/ – UGH!
I’m jealous of your crossbill, Judy. It’s been a long time since I’ve even seen one. Thank you.
I saw crossbills today at Silver Lake.
Fantastic behavioral series Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Great shots Ron!
Question: Are you seeing the same more or less Barn Swallows where you live? When we first moved here we saw Barn Swallows regularly every day all summer. Now, with the removal of two farms from operation in the immediate area we began to see less and this year 1 observation so far this year. Rather sad for us!
Thanks, Dick. I’m not seeing as many Barn Swallows as usual but that’s probably just because I seldom go to Bear River this summer because of the construction and lack of water. Swallows of several species abound at BRMBR.
Ron, your photos depict the energy of that youngster so nicely. Yes, that twig is an unusual catch!
I was surprised by that twig, Ken. Still not sure how or why the adult picked it up. Thanks.
Awesome! (as usual). Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Elmer.
Wow! In-flight refueling! Impressive. 🙂
You get extra degree of difficulty points today, Ron. To get all the action plus catchlights plus nothing cut off plus a pleasing composition — you nailed it!
Thanks, Marty. I wish I had wing positions that were a little different but I won’t complain too much.