Category: Magpies and Ravens
Coyotes Steal A Jackrabbit From Golden Eagles
Magpie Take-off
Black-billed Magpies are difficult subjects but I enjoy the challenge of photographing them.
The Mind’s Eye Can Be Deceived By The Effects Of Telephoto Lenses
What you see isn’t always what you get in nature photography. The following three images, taken sequentially in a burst, illustrate my point.
Coyote and Magpies Scavenging A Deer Carcass
Magpie In Flight And The Varying (and unpredictable) Effects Of Fog
I’ve become quite interested in the effects of fog on some of my avian subjects. Often I don’t like those effects but occasionally I find them visually interesting.
Magpie In Flight In Magical, Foggy Light
Under the right conditions I like what fog can do to light when it isn’t too thick. Antelope Island at dawn this morning was a jumble of moving, thick pockets of fog. I drove around in an attempt to find some clear spots with birds present but when I would find some sun it wouldn’t take long for the fog to envelope me again. But in one spot, just for a couple of minutes, the effect of the fog on the light was dreamy and ethereal and I loved it.
Magpie Take-off From Nest Sequence
I was able to get five consecutive shots of this Black-billed Magpie as it took off from the top of its dome-shaped nest last spring on Antelope Island.
Black-billed Magpie With An Apparent Kill
Black-billed Magpies feed primarily on carrion, ground-dwelling arthropods and seeds. But yesterday morning I photographed a magpie with an apparent kill, a vole.
Iridescence And The Role of Plumage Variations In Juvenile Magpies
Juvenile Black-billed Magpies have significantly less iridescence in their plumage than the adults so the amount that appeared in this young bird surprised me.
Magpies Scavenging Entrails Rejected By Raptors
On my last Montana trip I think I figured out part of the reason why Black-billed Magpies often perch high on power poles in some areas. I’m sure this apparent behavior is known to others but it was something new for me.
Adult Female Magpie Begging For Food
Female Black-billed Magpies beg aggressively for food from the male prior to and during incubation.
Magpie Hip-shot – An Interesting Experiment
Photographing birds as they take off is tricky but with a little luck and perseverance it can be done. Landing shots are much more difficult and often require creative innovation.
It Must Be Spring – Magpies Are Beginning Nest-building
Around here Black-billed Magpies are among the first species to begin nest-building activities. It tickles my fancy to see another sign of spring after this miserable winter.
Black-billed Magpie – Paying The Price For An Ethical Stance
By definition there is often a price to be paid for ethical nature photography since the image you get may not be the one you envisioned or hoped for.