I don’t see Western Tanagers all that often and it’s even more unusual for me to be close to one of these usually spooky birds.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Four days ago in the Wasatch Mountains this juvenile tanager unexpectedly came out in the open right in front of me so I thought I should at least document the occasion on my blog. ‘His’ prominent gape tells me that this is a young bird.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
His behavior, including body language, strongly suggested that the youngster was curious about me and my pickup and that’s the reason he stuck around long enough for me to get quite a few photos. He didn’t give me much pose variety and the poses I did get required a vertical composition, but I’m satisfied that he allowed me to get any photos at all.
There were actually two juvenile tanagers in the bush and I believe I’d have had more chances with them both if a local on a Polaris ATV hadn’t pulled up between me and the tanagers to introduce himself, which scared them off. The timing was unfortunate but he was a nice guy and I’m happy to have met him.
Besides, it’s always a good thing to be on good terms with the locals and this gentleman was easy to like.
Ron
Note:
“Gape: This is a fleshy area at the base of the bill where the upper and lower mandibles meet. In young birds, it is often enlarged or may seem so because the birds have not developed their mature feathers to help conceal it, and it may be brightly colored so their mouths are more noticeable when they beg for food.”
And now that gentleman knows to approach cautiously. I hope.
Arwen, it’s pretty hard to approach cautiously on a noisy ATV.
That’s true.
Definitely checking you out! Some of those chest feathers are looking a little scruffy — hope this little charmer is doing well.
Thanks, Marty I believe that scruffiness us due to molt.
This young bird is certainly checking you out. Reading through the comments I loved learning that the person you met has replaced devil’s wire. It would be (almost) worth missing more shots just to hear that news.
S/he is a lovely young thing, glad for its curiosity to allow you to get these nice images. I am fortunate to have the occasional WT visit my fountain (just 2 days ago, in fact), love the adult males with their very bold splash of orange about the head. They may be curious about people, but you should see them snap their beaks at other birds who try to get into “their” fountain, makes me LOL every time.
Chris, I wish I had tanagers coming to my fountain. Hell, I wish I had a fountain…
Congrats on the nice photos. WTs are elusive and secretive.
The curiosity of young birds is a magical thing; a moment of connection. I enjoy that, but I also worry that this innocence puts them at risk of predators.
Last year we had fairly frequent sightings of these birds. This year none.
Michael, it’s funny how bird sightings change from year to year. And sometimes alarming.
Hi Ron, I noticed that your tech notes photo caption has dropped the all important R5. 🤠
Thanks for the heads up, Kathryn. Fixed.
These are nice photos, the bird does look very interested in you. I don’t know if our center has had many tanagers lately but we have in the past. I have had a a number of them in my flight cages and taken them for release in this exact area. Good berry habitat plus wasps and bees which they like most of all.
The gentlemen is easy to like and now he has met you he will remember you and by name. He will stop and say hi when he is out along the road, so be ready for a few missed shots! Besides who can’t not like a rancher who has replaced his barbed wire with smooth wire!
Thanks, April. Yup, that’s a plus in his favor.
Love his colors! He’s going to be quite handsome.
Thanks, Kathleen. I think so too.
Nice shots Ron. These guys and gals are pretty common here in the spring. I think it is often easier to get shots of juveniles because they are curious and tend to stay for a look at this strange person trying to take their photo.
Thanks for the gape explanation. Have heard the term, but don’t think I ever read the explanation.
Have my camera all packed up and ready to ship off later this morning to Canon’s repair facility in Glendale Ca. Very well organized and efficient system to handle it on line. They promise to have it back to you within 3 to 5 days depending on what is wrong with it.
Good luck with your camera, Everett. If you’re like me you’ll have separation anxiety.
Got me laughing there Ron. I already do and I have not even left to take it to UPS yet. Will have to suck it up and do exercises or something every time I feel anxious.
Although this youngster doesn’t have the exotic appearance of the adult male in breeding plumage, s/he certainly has a bright youthful appeal. I probably would have been challenged to ID this one; just another LYB, although the gape would help, assuming I had noticed it.
Lyle, I’ve learned to look at the gape first thing as an indicator of age, especially this time of year. It took a long time for that to sink in but I finally saw the light.
Good shots, Ron….. 🙂 Don’t have them here so know nothing about them except some, at times (breeding season maybe) have VERY bright colors.
Keeping the locals happy with you is ALWAYS a good idea.. 😉
Judy, I’m not too surprised that you don’t see them in your area but the largest concentration I’ve seen of them wasn’t that far from you, near the Centennial Valley. Well, I guess it isn’t all that close but it’s in Montana… 🙂
MT DOES cover a lot of territory! 🙂
Ya think?