A Few Birds From Yesterday...

[jprzybyla]

Well done Joe, all look good. I am already looking forward to all our birds return. Some of our winter birds are arriving but not much yet.

Thanks Paul, hoping your birds return soon. I very much enjoy your photography.

[jprzybyla]

How do you get so close to the birds? I tried today with a few stragglers..... I was able to park, they moved off a ways, I tried to shift to the passenger side of my work van and they took off. Are the cranes more relaxed while nesting and allow a closer approach? or am I just getting too impatient and moving to soon or too rapidly? What is your secret?

Hi Randy, Florida is a wonderful place for bird photography. The wildlife reserves have many people visiting and photographing at them. The resident birds become so accustomed to seeing and not being hurt or harassed by people that they are not quick to flee. The birds that migrate here in the winter are more elusive until they settle into seeing people. The Sandhill Crane above built the nest about 100 feet from the trail on top of one of the dikes at the water control area I go to. My wife and I have literally herded this adult pair and fledglings away from the parking lot and cars back to the marsh. Posted below is an image from that day.