blackcap1

This is actually more of a product shot. My wife works with a store that

sells items for backyard birders, the thing the bird is standing on is the

actual subject, it's a float that allows birds to drink from the (heated)

birdbath without getting wet -- which is really useful in northern climates

where some non-native birds aren't quite aware that they need to not get

wet when it's 15 below zero.

Anyway, they asked if I could take a picture of it for them.

So I set up my tripod and my little camera and got out some mealworms

and put down some bait, ran a chord into the house from the camera

and sat and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And then I went and got all the dead meal worms out of the water since

they had crawled in and drown themselves, got fresh worms, washed

everything, set it back up and waited some more.

This went on a few times.

Finally birds started trying out the mealworms. And I clicked the release,

and got a picture of a bird butt flying away. And that went on for a few

more hours. And thus ended the first day.

On day two I continued with the same theme: refresh the bait, wait,

click, see parts of a bird but never a good shot.

Finally, after three days this guy came and . . . .

LANDED ON THE LENS!!

Yup, he sat ON THE CAMERA. I fired the flash to move him, but he

PECKED BACK AT THE STROBE!!!

After tormenting me for about 5 minutes he finally hopped down and

posed nice as could be.

I got the picture, followed up with a bit of photoshop to increase the

exposure of the bird, compared to the rest of the picture so he looks

lighted, and viola!

I would never have guessed getting a picture of a bird could be such a

pain!

...and a very nice shot.

But that's why all my bird pictures come out "mediocre" - I simply don't have the time or the patience to wait them out! 

:D

Hi David:

Ditto on what Tom said. I find Chickadees hard to shoot because they are so animated plus their eyes blend into their black caps unless some specular highlight is present (as you have here).

Thanks for sharing this and thank your wife for helping these little guys through the winter. I think of them jambed into the cracks of trees when it gets to -40 here at night. Remarkable animals.

Regards, John

The picture is ok but the story is a real hoot!   Thanks for sharing it.