{"id":35219,"date":"2015-11-19T05:10:01","date_gmt":"2015-11-19T12:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=35219"},"modified":"2015-11-19T06:44:52","modified_gmt":"2015-11-19T13:44:52","slug":"our-western-meadowlarks-are-still-singing-images-and-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/19\/our-western-meadowlarks-are-still-singing-images-and-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Western Meadowlarks Are Still Singing (images and video)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Western Meadowlarks are non-territorial during winter but they still sing their melodious song with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

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1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n

I photographed this one four days ago on Antelope Island. Meadowlarks can be relatively easy to approach during their breeding season as they sing from territory but during winter their singing wanes\u00a0and they’re much more difficult to get close to. So I was doubly fortunate to find this cooperative bird singing from its rabbitbrush perch. I fully expected it to dive down into the grasses as I approached but it had pity on me (the entire morning had been almost bird-less)\u00a0and it allowed\u00a0me a close approach until another vehicle came by and I had to leave my position on the road.<\/p>\n

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1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n

The song it sings this time of year is a little different from the complex and melodious primary song of the males we hear so often in springtime but it’s still beautiful and unique. I never tire of the song of the meadowlark. Never.<\/p>\n

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1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n

This one alternated between singing and preening. Rabbitbrush produces small wind-dispersed seeds that resemble the “parachutes” of dandelions and this birds preening activities caused one of those seeds to settle on top of its head. I thought it resulted in making the bird look a little goofy but hey, I’m just fine with goofy…<\/p>\n

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