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Bluebird Pictures, Photographs and PhotographyIn addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website: Bluebirders Picture Gallery Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2001 19:15:19 -0700 Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif. Just received a new digital camera with zoom capabilities last night and thought the List might enjoy some western bluebird photos on my web page: http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/ One picture shows a banded male; he was banded as a nestling this year and the colors are true. The blue of our westerns are more of a violet blue rather than a sky-blue and the underbellies are a dirty-grey with undertones of blue. Some females on my trail have a turquoise blue on their primaries and tail edges and I'll try to capture those variations sometime in the future. From: "dottie price" yumyumkatts"at"voyager.net Does anyone know of some Web Sites that have really good Eastern Bluebird pictures with their true color and not looking so artificially blue? Thanks!! Dottie, Brown County, Indiana From: "Teri Casper" ticpen99"at"hotmail.com
BRAW's website has some great pictures taken by one of our members. Each page has a different photo. www.BRAW.org Teri Casper, Community Relations for BRAW From: "Stan, St. Paul, MN [44.444N, -93.106W]"
stan1bb"at"frontiernet.net Hi Dottie and EveryBIRDie! Check out some of the following websites: http://www.waveone.net/jaa/ibspage3.htm http://www2.go-concepts.com/~mrsimple/ http://www.naturephotosonline.com/npo_sub.asp?RPP=9&ORN=&CAT =--+All+Categories+--&PN=--+All+Photographers+--&CON=--+All+ Continents+--&KEY=0&txtSearchCriteria=bluebirds&cmdSubmit1.x =49&cmdSubmit1.y=9 http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/bbgal.htm Happy bluebirding! Stan From: "Pamela Ford" jpford"at"home.com My bluebird gang of between 7 and 10 bluebirds is still appearing daily. Below is a link to some pictures I took today. One shot caught a male and female bluebird along with a goldfinch and a house finch. In others, I thought is was interesting how the zoom lens caught the various open beaked squabbles when all looked peaceful to the naked eye! I also had one of the male bluebirds flying at and attacking a window in which a blue bottle was setting. I wonder if the blue bottle had anything to do with the behavior or if was just coincidence? I sure am glad they're still around. Pam in Abingdon, Harford County, Maryland http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292217759&code=2281635&mode=invite From: "Pamela Ford" jpford"at"home.com The number of bluebirds in my backyards keeps increasing. While I had 6 in early fall (3 males and 3 females), now it's a consistent 10 or 11 (still only 3 males). I've been watching them pile into the nest boxes during the day (although I don't believe they've ever roosted there overnight, they always head off toward the woods just before dark). They will enter the box one at a time until there are about six in the box. These are just regular NABS style boxes! How do they fit? Then they come out one at a time though not necessarily in last-in-first-out order. I'm having a ball with my new digital camera Christmas present... but I think my bluebirds have had enough. They seem to be tired of having me peeking out from every corner or sitting still near the feeders. The camera can take pictures in sequence and this afternoon it allowed me to capture a male bluebird hovering over the mealies, afraid to land because I was sitting just 8 feet away. The frame rate was 1.8 seconds per frame and 5 pictures were shot. He was in the frame before the first picture and in nowhere in sight for the fifth. Below is a link to the new pictures. http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292217759&code=2281635&mode=invite Pam in Abingdon, Harford County, Maryland Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 11:36:31 -0700 (PDT) Hello Gang - I lucked up last week and came up with a decent image of a male bluebird with five mealworms in its beak, ready to feed the nestlings. The fifth one is hard to see, but it's there. Since we do not send attachments I uploaded this image to my website, anyone interested can view it there. Depending on your email software, you can click on the image for a larger view. My website address is:
http://home.midsouth.rr.com/conservewildlife/bluebird.htm
If you want to access the above internet site, be sure you get the complete address. It is long and sometimes it will not work as a hotlink. If you are unable to access the site and want to see this photo, let me know and I will email one to you privately with the photo attached. Best regards, Bruce Johnson Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 15:02:00 -0400 I've attached a link to my updated album of bluebird photos. This is the very first time I've had five in a nest! I took a picture today of the 4-day old babies. Compared to the pictures of them at 2-days old, there is quite a change in wing-shape and color of skin. At 2-days of age the wing looks like a pinky finger - at 4 days its beginning to take the shape of a bird wing. I suppose the color change is the darkening caused by the feathers developing under the skin. Looking at them at this stage, it's hard to believe how quickly they'll be able to fly away. http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292217759&code=2724568&mode=invite Pam in Harford County, Maryland Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 11:21:49 -0500 (Central Daylight
