![\"western](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/western-kingbird-3399-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI apologize for all the Western Kingbird posts of late but I shoot what’s available to me and recently that’s largely been kingbirds.<\/p>\n
For the past few days a mated pair of them has been trying to decide on a nesting site and as of yesterday that decision has been made. The female (only the female builds the nest) has been busily hauling in nesting material while the male spends much of his time on a nearby perch, guarding against other birds and potential threats\u00a0as she does so. Her work ethic is admirable. I timed her yesterday and sometimes it takes her as little as 20 seconds per twig-hauling trip. The male seems to approve…<\/p>\n
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1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f\/4L IS II USM, canvas added\u00a0for composition,\u00a0not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This is the male as he left his sentry perch, calling as he did so. Sometimes he’d be gone for a short while but he nearly always returned to the same sagebrush perch which is only about 10′ from the nest. Only the female incubates eggs or broods nestlings so this guy will be living the life of Riley until the eggs hatch when he’ll begin helping to feed the chicks.<\/p>\n Due to the flight posture, partially open bill,\u00a0light,\u00a0clean background and natural\u00a0setting this is one of my favorite kingbird flight shots.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For the past few days a mated pair of Western Kingbirds has been trying to decide on a nesting site and as of yesterday that decision has been made.<\/p>\n