![\"western](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/western-meadowlark-9368-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI can’t resist our Western Meadowlarks when they’re singing in springtime.<\/p>\n
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1\/5000, f\/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I found this one four days ago on Antelope Island.\u00a0 It was\u00a0singing from\u00a0a gnarly old\u00a0sagebrush stump that is a favorite meadowlark perch this time of year.\u00a0 There are lots of\u00a0these birds on the island now but they’re usually difficult to approach so my camera settings (high shutter speed and ISO) were meant for\u00a0take-off shots but this bird stood its ground.<\/p>\n As common as meadowlarks are on the island I try to be extra careful with them during nesting season which is fast approaching.\u00a0\u00a0 They are\u00a0quite sensitive to human interference during nesting and females flushed from the nest during laying or incubation typically abandon the nest and eggs.\u00a0 Once the young are hatched the adults are a little less\u00a0susceptible to\u00a0disturbance\u00a0but human intrusion near the nest will often cause them to delay feeding visits to the youngsters.\u00a0\u00a0 This bird was perched within a few feet of a road and is\u00a0apparently acclimated to traffic (I\u00a0photographed it from my pickup).<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I can’t resist our Western Meadowlarks when they’re singing in springtime.<\/p>\n