{"id":108648,"date":"2022-03-13T05:59:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-13T11:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=108648"},"modified":"2022-03-13T08:16:09","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T14:16:09","slug":"western-meadowlark-singing-on-sagebrush-plus-a-video-experiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/13\/western-meadowlark-singing-on-sagebrush-plus-a-video-experiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Western Meadowlark Singing On Sagebrush (plus a video experiment)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Around here it isn’t springtime without singing meadowlarks. Yesterday I photographed my first one this year that was reasonably close.<\/span><\/p>\n

That first one is always a treat for my eyes and ears but it can seem like a long time coming. For much of the year our meadowlarks are skittish and very difficult to approach and they don’t sing much but in early spring gushing hormones drastically alter their behavior. Suddenly they’re singing on territory from elevated perches which they’re much more reluctant to abandon at the approach of a vehicle.<\/p>\n

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1\/4000, f\/5.6, ISO 400, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n

Yesterday morning on Antelope Island this guy was sticky and I believe I could have approached him closer if he hadn’t been perched so far away from the road. He was very patient with me. I spent at least 10 minutes with him as I fumbled around with the controls of my new camera, for which I’m grateful.<\/p>\n

He was partially side lit but when he turned at certain angles on his perch I think the lighting worked out OK. At one point he was photobombed by a blackbird but I missed those photos because I was doing, or attempting to do, something else.<\/p>\n

And he was singing up a storm. It’s surprising how far their delightful song carries – clear as a bell and intensely loud. There are times when it makes me jump when I drive by an unseen singing meadowlark close to the road.<\/p>\n

But that’s a startle reaction I always enjoy<\/p>\n

Ron<\/p>\n

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The experiment:<\/em><\/p>\n

Over the years I’ve often been asked by blog followers why I don’t shoot video. I’ve tried it a time or two but videoing birds with a DSLR camera and a super telephoto lens is extremely difficult to do well because you can’t look through your viewfinder while you’re doing it. You have to use your camera screen instead, which is extremely awkward – especially in bright light. I much prefer to have quality still photos than bad video.<\/em><\/p>\n

But with mirrorless cameras you can look through your viewfinder while shooting video so yesterday I impulsively decided to give it a try with this sticky meadowlark and my new Canon R5.. When it comes to video I’m as ignorant as they come but as an experiment I’ve included the 23 second clip below for those who may be interested.<\/em><\/p>\n

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