![\"black-billed](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/black-billed-magpie-3638-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBallet and sticks may not typically go together but that combination still comes to mind whenever I see this image.<\/p>\n
A pair of Black-billed Magpies on Antelope Island\u00a0has been busy this spring robbing twigs and sticks from an old nest and using them in building a new one about 50 yards\u00a0away.\u00a0Their nest-building\/refurbishing has been more sporadic than in past years but maybe that’s because they had an early start due to our unusually warm weather in February.<\/p>\n
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1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This mass of twigs sticks up above the domed nest and it’s an obvious choice as a landing perch when they’re bringing in nesting materials so I had hopes of getting many clear shots as they came in or took off from it but it turns out that they seldom use it, preferring instead to land lower on the bush where there are many obstructing twigs in the way of the photographer.<\/p>\n Birds can be uncooperative about things like that.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n Note: Later this morning we’ll be leaving on our first camping\/photo trip of the season.\u00a0Our first trip is usually a short one, designed to be a shake-down cruise to work the winter bugs out of the camping trailer.\u00a0 Internet access will likely\u00a0be sporadic at best but I can usually get any comment emails on my phone and I do enjoy reading them.\u00a0 I’ve prepared several posts to be auto-published in my absence.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ballet and sticks may not typically go together but that combination still comes to mind whenever I see this image.<\/p>\n