And fighting lunacy with lunacy… using birds.
We’re lucky enough to have pretty good numbers of Rough-legged Hawks this winter and in the last few weeks I’ve photographed a fair number of them but decent takeoff and flight shots have eluded me. They always took off away from me or something else went wrong.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But two days ago this adult male roughie at Bear River MBR rewarded me for the delay, if not for my patience. He was perched on the left side of the sign with his back to me so I figured he’d take off away from me. But immediately after takeoff he performed a twisting, in-flight maneuver that gave me a great look at his dorsal surfaces, including his flared tail, and his head turn was just about perfect.
I always hope for these twisting takeoffs but they don’t happen very often and when they do I usually screw something up – most often with clipped body parts. So I was pleased to have nearly everything come together for this shot.
I say “nearly” for two reasons. At this point on the cold morning I was still having a little trouble with atmospheric heat waves interfering with the sharpness of my photos so the hawk isn’t tack sharp. And I’d have preferred the perch to be a natural one instead of a sign but I’m still pleased with the photo.
I wanted to see what it would look like without the sign so for this version I removed it. I actually prefer the first version because the sign provides context that visually explains the dynamics of the quick and twisting takeoff. Perspective matters.
OK, I’m going to shift gears and end this post with different kind of “twist”.
In my view conspiracy theories have become one of the primary banes of existence in modern America and when one of them involves birds it gets my attention. Many of my readers have probably seen evidence of the “Birds Aren’t Real” movement on social media and billboards in major American cities and if you’re like me you probably initially dismissed it as just another crackpot conspiracy theory.
But there’s a clever, if convoluted, twist to the Birds Aren’t Real movement that has only recently been revealed. It might be described as “fighting lunacy with lunacy” or “Gen Z’s attempt to upend a rabbit hole with absurdism”.
The story is too complex and delicious to explain here but this link to a recent NY Times article fills in the blanks. If you’ve already reached your limit of NY Times articles you may not be able to open the link. But it’s worth a try.
Birds Aren’t Real, Or Are They? Inside A Gen Z Conspiracy Theory
Ron
I love the roughie, both images but I will pass on more craziness.
Thanks, April.
So interesting how the composition changes with/without the sign. Much better with it – the story context as others commented; also how the white of the sign with its black edge is a reflection of the white/black of the hawk’s tail. Gorgeous!
Carolyn, before I removed it I figured I’d prefer the image without the sign. I was wrong.
Unless I’ve missed something about social media shouldn’t it work that the less we talk about this conspiracy or that lunatic leader the sooner they go away? Or is social media a hoax?
Jim, nothing seems to work when it comes to conspiracies and lunatic leaders.
Beautiful! The face of this bird is breath taking.
I find this country is in so much trouble. I feel helpless.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
What a gorgeous photo of a gorgeous bird.
Thanks, Sallie.
Wow and wow and wow! We’re so fortunate that such beauty IS real and photographable! Love the peek-a-boo leg and that tail is really something.
Took a break from my news blackout and watched Brian Williams’ last broadcast (The 11th Hour on MSNBC). In between the guests’ tributes was some pretty scary stuff about the state of democracy — and idiocy — in the US.
I watched that video of Williams this morning. Pretty sobering.
Yes, the photo needs the sign for context. And oh, what a shot. How I would LOVE to be that manoeuverable (on the ground or in the air).
And thanks for the link to that article. It took a while but I persevered. We really are a gullible species aren’t we? Thank goodness that birds ARE real. Or that I am sufficiently unhinged to fervently believe they are…
“We really are a gullible species aren’t we?”
To the degree that it approaches unbelievability, EC.
Not too many years ago you couldn’t have convinced me that so many people would be so ignorantly and infinitely gullible. Now nothing surprises me.
Great picture. I am trying to master/understand the wing – lots going on with structure and color not to mention function. I looked at some pictures of bird – drones and the wings on them are simpler and less interesting than the real thing.
“the wings on them are simpler and less interesting than the real thing.”
Agreed, Frances. And I might add that they’re less maneuverable and have less ability to react quickly to unforeseen circumstances.
That’s a very realistic looking Rough-legged Hawk. Extra points for posing him in such a spectacular take off. I think that puts you in the upper echelon of the Birds Aren’t Real hierarchy.
I must be getting old because the NYT article is the first I’d heard of it.
Looking forward to more of your avian spies.
Lyle, I’ve been seeing stuff, mostly on social media, about Birds Aren’t Real for several weeks now but apparently it’s been around for quite a while. It gained momentum slowly.
The hawk is stunning!! I love the angle, the flight feathers bending gently, the two talons and the glint in the bird’s eye. Bird on a mission! Just lovely, Ron.
And thank you for the link to the NYTimes article! I was unaware of the movement. I love that Peter McIndoe is turning the conspiracy theorists lies back on them! So clever. A former friend actually believes all the lies about Covid vaccines being a form of government control. He also believes that our moon is a hollow alien spaceship!! All I can say is Go Peter and Birds Aren’t Real.
“A former friend actually believes all the lies”
Sadly I have former friends like that too, Melanie. I just DO NOT understand how people that are obviously intelligent in some ways can be so incredibly stupid in others.
I agree completely. Stunning and sad what the conspiracy theorists fall for and are willing to argue about. Truthfully, it frightens me to know that people that I used to love and respect have fallen down that rabbit hole. I don’t know where it will end.
Excellent photos Ron. You finally got that guy – good job. Not a NY Times subscriber so could not read, but will look up elsewhere. Thanks for the info, was not aware of this. Will be interesting to see what the origin is.
Thank you, Everett. I’m not a Times subscriber either but I could read it. Don’t know why some others can’t read it.
Wonderful, dramatic yet calm bird! This really resonated today…wish I could do this!
“wish I could do this!”
I know the feeling, Mary.
Harmless fun ? I wonder……in these days of armed “looney tunes”, I
fear they might start shooting birds in the mistaken belief that they’re ridding the
world of surveillance drones……one thing that nut jobs have demonstrated
fully is that they have no sense of humor or the absurd .
I am more afraid of wind farms.
Kris, I wondered about things like that but in the end decided to go with what the ‘experts’ say. This from the Times article:
“To adults with concerns about Mr. McIndoe’s tactics, researchers said any harms were most likely minimal.
“You have to weigh the potential negative effects with any of this stuff, but in this case it is so extremely small,” said Joshua Citarella, an independent researcher who studies internet culture and online radicalization in youth. “Allowing people to engage in collaborative world building is therapeutic because it lets them disarm conspiracism and engage in a safe way.”
Mr. McIndoe said he kept the concerns top of mind. “Everything we’ve done with Birds Aren’t Real is made to make sure it doesn’t tip into where it could have a negative end result on the world,” he said. “It’s a safe space for people to come together and process the conspiracy takeover of America. It’s a way to laugh at the madness rather than be overcome by it.”
CNN just had a thing on it that the people who got this going are coming out and saying it’s NOT true tho still don’t get that there can be real harm done. 🙁
My exact thoughts, Kris. And I confess – maybe because I am not much of an internet follower or too old or something – but this whole idea just twists my mind sideways…
Beautiful! REALLY captures the hawk’s maneuver and the sign does give context. Like how it show it’s “rough leg” all the way to the foot as a bonus – don’t often get a good look at that.
My “freebees” with NY times are done but clicked on the other link for the gist. AMAZING what people will come up with/believe….. 🙁
Thanks, Judy. Good eye to spot that “rough leg” field mark.