Time) With my wonderful, colorful sight yesterday, and the response to it, I've decided I need to get busy again and have my camera more on the ready. We have lots of year-round birds - and we feed year-round, including suet (the commercial all-weather types). We have just lived in this house about a year and a half and are still trying to get some landscaping done - or to grow! Some of the birds we haven't seen since we moved in are now beginning to show - and I would assume it's the fact that we are feeding. We have at least 5 rose-breasted grosbeaks that have been around for almost 2 weeks - 2 pair and an immature male. We have at least two indigo buntings. Where we used to live they would stay all summer, and we're hoping they'll do the same here. Our other house - located in the woods - was full of cardinals - we have one pair around here now - and they just showed up. My wife saw a towhee the other day - but not again. We had a pair of flickers shopping for a nest, but they must have gone elsewhere. This is the first time we've been able to attract bluebirds. At our other house - the last year we were there we had a gaggle(?) of herons nesting in a treetop nearby. Watching one of those huge, long-legged wading birds land in a treetop was a sight to see We know we have a pair of red-headed woodpeckers nesting nearby. Our lawn sometimes look like a carpet of dandelions there are so many goldfinches on the ground. There are some dandelions, too. If anyone would like to see some of the bird pictures I have taken - there are some bluebirds - click on the Bluebird Nestling icon at www.jetimaging.com. From: "Stan Sadler" sadlerrealestate"at"insightbb.com http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=3D27272791403&n=3D1431665855 These are some pictures of my first nesters. I'm located about 25 miles south of Indianapolis,In. I'll try to add more to this folder as time allows Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 20:44:24 -0700 (PDT) Hello all - I lucked up and came up with a couple of photos of young bluebirds, (four weeks old) that I liked. If you don't have anything better to do and want to take a look, here is the URL: http://home.midsouth.rr.com/conservewildlife/photos.htm The images are the second and third down on the page. If you have trouble accessing the web-site, let me know and I can send it as an attachment. ===== Bruce Johnson From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"srnet.com Anyone who likes both Revereware and Bluebirds will enjoy seeing the photo by Harry McClelland (OK) in the April/May 2002 issue of "Birds and Blooms." (p. 33) I've enlarged it and printed it on good paper for framing. It came out beautifully, though a little oddly-shaped. Bruce Burdett, in SW NH Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 08:36:34 -0700 Hi all, I have updated my web page with new bluebird pictures of fledglings seen in our backyard over the holiday weekend as well as new feeder bird pictures. I am still tweaking the formatting a bit (there's some extra space on the bluebird page that shouldn't be there), but the page is okay otherwise. Feel free to take a look! http://home.earthlink.net/~emilys7 We were so excited to see three of the four that fledged on May 7th back in our yard over the weekend, hunting, drinking from the birdbath, and hanging out with Mom and Dad. They went from being mostly absent since the fledge to in our sight off and on all day! ... Emily Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 21:33:21 -0700 (PDT) Hello all - I added a couple of photographs of bluebirds to my personal website, one is a male on one of my nesting boxes the other is a female on a stump. For anyone that doesn't have anything better to do and wants to take a look, here is the URL address: http://home.midsouth.rr.com/conservewildlife/photos.htm No color was added to the photographs. This is the way my digital camera recorded them. Both were taken in the shade which seems to bring out the blue much better. The website address is long so you may need to do a copy and paste to get in the full address. On my browser anything in an address that appears on another line will not work. Best regards, Bruce Johnson Date: Wed, 05 Jun 2002 02:17:28 -0000 Bluebirds in Binghamton, NY. 5 eggs hatched May 11, 4 survivors fledged June 1. Pictures posted at this site: http://moogarchives.com/bluebird.htm From: Simon Theresa"at"Bowecho.com i have five baby something-or-others that will be ready to fledge in a week or less.... can someone send me to a site where I can find pictures of juvenile HOSPs so that I can make sure that I am not unleashing even MORE HOSPs on my neighborhood? I don't want to let them fledge if they are HOSPs, but I certainly don't want to harm them if they are anything else. -theresa Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 01:24:21 -0000 --- In bluebirdtrail"at"y..., "bluesbros617" r.luther"at"g...
wrote: It's been 2 weeks now. The babies are now visiting with their mom. The male (not the father) is courting the mother, they've built a new nest in the same box. He won't have anything to do with the fledglings now, in fact he chases them away from the food. New pictures at this location: Subject: OT: Nice Tree Swallow photo I was able to get really close to the Tree swallows as they were defending an empty box. Check it out at http://www.virtualbuilder.com/archives/000014.html -- Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 11:50:45 -0400 Friends, Yesterday, I had the good luck to photograph an immature
eastern bluebird and I forwarded a copy to a number of you who
had such nice things to say about bluebirds but more importantly
about me! The photograph created confusion among the constituency.
