![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/bullocks-oriole-0927-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"bullocks-oriole-0927-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nThe object of some hot-blooded competition.<\/p>\n
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1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Two days ago, in a remote area of Box Elder County, I witnessed a few minutes of intense rivalry between two adult male Bullock’s Orioles as they competed for the attention of this adult female. For nearly 10 minutes the two males chased each other around within the tree they were in, and from tree to tree, as I tried to get my lens focused on either one of them.<\/p>\n But ultimately I failed miserably. They were just too damn fast for my skills, especially because I’m using a relatively new and complicated camera and my muscle memory just isn’t there yet.<\/p>\n Mostly this female just watched as she occasionally moved from perch to perch within the tree, presumably for a better view of the action. Usually I didn’t have a clear view of her either but this one time, for about 5 seconds, she was out in the open except for an out-of-focus twig in front of her right shoulder. I managed to get this single sharp photo of her before she moved on. She wasn’t very close but I was still happy to get the shot.<\/p>\n The entire experience was a lot of fun but it was frustrating too. Bullock’s Orioles occasionally come to my back yard but they’re usually attracted to my hummingbird feeder so I don’t post any photos I take of them there (you know, “not baited, set up or called in”). So I really<\/em> wanted photos of at least one of those males!<\/p>\n Maybe next time.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The object of some hot-blooded competition.<\/p>\n