egret | Romancing Reality

I Don’t Photograph Birds, Either, Usually

July 2, 2023

It happened again last Sunday. I met some people on the park path, and one, gesturing towarad my camera, asked, “Are you photographing birds?” I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked if I was photographing birds. I almost always answer with some—I hope polite—variation of “No.” Birds are lovely creatures. I appreciate them, and I’m curious about them. I even want to know their names. But I’m no birder or wildlife photographer. Most birds move too fast or are too far away for me to capture them in pixels. And yet . . . and yet . . . sometimes I can’t resist giving them a try. These are photographs I took in Florida between 2007 and 2013.

1 One of the rules of wildlife photography, so I read, is to capture the animal doing something. This red-shoulder hawk was in captivity, and as far as I could tell, what he was doing on his perch was standing still. But that face, that face. What dignity. How could I resist.

2 The hawk, this owl, and the bird in the next photograph were living in a sanctuary near Sarasota, Florida. Their humans take them to various art fairs and festivals to educate the public and encourage financial donations.

3 Lynn Wohlers (bluebrightly) identified this little guy as an American kestrel. She even gave us a link. See Comments.

4 My friend Gerty told me the name of this bird 14 years ago, but I can’t remember what she said. Maybe it’s a boat-tailed grackle. UPDATE: Gerty agrees.

5 You can tell that this is a snowy egret from its black bill.

6 This seagull is probably pretty happy, the crab not.

7 It’s probably his stance that makes me think this red-winged blackbird looks defiant.

8 This great egret in mating plumage appears to have dumpster dived. I’ve never seen a bird with such dirty feathers.

9 I’m fascinated by how this great egret balances so perfectly on the pipe. What strong toes he must have.

10 This snowy egret doesn’t even appear to be holding on that tightly. I’m amazed.

11 So engrossed was this great blue heron in preening that he didn’t notice I was only a couple of yards away.

12 Although he’s really looking for fish, this reddish heron seems to be peering Narcissus-like at his reflection.

13 Wood storks used to be endangered but are now listed as a threatened species.

14 For a time black vultures roosted in some dead trees near the entrance gate to the Myakka River State Park. My friend Janet and I were thrilled to see them this foggy morning. The park officials in the gate house were not.