WINGSCAPES

"Kissing" Cardinals

When it comes to birds that best symbolize Valentine’s Day, it’s hard to do better than the Northern Cardinal. Not only is the color of the male the vibrant red color associated with the holiday, but the behavior of male and female cardinals in courtship can’t help but bring to mind thoughts of romance.

Take these two cardinals uploaded to the Wingscapes Photo Gallery by Ray from Dallas, Texas for example. While they appear to be kissing, the male is actually feeding seeds to the female; a practice thought to convey to her that he will be a good provider while she is sitting on the nest incubating their young.

Just Off Main Street

There’s a famous old saying that states “You do your best business on Main Street.” While generally good advice, when it comes to photographing birds you can often get some great images just off “Main Street” as well.

Take this image uploaded to the Wingscapes BirdCam Photo Gallery by Harold of Jackson, Tennessee of a Northern Cardinal sitting on the top of a feeder hook for example. Rather than aim his BirdCam directly at the feeder, Harold knew that birds often wait on a nearby perch to survey the area for possible danger before feeding and positioned the BirdCam accordingly.

What It's All About

It’s hard to imagine a better illustration of the Wingscapes motto “See what you’ve been missing” than this image of a Northern Cardinal attending a well-hidden nest full of young birds.

Mark from Harrisonville, Missouri was both fortunate and attentive enough to notice the location of this Northern Cardinal nest, and strategically positioned his Wingscapes BirdCam to record the normally hidden nesting life of these very popular backyard birds. Fortunately for us, Mark was kind enough to upload not only this image but others he recorded as well to the Wingscapes BirdCam Photo Gallery.

Many thanks indeed, Mark!

Expressive Birds

Let’s face it; some birds simply have more expressive faces than others. Oh, of course this is simply giving them human characteristics that are the accidental results of the markings on their feathers and the structure of their beaks. However even knowing this, it’s difficult to look at particular birds and not immediately assume that you understand what they’re thinking by the “look on their face.”

For example, take this male Rose-breasted Grosbeak image recently submitted to the Wingscapes Photo Gallery by Colin in Marietta, Georgia. Doesn’t it look as though he is clearly irritated?

Stretching Doves, Posing Cardinal from Florida

Pam from Malabar, Florida continues to send us great shots of birds and other wildlife that visit her yard.

Thanks Pam!

Pam writes:

I know you have the Mourning Dove on your life list, but thought this picture from the BirdCam was especially pretty. My husband Richard gave me the BirdCam for Christmas, and we let it take pictures every day. It’s always a treat to see what surprises we have when we get home from work.

Of course you have a picture of a cardinal, but I thought this picture from the BirdCam was especially pretty. Sometimes we put seed on an old stump and this picture captured the Northern Cardinal with the flowers behind it.

You may have noticed I do crop the pictures to get rid of unwanted background, but otherwise the picture is straight from the BirdCam.

(The Wingscapes Blog Team really likes the Common Ground-Dove picture you sent us as well, Pam.)

Amazing Photo of Cardinal in Flight

Check out this great shot we received from Charles in Staten Island, New York of a Northern Cardinal in flight that was recorded by the Wingscapes BirdCam. 

Thanks Charles!

Rose-breasted Grosbeak and More from Wisconsin

Michael from Shorewood, Wisconsin sent in these great shots!

Thanks Michael!

Squabbling Martins Lead Lewisville Photos

Check out these great shots that Connie from Lewisville, North Carolina sent in to us.

Thanks Connie!

Blue Jay and Cardinal from Chardon, Ohio

Check out these great shots sent in by Betsy from Chardon, Ohio.

She Writes:

...I LOVE my BirdCam, it's Great!

Thanks Betsy!

Swapping Grosbeaks in Oregon

With the change in weather from the rains of early spring to a sudden spell of unexpected sun and unseasonably warm weather, the Evening Grosbeaks suddenly left northwest Oregon on their continued migration north. Their loud “cheerups” are no longer being heard from the high branches of the evergreens.

Fortunately, the northwest is not entirely grosbeak free. The Black-headed Grosbeaks have been increasing their numbers and will remain for weeks to come. Only the other day a number of images of them were downloaded from the BirdCam near one of our feeders.

Unlike the Evening Grosbeaks, the Black-headed Grosbeaks are not picky as to the style of feeders they will frequent, so the opportunities for photographing them are far greater than their more persnickety black, yellow, and tan cousins.

More Great Birds from Marcus in Orlando

Marcus from Orlando has sent us more great shots! 

Thank you Marcus!

Of Garden Poles and Grosbeaks

You have a great bird feeder set up in the back yard. You are seeing some superb birds visiting the feeder. You want to set up the Wingscapes BirdCam to capture what you are sure will be some stunning images of the birds visiting the feeder, but there is a problem.

The post to which the feeder is attached is a 4x4 and too large for the Mounting Arm to grasp. Of course, the Mounting Arm could easily be directly attached to the post above the squirrel baffle by simply using wood screws, but if like the one pictured, the baffle is attached just below the feeder itself, there isn't room to do so. Tripod? Nope. The ground beneath the feeder post is a ledge on one side and a rock wall on the other. Additionally it is a known path for the local herd of Black-tail Deer who could easily knock over any tripod in their way.

The solution? Use a standard garden pole designed for hanging feeders or flower baskets as a post to which to attach the Mounting Arm and BirdCam for perfect positioning of the BirdCam near the feeder. The top hooks of many of these posts (like the one pictured here) can even be removed to minimize the visibility of the post in the garden.

Now that the BirdCam is in position, all that is needed is for it to be aimed, set, and activated. Let the birds and the BirdCam do the rest.

In a few days, if the birds are cooperative, when you download the SD memory card you should find a wealth of beautiful images to enjoy and share – such as these of Evening Grosbeaks in Scappoose, Oregon.

If you look closely, you can see a Black-headed Grosbeak in the background of this image awaiting the departure of his more aggressive black, yellow, and white cousins before he himself approaches the feeder.

Of course, when you find a bird in one of your images that you find particularly interesting, cropping the image down to emphasize that bird is a great way to produce a picture ready for printing, use on a website or blog, or sending to friends.

Proof

One frustrating thing about bird watching is that sharing your experience often depends solely on your good word. My friend Sharon Stiteler enjoys scrutinizing my sightings...which quickly turns my proud storytelling into weak muttering of: "No, I really, really did..."

Cameras alter the equation. One benefit of WINGSCAPE's new camera will be that it makes verifyinfg (and sharing) your sightings far easier. The hunt for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is clearly a lesson in the importance (and difficulty) of obtaining photographic evidence of sightings.

When I mentioned to Sharon that the cardinals in my backyard often visited the peanut feeder, even though sunflower hearts were close by and readily available, she looked at me sideways. Now all I need to do is show the photo taken this morning...

The steady breeze (not hair gel) is responsible for his accentuated tuft. As they say, a bird picture is worth a thousand bird stories.