A few dear friends accused me of devious things--such as being
a professional or even an artist. Well you all can imagine how
that smarts! Subj: Bluebird Photography(Fact & Fiction) Date: 1/4/00 8:41:49 PM Central Standard Time From: mrsimple"at"earthlink.net (Wendell Long) Dear Loving, Giving and Forgiving Friends and Pals All--Hear ya, hear ye, please lend me your ear! My bride changed to Gilbertson from Peterson, Kentucky Slot, Nabs boxes because she liked them. I don't claim to be a bird expert here on this list of the most informed birding people of all. I do claim to be among the worlds great Bluebird photographers. Those of you who are graduates of my Advanced Bluebird Photography Internet Workshop know how good you are after completing you homework. You also know how much those payments on your new lens hurts. I do prefer the Gilbertson when I am photographing at the nest box. For several reasons, included among them: 1. When I need more natural light for greater speed, I gain 1/2 f stop by the bird being near a reflective surface, allowing me to use a slower film speed and achieve an accurate special Bluebird color, of which there is none other so beautiful. 2. The box is kewl in fashion and ambiance. 3. It allows a loving pair in a flattering position for a cover page on top of the flat top. 4. It has a good leading line perspective when one bird is at the hole and the other is looking down from top. 5. It is flattering background as the bird flies away from the hole when you are shooting from the front toward the box. 6. It is a better size when shooting within 9ft from the hole with a lens between 300-600mm range. 7. The bird when on final landing approach has a pleasing set of the wings and legs compared to other boxes. A set that resembles the set when approaching a natural nest cavity in a tree or fence post. 8. Lastly but not leastly, it blocks less view when shooting from behind and getting in tight for a close up just before the bird enters with it's bug. Now, I am not as stupid as I look and I realize if you don't photograph you do not care at all about this and those of you who paint already know all about it. But sometimes I am amazed in some of my Internet Bluebird Workshops, in my mind, for Senior Advanced Professional Wildlife Photographers, how little they pay attention to the detail around the bird. Believe me, after one week here on the Ridge, they notice the Bluebird box or I kick 'em out and send them home without their breakfast grits! That shows 'em! Thunderation, they could be wasting their time in another workshop! But for the few who do enjoy photographing Bluebirds in a serious and enjoyable way and are addicted to it as one has to become, consider your box in your photograph if you are doing bird/box combinations for advertising, internet, books, editors, magazines or just plain ole fun as your hobby. And just for fun and proof to yourself, measure your graycard next to a Gilbertson vs other boxes and see what you come up with. All serious Bluebird Photographers on the list, feel free to email a small jpg attachment and I will be your critic if you are open minded and take helpful criticism easily without taking yourself seriously---only your photography ok? No charge of course--why would I charge for something I enjoy doing anyway? Same as my free internet Bluebird Photography Workshop(no charge-but limited number is 5 students at one time) But please keep your shots as small as my little screen, in the neighborhood of 13 inches. Digital, scanned, negative, positive, other; let me know what. Now you characters on here(you know who you are) don't go sending me jokes, and so called funny pics. Not looking for a bunch of comedians here, save it for the humor network. All nudes will be returned and you will be reported to Keep it Clean committee, Honorary General Chairman, former Playboy Photographer and all around great writer--Well you can guess who that is, without my naming her here! Wendell Long Waynesville,OH ... Thanks to the committee for publishing my poem--The Bluebird Season. My best work by far. I am honored to have it among the premier writers.
Subj: Beginning Bluebird Photography(plus simply good to be alive isn't it) Date: 1/17/00 3:52:00 PM Central Standard Time From: mrsimple"at"earthlink.net (Wendell Long) Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu Friends: All my box holes are the same if I use the same rule: 1 9/16 man that is close to 1 1/2 about that much }{oops about 1/2 that much.That looks more like 1/8 rather than 1/16 on my screen. They seem to be okay. I have been ask to increase my beginning Nestbox Internet Bluebird Photography Workshop to accomodate members of the list and those interested in Bluebird Photography but have no experience or almost none. I have one open slot for such a student of Beginning Nestbox Bluebird Photography Internet Workshop. Open to someone on the bluebird list at no charge. This is for beginners, if you are advanced and/or experienced bird photographer this is not the right workshop for you. Here, I assign a total of 5 photos for you to complete, as one is completed you then go on to the next until all 5 have been made to your satisfaction. Simple as this: 1. I email you an attachment for you to make a photograph at the nestbox as similiar as you can get to mine. Here in number 1 we start out easy--just a close up of a bluebird at the nest box hole. (Just a dull shot as one friend called it) Your choice of equipment and film or digital. 2. Next shot same shot but more interesting in some way by expression, action, movement as you judge to be. 3. Next, two bluebirds at the nestbox. 4. Bluebird leaving the nest in flight. 5. Bluebird approaching nest with wings set for landing or just before with wings in interesting flight pattern. Things we try to accomplish will be: Sharp, bright, clear photos. Framed as close as possible but still maintain good focus and color balance. Natural look, without flash or computer manipulation--just as they come from the camera. Improvement from number 1 assignment thru number 5 when compared with pleasing and interesting composotion and technical image effect. Maximum of two weeks given to complete each assignment from time you receive my attachment example. If this is something you want to do, drop me an email withing the next day, telling me of your interest. I have only one opening since I dont run large workshops, so this kind of learning is based more on the individually guided education and interest of the person, but the basic 5 items I list must be completed before any other work is done. Why do I do this someone ask? It's fun! I enjoy it! And it fits my joy of living. That is giving=growth and learning=joy and growth=freedom of spirit. Sorry, I don't have anything to sell or buy. I must add my grandaughter is doing very well thank you to those who let me brag to you. If you want to be added to waiting list for the beginning workshop let me know your timeframe and I will let you know if we can work it out. For those who ask about my creative writing workshop, I don't do that one anymore since my diagnosis of parkinson's and wife's MS.