![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/yellow-warbler-8853-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"yellow-warbler-8853-ron-dudley\\"")
1\/3200, f\/8, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\nI photographed this youngster two weeks ago in the Wasatch Mountains as “his” parents brought in food every few minutes. The poor little guy was awkward, disheveled and even unattractive\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0was growing\u00a0into his new plumage and he appeared to be interested in nothing more than food, food and more food.<\/p>\n
They’re so very defenseless at this age – they’ve left the relative safety of the nest and they’re hopping around awkwardly from branch to branch as they try to anticipate from which direction a parent will be coming\u00a0with their next meal. All that activity from such a young bird still learning to fly could very easily attract predators after an easy meal\u00a0so thankfully their instincts instruct them to stay mostly hidden within the bushes (and believe me\u00a0that made photography very difficult).<\/p>\n
In this photo the shape we see at upper left is actually the female parent coming in with another snack. For me this isn’t a particularly attractive\u00a0image but what appeals to me is the begging behavior of the chick and its obvious vulnerability.<\/p>\n
I think it documents the precarious nature of the situation pretty well.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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I can think of no better descriptor for this recently fledged Yellow Warbler than “vulnerable”.<\/p>\n