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<\/p>\nPlus raptor baiting right here in my home state of Utah.<\/p>\n
I’m curious what my readers might think about this image. Almost surely it will only have limited appeal and I understand why but I’m beginning to be more flexible about photos of birds in the fog, partly for the mood and partly because in nature… fog happens.<\/p>\n
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1\/500, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n This is a photo of a Montana Merlin with the frozen remains of a meadowlark in its talons. The photo was taken just after sunrise so I’m guessing the meadowlark had been cached and retrieved. The fog was dense but I was fairly close to the falcon which helped significantly in these conditions. I’ve posted other shots of this bird but those taken in heavy fog like this were mostly documentary of the feeding process because of the effects of the fog.<\/p>\n But when this shot was taken the morning sun was just beginning to burn through the fog so when the Merlin turned its head to look at me it put nice warm light on the side of its face and provided a catch light in the eye. And I like the way the light makes those yellow legs and talons stand out (even in the fog), especially that menacing falcon foot holding the meadowlark. That’s a long meadowlark leg sticking up between the prey and the belly of the Merlin.<\/p>\n Even though it may not look like it if you’re on a large screen the falcon is actually sharp. Fog tends to have a dulling effect on fine detail. Yes, the image is dark and moody but sometimes that works (and sometimes it doesn’t…)<\/p>\n Anyway, if you have any thoughts about the image, one way or the other, I’d be interested in hearing about them. I’m still trying to figure out my own thoughts on it.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On an only partially related note:<\/em><\/p>\n My readers know how I feel about baiting raptors for purposes of photography and I think most of you agree but I’m not sure if many are aware of how rampant that nefarious practice really is so here’s an example from my own “back yard”.<\/em><\/p>\n Here’s a link to an ad from Studebaker Studios<\/a> (Matthew Studebaker) recruiting clients for a series of 2 five day raptor photography workshops along the Wasatch Front this winter. They openly bait raptors with pet store mice as evidenced by this line from their ad – “We will feed the raptors mice to entice them closer and anyone on this trip must be 100% comfortable with using mice.”<\/em><\/p>\n Trip leader John Crawley is proudly advertised as having “graduated with a degree in Zoology with an emphasis in raptor biology. He did research for the DNR and NFS on Osprey and helped take care of endangered raptors at BYU as they transitioned to the Peregrine Fund.” Obviously Crawley should know better but apparently he’s been seduced by the draw of big money from workshop participants (check out the cost of the workshop per client which “does not include meals or lodging.”). This is essentially the same ad they ran for last year’s workshops.<\/em><\/p>\n As someone who has also “graduated with a degree in Zoology” I’m angry and embarrassed and I hope the BYU Department of Zoology is too (though I have my doubts about that, I’m not a huge fan of the “Y”).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Each year Studebaker Studios and John Crawley set the example to other bird photographers that somehow it’s perfectly OK to bait raptors for photography which makes me nail-spitting angry so I try to expose what they’re doing to a wider audience. Maybe someday the shame will get to them and they’ll change their ways but I’m not holding my breath. The almighty dollar can be a powerful motivator and Matthew Studebaker was mentored by Arthur Morris who has some serious ethical problems of his own.<\/em><\/p>\n