![\"lazuli](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/lazuli-bunting-3599-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a01\/5000, f\/8, ISO 800, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not set up or called in (these settings were a blatant error on my part)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n One of my best opportunities with the species was on an early summer camping\u00a0trip to the beautiful and remote\u00a0San Rafael Swell area\u00a0of central Utah.\u00a0 The males were flitting from perch to perch as they\u00a0declared and defended breeding territories.\u00a0 I seldom saw any females and assume they were mostly on their nests.\u00a0 The background colors in these first two images are provided by the Entrada Sandstone that is so prevalent in the region.<\/p>\n Side note:\u00a0 In many areas of their breeding range Lazuli Bunting nests are heavily parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds.\u00a0 When this brood parasitism occurs (in some areas 100% of bunting nests are parasitized) bunting chicks rarely survive.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a01\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The greasewood this time of year provides a visually\u00a0appealing green perching alternative for the displaying males in this arid environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a01\/1600, f\/8, ISO 400, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0A close view in good light provides a good look at the plumage colors and\u00a0bicolored bill of the species.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The San Rafael Swell is one of Utah’s lesser known scenic and geologic\u00a0gems.\u00a0 The “Swell” is a huge (300 sq miles) 40-60 million year old\u00a0dome-shaped anticline of shale, sandstone and limestone that has been eroded into myriad canyons, valleys,\u00a0gorges, buttes and mesas.\u00a0 Spring camping trips to this remote area are almost literally soul-restoring after a long, dreary winter.<\/p>\n But the Swell is now under attack.\u00a0 In November, the BLM intends to auction off 82 parcels (144,000\u00a0acres) in three Utah counties\u00a0for oil and gas development.\u00a0 These parcels are within the San Rafael Swell and include many areas that the BLM has previously identified as areas that\u00a0hold wilderness and recreational values (see Salt Lake Tribune article<\/a>).<\/p>\n You can imagine how I feel about that…<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Appropriately named after the blue gemstone lapis lazuli, the Lazuli Bunting is one of our most colorful western birds. The persistent and conspicuous song of the male throughout the breeding season has been likened to an “acoustic barcode” that is unique to that individual bird.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n