Alaska Bird Observatory

ABO has had several calls about redpolls that are acting oddly, seem tame, or are sick. Large flocks of birds eating and defecating in the same spot can result in sick birds. Go here for more information and directions on how to minimize the problem. You can find other frequently asked questions and answers on the BirdFAQs page.

The first Sandhill Crane of the year has arrived at Creamer’s Field! So on this Earth Day, I thought I would use this species as our Bird of the Day. Sandhill Cranes are a sign of the season in interior Alaska, they arrive in the last few days of April each year. Cranes then linger at Creamer’s Field and the surrounding areas in varying numbers until the middle of September when they take off, and leave for the warmer climes of the lower 48.

About this image: I made this photo last year at Creamer’s Field during autumn migration when large numbers of cranes were congregating in town. This image required a bit of forethought. The colors of the sunrise were rising in the sky as birds were arriving in the fields. I’d envisioned an image very like this one, so before my opportunity arrived, I exposed the frame as though I was trying to shoot the sunrise and set the camera on manual. Then when the cranes passed in front of the colored sky I shot a burst of images. Since I was exposed for the bright sky, the birds ended up in silhouette. If I had exposed for the birds, the background would have blown out to white and a very unpleasant image would have been the result. I used a digital SLR camera and a 500mm f4 lens, mounted on a tripod.

Questions about bird photography? Click on this entry under recent news and enter your question in the comments section.

-David Shaw/ABO Research Biologist

The first swans have arrived in Fairbanks so in honor their arrival I thought I’d add this image. There are two common species of swan in the interior of Alaska, Trumpeter, shown above, and Tundra Swans. The two are difficult to distinguish but a few characteristics can make it easier. Trumpeters have a longer, broader bill than Tundra Swans and are lacking in yellow in the lores which Tundra Swans, often, though not always posess.

About this image: I made this photo about two years ago in the autumn at the Peat Pits in Goldstream Valley, a favorite photo destination of mine. This was around 7am so the light was still low and direction. Generally in bird photography we strive to have the sunlight coming over our shoulder and onto the subject more directly but in this case I think the angled light works. And as my image from yesterday of the Horned Grebe also shows, reflections can add a lot to an image. I used a Digital SLR camera with 70-200 f2.8 lens, handheld, and then cropped the image slightly to a panoramic format.

Questions or thoughts about Bird Photography? Click on this entry under “Recent News” and enter your question in the comments section.

David Shaw/ABO Research Biologist

In trying to stay ahead of the migration curve (which I don’t think I’ll be able to do for much longer) I thought today I’d post this image of a Horned Grebe. I expect the first of this species to arrive in the next couple of weeks as water opens up on the local ponds and rivers. Horned Grebes breed in boreal forest ponds and lakes. Their affinity for small ponds has made them vulnerable in a changing environment. These small water bodies are shrinking and drying and thus fewer areas are available as breeding habitat. Climate change is taking its toll on Horned Grebes and other boreal forest species.

About the image: I made this image in the Tanana Flats south of Fairbanks after a day working on ABO’s Rusty Blackbird research project. I used a digital SLR camera, and a 70-200 f2.8 lens, handheld.

Bird Photography Tip: It isn’t all about the bird. What makes this image interesting is the reflections on the water and clean, warm light on the bird itself. This was also shot with a moderate telephoto lens (200mm). Remember, not all bird photography requires a great big lens.

Questions about Bird Photography? Click on this entry under “Recent News” and enter your question in the comments section.

I photographed this adult White-crowned Sparrow in Denali National Park last June. This bird and his mate were busy building a nest in the shrub tundra just north of Wonder Lake. Though male and female White-crowneds have identical plumage, I knew this was the male because I caught him, in this image, mid-way through his song.

Despite a dusting of snow last night, spring is rapidly approaching here in Fairbanks and I expect to hear this species’ song through my office window in the next few weeks.

About the image and photo tips: It was a drizzly day as I was hiking off-trail through the tundra. Though it was mid-day the cloudly light provided good shooting conditions. I used a 500mm f4 lens mounted on a tripod and shot with a digital SLR camera. One of the tricks to good bird photography is catching some action. Even here, the beak open in song, adds a lot to the image. Similar shots taken around the same time, with a closed bill, are not nearly as interesting.

Have questions about bird photography?  Leave them in the comments (To access the comments click on the Bird of the Day 15 April link under “Recent News” on the right side of the screen.