After six years of trying
July 20th, 2015
'Tis the season of parental hyper-vigilance. Avian parents, that is. Each summer, I experience this phase where birds become noisy and obvious if I stumble into their nesting area. Sometimes, if they have a young fledgling hidden nearby (one who has left the nest but isn't independent yet), they will actually go out of their way to attract my attention to themselves--all the better to draw it away from their vulnerable chick. This can result in stunning views of species that are normally retiring and elusive.
To wit:
An Indigo Bunting at Watt's Creek Trail. The mix of fields and woods there attracts them, and you can always hear them singing in summer. With binoculars you can sometimes see one too, usually perched in a distant treetop. But to get this good a view of one is a rare event!
July 20th, 2015
'Tis the season of parental hyper-vigilance. Avian parents, that is. Each summer, I experience this phase where birds become noisy and obvious if I stumble into their nesting area. Sometimes, if they have a young fledgling hidden nearby (one who has left the nest but isn't independent yet), they will actually go out of their way to attract my attention to themselves--all the better to draw it away from their vulnerable chick. This can result in stunning views of species that are normally retiring and elusive.
To wit:
An Indigo Bunting at Watt's Creek Trail. The mix of fields and woods there attracts them, and you can always hear them singing in summer. With binoculars you can sometimes see one too, usually perched in a distant treetop. But to get this good a view of one is a rare event!
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ilanikhan
July 20th, 2015 at 6:20 am
Stunning colour - and as always, you've captured him perfectly!
Mike
July 20th, 2015 at 7:53 am
He has a bit of an aggressive look... still pretty, though!
Suzanne
July 21st, 2015 at 12:03 am
Not surprising. It was his mate's anxious chipping that drew him out of the vegetation to survey his territory for intruders!