(I would write it out, but I never learned to spell it). I Ran outa time for teaching, now trying to spend more time learning how good life really can be! Wish I were sixteen again and as smart as our lister who said he/she was 14 yrs old and expressed the joy of helping his grandpa with bluebirding. If you missed his post, you missed one of the most thrilling pieces. What hope he gave us about what wonderful young people are around today! Plus I like the way he tells us who he is when he writes! He knows who he is and by gollie he let's us know too. Thank you--you know who you are. I just wonder who gave you such a good start in life? Did anyone save his post I am talking about? I don't have his permission to use his name or I would just blurt it out right here, stand up on my bluebird box and give a speech in his honor!! But a hint would be, if I remember it right, he has the first name of a big country songwriter and singer. Bless his little pea pickin heart. No no not Tennesse Earnie Ford nor Tennessee Williams either. By the way,speaking of williams, to Jim Williams, Are you still our editor. If you are I miss hearing from you now and then. I don't mean the notes where you spoke of my clutter and rambling LOL. I mean just saying Hi, are you ok?? I see your name on the Bluebird. And yes save some Dreams for the future. Wendell Long PS Boy it was cold. I sat in my van and cheated this morning, but the titmouse came in and posed anyway. He doesn't stay long though--he just grabs that seed and whoosh he's gone. But the sun went in and I was using 50 iso Velvia so he was a little fast for me--had to go down to 2.8f and 125 shutter. It's rough. PSS: I have spent lots of time on the internet,different list, chat rooms, IMs, on and on for several years now and have seen many improvements both in fun and serious Internet sites. I have met more nice people and got to know some fairly well though have not met personally. But, I bet many of you can agree, you have not met a group, where all around, total character, spirit, warmth and understanding is greater anywhere than the bluebird-L! If there is such a place, please tell me for I have missed it and I will join. I am not running for office,I vote for the guy who is, I've been there(not here),but I was President of something one time, as the popular saying of the day seems to be. But I would be surprised if my feelings are not shared about this list. Thanks to Cornell and the NABS for such good work! If I were a joiner I would go out and join something right now! Well, assuming dues free of course. Ok Ok I hush, you don't have to yell!!! Subj: Micheal D. Smith/mad bluebird Date: 1/23/00 8:42:03 AM Central Standard Time From: kridler"at"1starnet.com (Keith & Sandy Kridler) Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas ... In 1977 M.D. Smith had the photographs of "his" bluebirds published in National Geographic 151: pages 854-865. For those interested in photo tips for Wendell's class :-) you can get by with a tripod, a decent 35 mm camera and the stock 50 mm lens. You will need a cable release, I use a cheap "air release" (a squeeze bulb that pushes air through a 60' plastic tube) to trip the shutter. An automatic advance is great so you do not have to walk up to the box and manually advance the film. With this system you can get fair close-ups by setting the camera at it's closest focus setting on the nestbox or just in front to capture the parents feeding "on the wing". Set the tripod and a fake camera up a day or two ahead of when you can take pictures...Try to chose a day with thin high clouds to reduce shadows if not using a flash. Use a high shutter speed to slow the wings and other movement. Trying to find the information on the "research" into the "why's" of the Peterson Oval hole which Haleya asked for, I watched the videos "BLUEBIRD TRAILS" & "JEWELS OF BLUE" done for/by the Minnesota group in 1988 and they tied/staged a live Starling to the top of a nestbox to record the interaction of the bluebirds. A disruption at the nestbox will often get both parents fluttering in front of the box so a camera focused there with get both adults at the same time....If you try to get a shot of the parents feeding "on the fly" coming into the box you will most likely end up with a shot of a tail entering the hole....But if you block the inside of the box so the birds cannot feed (this is only for a few minutes!!!!!) they will flutter beautifully just at the entrance.....After four summers of frustration and poor shots I reeled off 36 exposures in just under 5 minutes with about 16 of them OK for inclusion in my "garden club" slide program....I expect they are good enough to get a D- from Wendell.... I have heard of those who feed mealworms, staging shots where they feed on top of one camera and shoot the picture of the "blues" with another camera and these are adorable.....The one I saw had the caption "OK kids, say worm!" With a lot of luck and feeding on the top of the "working" camera you might end up with a full frontal shot of the "blue" as it comes in for a landing on the camera/feeding station....Most of these ideas really work better with video cameras as they capture all the movement/sounds and you can edit 4 or five hours of tape into the good short segments...KK PS maybe Wendell will share film types!!!! I use Kodachrome
64 for true colors and the old Ektachrome when I wanted a really
dark blue "bluebird" as Kodachrome shows more reds/yellows
and Ektachrome was heavy on blue saturation. This has been replaced
