![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/long-billed-curlew-5817-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"long-billed-curlew-5817-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nI probably won’t be visiting Antelope Island again anytime soon.<\/p>\n
Three days ago, after a mostly unsuccessful morning attempting to find and photograph birds on Antelope Island, I was determined to find at least one interesting bird along the causeway on my way home that was close enough for photos.<\/p>\n
I found only one.<\/p>\n
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1\/3200, f\/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n It was a Long-billed Curlew, a male I believe, lounging along the shore close to the west bridge. He was the only curlew I saw all morning. He spent a lot of time preening but he always had his back to me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/5.6, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Near the end of his first preening session he performed a leisurely wing stretch, revealing that he was likely molting.<\/p>\n The setting isn’t attractive but it’s biologically interesting. Those darker masses near his feet and behind him are brine flies. I believe most or all of them were dead by now because I didn’t notice any of them moving or flying, as they typically do whenever a bird gets close to them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Eventually he moved out into the water and continued preening, which at least made for a more attractive setting. As the waves moved through the frame in my viewfinder they actually made me dizzy, a phenomenon I’ve noticed before in similar situations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After 14 years of visiting Antelope Island on a regular basis (often 2-3 times per week), it’s likely that I won’t be going back anytime soon. I’m not a fan of all the recent development there, which has significantly increased traffic and crowds, destroyed habitat, negatively impacted birds and wildlife and essentially ruined the wild “feel” of much of the island – especially on the north end. Several areas of good habitat that for years have been great for bird photography are now closed off to visitors. Others have been destroyed by development. And with the scheduled renovation and major expansion of the visitor center, which will triple its size, it’s only going to get worse. Much worse.<\/p>\n Since I just become frustrated and angry every time I go to the island, why go?<\/p>\n State Parks calls all the recent development, including the scheduled $13 million expansion of the visitor center, an “improvement”. I see it differently and I can assure you that I’m far from the only one who feels that way.<\/span><\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I probably won’t be visiting Antelope Island again anytime soon. (3 photos)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/long-billed-curlew-5833-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"long-billed-curlew-5833-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/long-billed-curlew-6004-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"long-billed-curlew-6004-ron-dudley\\"")
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