It isn’t easy to get a running bird sharp.
1/1600. f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is an older photo of a Gray Partridge taken on the Montana family farm in August of 2012. I took an entire series of this bird while it was running and to my amazement nearly all of them were sharp, probably due to luck more than skill. I wish I had more of a head turn toward me but we still have a good look at the entire bird.
This introduced species was fairly common on the farm when I was growing up and it still is. Back in the day most folks called them Hungarian Partridges or ‘Huns” for short but I think their actual common name is finally catching on among at least some of the locals.
The subject of today’s post was inspired by my younger sister Sheila Dudley Olson. Sheila and her husband Randy live in Colorado but they just returned from a 17 day road trip that included time spent on the Montana farm. She called me last night and excitedly told me about a large covey of what she thought might be “partridges” that they saw on the farm, including adults and a whole slew of half-grown chicks. Sheila was pretty young for much of the time we lived on the farm so she had no memory of the “Huns” living there, or their real name.
Yesterday, thanks to the California and Oregon wildfires, Salt Lake City had the highly unfortunate distinction of officially having the “worst air in the world“. As a result I’ve been hunkered down in the house in recent days (it’s actually dangerous to breathe outside) and not photographing birds so until I talked to Sheila last night I wasn’t sure what I was going to post this morning.
Gray Partridge, good idea!
Thanks for the inspiration, Baby Sis. This one’s for you.
Ron
Notes:
- Sheila was surprised to see so many young birds with the adult partridges so I gave her the short version of a natural history lesson about their reproduction. Gray Partridges have an unusually high mortality rate and short lifespan so to compensate they also have a very high reproductive capability. Hens produce among the largest numbers of eggs of any bird species – up to 22 eggs in a clutch. Can you imagine having to keep an eye on that many clueless precocial chicks running around!
- For those readers interested in the origins of scientific names, the Latin name Perdix perdix for the Gray Partridge has what I thought was a particularly interesting origin in Greek mythology.
What a pretty bird. Thanks for sharing. Love the colors.
I am so very sorry about your air accolade. We spent weeks there in early 2020 and it was dreadful. For us, and even more for the wildlife.
And thank you (and Sheila) for this gorgeous running bird image. Muchly.
Thanks, EC. I remember the terrible time you folks down there had with fires last year.
The smoke from the northern Arizona wildfires a few weeks ago actually set-off the smoke alarms in our mountain house! (At 1:30 a.m.!) The closest fire was about 10 miles away. Brutal being surrounded by smoke. Love the partridge photo. We have several quail in our Scottsdale yard and I love watching them scurry about.
Wow, at least I haven’t had that happen yet!
Nice to see such a clear photo of a bird on the move – and I know they can move fast. We don’t have them west of the Cascades so I very seldom see them.
Sorry about the smoke. I hope it clears soon, but unfortunately, so many large fires are not going away soon. We are fortunate this year and have had very little smoke and only for a couple of days. Last summer, one of the largest fires got within 15 miles of us and we had very, very heavy smoke for weeks, so I sympathize and understand what you are experiencing. It seems to be the new norm and it’s discouraging not to see a greater and more urgent emphasis being placed on helping to abate the problems we have caused creating climate change.
Dan forgot to mention that this year, we have an air purifier I ordered, which can be plugged in, and I ordered extra filters. Last year, when the Holiday Farm (McKenzie River gorge) fire was raging, it actually got within 7 miles of us, and for days, the sky during the daytime was orange… bird activity was way down, too. I heard recently from a fellow who is within possible reach of the Bootleg Fire in the Klamath Falls area and east, that they were getting huge quantities of hummingbirds there at his place, which was very unusual. I mentioned that it might be that they were fleeing the fires west of him, once I knew where he was. It makes me wonder how all of this fire does affect birds. We know animals flee away form it, if they can, and birds most likely would also. I wonder if any researchers are tracking bird movements during fire events?
Barbara, yesterday I was wishing I had one of those air purifiers. I couldn’t actually see the smoke in the house but I could sure smell it.
Dan, I’ve only seen Gray Partridges in two places that I recall- on and near the MT farm and at Golden Spike National Historical Park in a remote area of northern Utah..
Really a pretty picture! All those shades of brown ! You made good use of your day trapped inside.
Thank you, John.
Thanks to you and your sis for the intro to a bird I’ve never heard of or seen. Sure has that Chukar shape.
Found the etymology very interesting, as you might have anticipated.
Your Gray Partridge is apparently Perdix perdix perdix. Say that fast three times. One of my references says the name is “…probably imitative of the whir of the wings in flight.” Doesn’t really work for me.
I think we had the sad distinction of worst air quality a few years ago. Welcome to the anthropocene.
“Found the etymology very interesting, as you might have anticipated.”
I sure did anticipate it, Lyle. I think we have each other pegged…
Nice photo. I’ve never seen a gray partridge. Thanks for the introduction. Sorry about your air pollution. It hasn’t been great here in Denver, but nothing like as bad as Salt Lake City.
I hope your luck holds in Denver, Nancy.
Love the crimson eye shadow!
Smeared… 🙂
Nice post Ron and nice story of your sister and the farm visit. I worked in the L.A. area for 28 years and thought we had the worst air. Shame that the present conditions have given that title to your area. Have never seen a Partridge. Next time maybe in a pear tree. I think the WW1 British called the Germans the Huns.
“I think the WW1 British called the Germans the Huns.”
They did Everett, and so did the the Americans. And I get the distinct impression they meant it in a derogatory way. No such negative connotation is meant or implied when Gray Partridges (Hungarian Partridges) are called “Huns”. It’s just short for Hungarian.
I’m sorry to hear that the air quality is that bad. As a former resident of the Pacific Northwest/Canada I have an idea of how bad that can be. But your old shot is still a “goodie” so no worries there. As someone who now frequently tries to capture both the running and fight scenes of our feral pheasant population that inhabit the suburbs near the river here on the Atlantic coast I know how tough that can be. Fingers crossed that the smoke pall lifts, but meantime I will be happy with any of your photos, old or new.
Thanks very much, Pat.
Our air is a little better this morning than it was yesterday but I still can’t see the mountains to the east, west or south – not even a hint of them.
Between bird movement and camera movement capturing a running bird IS a challenge. 🙂 The “Hun” as we call them are a pretty bird – no idea they had another name. 😉 Common Mergansers must be in the same category of high mortality young as they also tend to have a ton of them – poor Mom when they all try to get on her back!
Glad our air isn’t THAT bad tho plenty bad enough. 🙁 In theory a cold front with some rain is coming starting tonight – “only” 72 predicted high for Mon. tho it won’t last long. I’ll slap the 1st person I hear complain! 😉
Judy, interesting to know that the name “Hun” is still persisting in MT. That’s what I STILL want to call them.
It’s 57° outside at my house right now. Haven’t seen the 50’s here in a long time .But I’d rather have the heat and no smoke than than the other way around. I HATE this smoke!