When Western Meadowlarks have territorial disputes, interesting opportunities are provided for the bird photographer.
Yesterday morning some of the meadowlarks on Antelope Island were fighting over breeding territory. I witnessed three such disputes and photographed two of them, or at least tried to. Aerial fighting isn’t easy to photograph, but attempting to is exciting and fun, with a strong dose of frustration thrown in for good measure.
It was a little easier to photograph their unique vertical takeoffs as they would spring straight up from their elevated perch to confront their adversary in flight, which is a typical behavior for fighting meadowlarks in springtime.
This is the meadowlark takeoff shot from yesterday that I like best because the bird’s launch posture and angle are so different from what we usually see when songbirds take off. It’s the perfectly vertical angle of takeoff, combined with the long bill of the bird pointing nearly straight up, that makes it different. This bird flew vertically for about three feet before leveling out and pursuing the other meadowlark.
Their brief aerial fight was so frenetic and herky-jerky I lost them in my viewfinder, but I’ll gladly take this shot as a consolation prize.
Ron
Outstanding photograph at that perfect moment.
The meadowlarks are in full breeding mode around here as well. The pastures are like big auditoriums with dozens of clear-throated soloists singing at the same time. Not to mention more than a few aerial combats taking place, as you describe.
Love that take-off shot. Reminds me of a Harrier jet taking off vertically.
Shouldn’t be surprised at that type of launch, I guess. After all, it IS Leap Year.
“After all, it IS Leap Year.”
And after all, harriers are so special to me my vanity plate reads HARRIER. 🙂 Thanks, Wally.
Ron,
So cool! Like a ballerina.
Or a ballerino. Thanks, Stephen.
Cool! Any chance of a zoom into that head/throat patch at high rez? Very interesting view.
I’ll email it to you, Art.
Wow that is a good capture of the Meadowlark in a take off! Really pretty neat to see and happy you got a nice shot. Thanks for the post and information. Love it.
Thank you, Trudy.
Very distinctive pose! LOVE 🙂 Of course the bright yellow with accents of white, grey & black just take it over the top!
I agree, Kathleen. Those bright and distinctive colors and markings make it even more eye-catching. Thanks.
The Lark Acending!
Love Meadowlarks. Great photo.
ASCENDING
Thanks, Kathryn. I knew what you meant…
Wow, that’s a neat photo! Is their display sort of like the mockingbird’s – those guys jump straight up, too, don’t they?
Did your snow from the other day all melt?
Good connection to that mockingbird behavior, Carolyn. Yes, they’re similar, but not the same.
The snow is now mostly gone from the valley floor. It’s taken a while because it’s been cold.
Ron – that is just about the best song bird take off I have ever seen and to have such a colorful bird such as the Meadowlark doing it is a big plus. Outstanding.
Thanks very much, Everett.
That is a real nice image and it documents the behavior as well!
Glad you like it, Bruce. Thank you.
WOW! That IS an impressive take off! 🙂 Glad you could capture it!
Tend to see singles here on fence posts so don’t get that kind of action…….
“Real” spring is attempting to show up here – 1st Robin arrived last evening right ahead of another series of storms – par for the course. 😉 Still desperately need moisture. Cold/wind getting old.
“Cold/wind getting old”.
That’s almost a Montana mantra, Judy. Especially the “wind” part when you live on the east side of the mountains.
Boy, that meadowlark’s posture shows he really MEANS BUSINESS!
I second everything Michael said ; I’ve worked, almost daily, with
the acrylic medium for 30 years, and am just beginning to feel really confident with it ( and am still learning)–when I see what you’ve accomplished in a much shorter time period, I’m just in awe of your
commitment and resourcefulness. I look forward to every post !
Very much appreciated, Kris. I’ve been at this bird photography thing for 14 years so I’m not exactly a fast learner…
Lovely shot Ron. Looks like its starting a ballet maneuver to me.
Thanks, Rick. Someone on Facebook said it reminded them of synchronized swimming.
The biomechanics of birds just amaze me. This shot is a wonderful example of that.
Finally got out to do a dawn patrol to the central valley and some foothill backroads yesterday. California is so green right now. It is really beautiful. It was a nice reminder of how much I enjoy that. I will not wait long before going again.
Tried to do some bird photography as well. Made me remember another thing.
Its hard to fully appreciate the degree of difficulty that some endeavors require. Anybody can buy a guitar, but it takes talent and an enormous investment of time to be any good at it. I think most of those guitars now sit in a closet. However, those people do gain a whole new appreciation for what it takes to play well. All this is to say that yesterday was a no so gentle reminder of just what a photographic virtuoso you are, and how much I really appreciate the work that you do and the photos you share.
Michael, I really appreciate the compliment in your last paragraph. And yes, in my late teens and as a young man I had a guitar sitting unused in my closet for years, for exactly the reason you describe.
Believe it or not, it’s already beginning to green up around here in late February, at least in some places. Yesterday I noticed some greening on the south-facing slopes of Antelope Island. And the rhubarb and chives in my garden are up.
I hope you get out again soon.
I have two guitars sitting around. My Canon DSLR is almost the same.
I can’t remember for sure where my guitar ended up. I may have given it to my younger cousin Ken Dudley.