with Elitechrome now. Subj: PhotoWorkshop(Keith&Sandy) Date: 1/23/00 11:14:55 AM Central Standard Time From: mrsimple"at"earthlink.net (Wendell Long) Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu My Bluebird Photographic Workshop by way of the Internet will take a one week break next week, because the leader(me) is stuck in the snow in his back field and his overalls are filled with ice and snow and field mice! He awaits the arrival of a Red-tailed hawk to come to his rescue! In the meantime, I am going to beg Keith and Sandy Kridler to join in presenting some of the finer points of Bluebird Photography. (Rumor has it--now I have no facts--that Keith was caught in the jungles of Africa when he was a staff photographer for National Geographic Magazine back in the 30s during the depression, photographing something other than a bluebird? Sandy claims those rumors are without foundation and were created to hurt Keith's reputation in the Mt. Pleasant community--a community with above agerage standards. I would never doubt Sandy. But Keith, well I think Sandy feeds him a bunch of that stuff he writes and she lets him take the credit! But don't tell him I said so. All I know for sure is that one of my buddies down there in Longview a former Baptist preacher, told me that Sandy found Keith out in the shed look at old National Geographic Magazine copies of years ago and that he claimed to be doing "M. D. Smith mean looking bluebird research." Now I ask you does that make good sense. Anyway, Keith writes of Bluebird photography in his recent post. And I must say, as usual, he makes very good sense with his tips for Bluebird Photography. As far as a grade is concerned sounds closer to an A than a D. I would like to join in the Amen corner on a couple of points. The importance of birdwatching before photographing will save time and expense and get better results. Certain flight patterns are set and repeated and will allow you to guess the flight. I usually plant dead trees about 50 ft or so from the nest box where the bluebirds want to land before making final approach to the box when feeding. They are pretty dependable when feeding. Many times the male will "scout" if he is not carrying a bug and fly the test pattern before giving permission to the female to come on down with the bug(much and Keith and Sandy do The question on film types. I don't have a favorite except I need one that fits the situation(yeah I know ole situation ethics) Well, when I worked my NY High fashion studio for the Paris houses I made absolute statements such as "tease the lens" and stuff. But bluebird photography doesn't require that. It is much more relaxing! So my film ranges from Fuji Velvia 50 ISO to Tri-X400 B&W. The two I have used mostly would be Kodak Kodachrome 64 and Kodak color film 200 speed. But it depends on lens speed, light, direction, movement,tripod, handheld,etc.My best bud, the best shooter I know, uses new Kodak 100vs pro.film almost for everything. My daughters are into the video as Keith mentions he likes to use. I have made an effort to remain uninformed about video. Just do not have the interest or ability to do it. I want to yell one more Amen from the corner. That is where Mr K speaks of using a 50mm setup if that is what you have right now. Having the interest and getting started is the important thing! I started with a baby brownie plastic box years ago(though I lost the camera along the way) and still have some good negatives from those years. Photos of my pals. One more consideration on the it depends thing. What are you shooting for? That is Computer screen, magazine, newspaper, snapshots for your own fun, slide shows for groups, large reproductions for display, etc. All that will help you decide what film to choose. I use digital too, but not when shooting birds. I and or the equipment or both not good enuf yet, but soon will be, but far too expensive for my use now. However digital is convenient for test shots to preview on computer but mine are not for final shots. Anyway, I won't be here when I get out of the snow next week, I will be attending the KK National Geographic Work Shed viewing old Magazines for special features to be held just outside the city limits of Mt Pleasant 121 miles east of Dallas, sixty one miles southwest of Texarkana! Where it will be a pleasant 55 F. Here in Southwest Ohio it is a pleasant 22 degrees F. Wendell Long Bluebird Photographer And former Honorary co-chairperson, Exacta community of SLRs Subj: Re: Bluebirds in the snow! Date: 1/23/00 11:02:46 PM Central Standard Time From: mrsimple"at"earthlink.net (Wendell Long) At 10:31 PM 1/23/00 -0800, you wrote: I have done it before and it make me very mad. I hope you can get some Pics Monday. Maynard R Sumner Flint, Michigan On Sun, 23 Jan 2000 09:16:45 EST CBCHRISTIE"at"aol.com writes:Had a very special site yesterday at the bird bath. Three bluebirds (two males and a female) decided to stop by for a drink. First bluebirds I've seen all winter in my area (Potterville Michigan). Got the camera out (35 mm with zoom lens) and took 14 great pics. One problem though, my camera said I had taken 13 PICS so I figured I had plenty of film to take the 14 pics. Wrong! After taking the pics I went to change the roll of film and found out there wasn't any in the camera to start with. How disappointing, sure hope they come back today, I have three cameras with different lens on each and all loaded with film this time! Bluebirds in the snow, not much else in this world that is so beautiful. CLARENCE B CHRISTIE POTTERVILLE MICHIGAN TEMP 22 WITH LIGHT WINDS AND A DUSTING OF SNOW clarence and maynard posts. Yes we all have done that and make us very mad. If you have not done it yet you will. I have also taken lots of pics with middle gray snow!! Then my ole pal, Ansel Adams, clued me in. He was a good but hard teacher. He says to me "Hey dumbo," that was his pet name for me before simple, he says don't you know the camera meters see middle gray when it's white or black, doesn't matter it will expose for middle gray. I use to wonder why my snow looked so dirty and my black looked so faded. Auto middle gray. Anyway, what a big letdown from the excitement when you open that camera body and nothing, no film, not even gray snow! So, my brothers in arms in the photo wars do this when they are on an important shoot,such as bluebirds in snow. On back of camera post the end of the film box by whatever means possible if film is loaded. If film is exposed and rewound turn over box to plain side. If no film in camera at all, then no post on back of body says load me! I know you gota remember to change the notice. You wanta talk mad, another thing--camera on tripod in vertical position and you try to rewind film backward and wonder whats wrong with this thing 'till the handle breaks. OK OK so u have auto rewind--excuse me. Bluebirds have flown away anyway when they hear that thing going mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Wendell Long... Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 20:00:13 EST From: RWil2654"at"aol.com Subject: Re: Bird Blinds HI List can anyone give me a web site that has designs for bird blind in nature centers? I need something that doesn't look like a homeless person built it out of plywood. I need this information quite soon as they want to build plywood binds in a beautiful place and they will not be compatible with the surrounding habitat. Bob Wilson 2654 Sperber Lane Grand Junction, CO 81506 39* 06.21N 108*33.61 W 4,635 elevation http://www.crosswinds.net/~bluebirdbob/ http://www.dnr.state.co.us/wildlife/volunteer/bluebirdproject.htm Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 20:54:58 EST From: RWil2654"at"aol.com Subject: Re; Wildlife Center Blinds What I am looking for is a blind design for a Nature Center than would hold at lest 15-20 kids and handicapped accessible. Bob Wilson... Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 23:30:39 -0600 From: "Fread Loane" Subject: Re: Unobtrusive Bird Blind A very effective and natural blind for birding can be constructed from four lengths of soft wire and a quanity of dry grasses or rushes. In my country, we use a wild rush that is called "Slough Hay". It grows in riverbottoms along fields in great quanity. Most of it will stand approximately four feet in height and can be easily cut with a scythe. To Form the Blind: You will need two pair of soft wires. Six foot lengths are easy to work with. Lay each pair of wires on the ground, approximately two feet apart, and secure the end of each pair by simply twisting them together with a pair of pliers. Now cut you a quantity of 3-4' reeds, rushes, or grasses. Have the "cutter" bring these to you, attempting to keep the material all lying in one direction. Take a big handful of the material and place it between the strands of one pair of the wires and simply twist the wires a couple of times to hold it firmly in place. Now, do the same with the other pair of wire strands. As you "weave" this grass mat, try to keep the bottom of the mat all the same length. When you run out of wire, simply twist more wire to the other strands. Just remember that you most likely will build this on site of where the materials are gathered and will then have to carry it to your vehicle......so, don't get carried away with too long of woven grass mats! To carry them, simply roll them up! A simple frame of sticks can be wired together and the lengths of woven mat attached to them. They can form the sides and the roof of the blind very efficiently and should last at least for one season of normal wear. I hope my description is of value here and is understood. In essence, your grass mat will be similar to the old roll down 'split bamboo' sun shades that used to be so popular on porches-----only you will be using grasses, sedges, reeds etc. with only two pair of weaver wires to hold the material tightly together. This is an easily made blind requiring only the wire (which used to be free in the days of baling wire!). It can be portable and set up quickly. It will also blend in with the surroundings quite effectively if you use some cut limbs to further disguise the "block" form. Two people can assemble such grass mats quite easily and quickly. Fread J. Loane Tulsa, Oklahoma A Mourning Dove has built her nest in a Yaupon Holly and has a single egg! Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 22:48:14 EST From: Tsapling"at"aol.com Subject: re photos I am passing on a hint that I got from someone that when you have a photo that you want to last, to take the time and get special glass cut for the frame that screens out the UV rays. It is inexpensive. I just did it today for the photos that Wendell Long allowed us to download, and got some of my more important family photos done at the same time. Tina Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2000 17:29:53 -0500 From: "wlc164wlc" To: Subject: Photographing Bluebirds Hello Lynn (from Reading) and fellow bluebirders. Can anyone share experience and suggestions as to type, brand of digital camcorders, i.e. what to look for for good picture quality, ease of use, distance of lens, etc.; would appreciate very much as I my husband and I have been checking into and don't really know what we're looking for. We can only assume digital is the way to go if we want to eventually see pictures and/or videos on the TV/VCR and/or computer. Thanks much! Wanda, SE PA Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 10:07:32 -0600 From: "Wright, Merlin C." mcwrigh"at"nppd.com To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu Subject: RE: Bird Blinds www.cabelas.com Merlin Wright at Brownville Nebraska HI List can anyone give me a web site that has designs for bird blind in nature centers? I need something that doesn't look like a homeless person built it out of plywood. I need this information quite soon as they want to build plywood binds in a beautiful place and they will not be compatible with the surrounding habitat. Bob Wilson Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 18:17:25 -0400 From: "Paul Murray" paul"at"fifthdaycreations.com To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu Subject: Photographing Bluebirds Will the flash from a camera hurt the baby bluebirds eyes in anyway? Paul Fifth Day Creations.com... Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 07:36:22 EDT Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 06:47:24 -0500 I am not a professional, but I don't believe I have ever seen
a bird act like it had even seen the flash! Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 13:05:38 -0400 I am so excited. I have been 'blue-birding' now for about 3
years, but all my boxes have only been occupied by Chickadees,
Titmice, and Swallows, so this is exciting!
I am a bird photographer, and I was wondering how to get photos
of the babies after they hatch. The top comes off on this bluebird
box (unlike the side doors) so I can look down into the box.
I know that after the babies are 12 days old, you shouldn't
look inside, because the babies could prematurely leave the
nest, but I was wondering if I could get a few photos of the
babies the first few days. I am just looking for 1, maybe 2
photos, and I will only be there for less than 30 seconds, focus
the camera, depress the shutter, nothing else than that. Is
this ok to do? Like I said, I would be there less than a minute.
Thanks for any helpful input; Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 07:31:15 -0500 Dan, I have one top-opening box and took the opportunity this
year to snap a few pictures of one clutch of little eastern
bluebirds. If you are quick
about it, it should cause no problems.
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 12:15:05 -0400 Somebody mentioned to me a few days ago that it is ok to take
the nest out of the box for photos. She said she showed children
the nest by taking it out. Without a flash, I can't get adequate
photos in the box. So, I've decided it's better not to get photos
inside the box than to have something wrong with the babies.
But, is it ok to take the nest out for a few seconds, snap a
photo, and put it back in as soon as I took it out? Will this
harm the babies? I will not take the nest out if the sun beaming
down. Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 11:33:15 -0700 ... Go ahead and do it. It won't harm the young. A few seconds
of sun exposure also won't prove harmful to the young. We do
it all the time as we chronical some of our boxes. Have fun as you record your nest's progress for posterity...
How about sharing some of them when you're done?
Best regards, Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 09:04:47 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA Update: They still haven't fledged - we sure are confused by
what must have been going on the other day. Holding our breath
until take-off! :-) Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 13:06:39 -0500 Friends, Anyone interested in getting together for a wildlife photo
workshop this year? I am considering the following to determine the amount of interest
if any? Please let me know your thoughts? The 2002 schedule for my MrSimple Photographic Workshops is
as follows: E-mail if you have any interest. I have one opening remaining
in each workshop except the Waynesville location is filled,
will add you if you want on standby. These workshops are designed for Seniors only and will require
some hiking but not as much as a teenager is capable of doing.
Seniors are defined as age 40 plus(sorry). If a couple wants
to include a child(must be at least age 12). Limit one child
per couple. Grandparents are not allowed(the Grandparents part
is a joke--grin required here) I also need one able bodied assistant as a gaffer(whatever
that is) for heavy equipment. Gaffer does not pay my $20. fee.
Big deal huh? I limit these workshops to Bluebird-L members only, so you
will know some people and will want to avoid certain ones depending
who has signed up. I cannot imagine being in the same group
as Bruce Burdett for example! (Hope that is a joke---is he ok,
I have not heard from him since he was reading his new camera
instructions last month). Has anyone heard from Bruce or Fread??
Let me know, if you just have to attend a workshop that is
full, I will let you teach in my spot. But I won't pay. All the foregoing is a survey to determine the amount of interest
only--nothing is set in concrete yet, but if there is enough
interest we will lay plans accordingly. Write me and express
your thoughts please? Look forward to hearing from the photo
buffs on the list. Will let you know what the results are in
a future posting. Thanks for your time. Should there be enough
real and sincere interest in such an affair, any one or more,
we will form a committee of the whole and lay specific plans
accordingly. This does not have the blessing nor the wrath of
Cornell or NABS. Just something I want to do with my pals on
the Bluebird List, and am trying to decide the locations where
greatest number of people show the most likely spots where they
would be able to attend considering the travel and total expense
and distance etc. Thanks Again for responding. Sincerely, Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002 17:52:48 -0500 Friends, I have received a suggestion that I start an old fashioned
Internet discussion group, similar to the original Wendell Long
Institute, but limited to those who enjoy Nature and Wildlife
photography, especially those who photograph bluebirds and other
cavity nesters and use either a digital or film camera. I am
more than happy to announce the organization of such a discussion
list. We will keep it simple, as we did the first one. All you
need to do is send me your email address and I will add it to
the group and provide you with a list of the members and their
email addresses. When you post you just email the group list
from your email address book and all of us will read your post.
If you want to say something good about a member and don't want
them to see it you just leave that person's address out of your
post when you send. Only interested members of the Bluebird-L and the WLInst are
invited to join. Just send me the E-mail address you want to
use for the discussion group and tell me to count you in or
sign you up or something original like that. We will exchange
our own photographs if you want and also exchange our own great
photography of wildlife. This will be the home group for the
Wildlife photography nuts--or semi-nuts. I hope you will join before the group is filled. We will have
to limit ourselves to 30 members in order for all to have plenty
of space to talk and discuss as much as is needed. I am especially
interested in those who have shown such a great interest in
photography in the past and have been taking or learning to
take photos of wild birds. I will acknowledge your membership
by return E-mail. I think you will enjoy this. Thank you. I
look forward to your response. Sincerely, PS: The Name of the Group will be:The Natural Selection of
Wildlife Photographers. Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 17:49:28 -0400 I was recently given an educational kit that was put together
and distributed by NABS. I can find no year on it. In this kit
are four numbered and signed prints by Pennell Turner. One is
of male and female Eastern Bluebirds, one is male Mountain bluebird,
one is male Western Bluebird feeding a nestling, and the last
is of three fledglings. I did an Internet search to find more
information on Pennell Turner, but was unsuccessful. Can anyone
on the list tell me who Pennell Turner was? Nature Club of Central New York Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 12:27:48 -0500 Marie Hicks Marietta, GA March 6, 2003 I am interested in photographing nesting activity inside a
nest box that opens from the side. However, I don't want to
startle and/or scare off the birds inside. How do you open this
type of box to monitor or photograph without freaking out the
birds? There is no glass partition inside the drop down door
on this box. Does anyone have suggestions for a nonstressful
photo method, ie, fiber optic camera, etc.? Are the top opening
boxes better for monitoring and photographing? I have noticed
some awesome photos on links from this list and would greatly
appreciate any advice on photographing bluebirds in general.
My bluebirds have a real "social anxiety disorder"
when I try to get close, with or without a camera! I really
envy you guys who have a friendly rapport with your bluebirds!
I am having some success "buying their friendship"
with mealworms. Maybe if I wear a bright blue jacket and a red
vest... :-) Thanks for this great bluebird info source!! Marie (enjoying bluebirds in the Atlanta 'burbs!) Morning Light Photography, Inc. Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 14:29:38 -0500 My slot box in the back yard opens on the side.
I have photos of babies bluebirds.
As far as I know, without putting bands on them, this is the
same male and female I have had before in this box.
This is why I say it is the same ones. As I am taking the photos
the male or female will set on my head. Some times as I am cutting
the grass the bluebirds will ride on my head looking for some
thing to eat. Maynard Sumner From: Okatsam"at"aol.com Malinda Mastako Hello Marie! Taking photos inside a nestbox can be a little
tricky. I shot the photos for the nesting ezzzy in "The
Bluebird Monitor's Guide". The nestlings had daily photo
sessions and quickly became accustomed to it (as did their parents).
A side opening box presents several problems, though. First,
the roof will prevent sunlight from entering to light your subject.
You will most likely then need a flash. The roof also makes
it difficult to get a good angle, reach the camera in, get your
eye to the camera, etc. Secondly, the built up sides of the
nestcup will shield much of what you are trying to photograph,
especially when the young are newly hatched. Later on in age,
they will "hunker down" to hide when you open the
box and it will be a problem again. Does your box have screws
on the roof so that you could remove it for the photos? I had
a Springer Chalet style nestbox for the book photos and took
the roof off for the nestshots, suing a step stool for extra
height. The side could be either removed or swung up independently
of the roof for blowfly checks when needed. I believe Wild Birds
Unlimited also makes a nestbox that opens both ways. If you
already have a nest going, you might want to keep these things
in mind for the future and have a more user friendly box up
and ready to go a week or so before the fledging of this brood.
You also asked about how you might cure your pair's "social
anxiety" and get them more used to you being around the
box. I had the advantage of a well experienced pair of blues
who knew me, though each bird has it's own individual personality
so your results may not be the same. I spent a LOT of time outside
with them, sitting quietly, doing chores around the yard, filling
their feeder and daily checking the box as we went along. It's
great if you can monitor when you already see the female out
of the box. When you approach the box it helps to have a routine
that they can accustom themselves to. Whistle as you approach,
step to the side and tap on the box to give a warning, and then
open slowly. If you are eye to eye with "mama" just
close the door and wait for another opportunity. She may sit
tight, so try not to freak out....at least until you shut the
door and get some distance! They quickly realize that you mean
no harm and belong in the area. We had a busy backyard with
kids activities, a trampoline, mowers, you name it, and the
blues never batted an eye over any of it. Though mine never
sat on my head while I took photos, as Maynard Sumner's blues
do, (I LOVED THAT POST, BY THE WAY!!) we developed a rhythm
of respect for eachother's activities and adjusted accordingly.
They usually sat a few feet away during nest checks, or used
the check as an opportunity to grab a fast meal. It will take
an investment of time on your part, but it is well worth it.
I have very fond memories of watching them for hours, taking
notes on their activities and anticipating the future events
and milestones. Having photos to document the stages will make
it even more meaningful for you. I hope it works out and that
you will have many nesting opportunites this year! Malinda Mastako From: "Phil Berry" phil4643"at"msn.com Marie, Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2003 16:07:41 -0500 Maynard Sumner, your post about the bluebirds perching on your
head while you are mowing the lawn or photographing them at
their nesting boxes---well I just have not been able to get
that picture out of my mind and I have a few questions and special
requests if you will allow such. First of all what cap or hat
if any do you wear? Are you bald? Do you wear a Detroit Tigers
baseball cap? Have you tried a yellow hard hat? If you wear
a red one do the ruby-throated hummingbirds stop by and perch
long enough to take a picture? If you have such photographs
in your extensive collection, would you be kind enough to forward
one to me personally attached to an email. I would be forever
grateful my friend. Should you not have a photographic record
of such a special moment on file, I am willing to work with
you in order to put you in the photo history books. Here's the
way I have it figured: I estimate it will take me about 4 hours
to drive to Flint from Waynesville. So the next time you are
photographing or cutting the grass would you please carry your
cell phone and call me when the bluebird lights on your head.
I will have my camera gear packed and will leave immediately
by the most direct route, if you can guarantee me that the bird
will remain perched for at least 4.5 hours(thus allowing me
30 minutes for tripod set up as you continue to mow or photograph)?
I would of course expect to split the profits from the sale
of such a master piece of art with you at the standard 60-40%
going rate. I think it would be plenty to pay your expenses
for your planned 6 months in Florida next winter. I realize
this is asking a lot from you, especially if you have a small
yard and will have to keep re-mowing over and over again until
I can get there, but I think all our friends on the bluebird-L
discussion list would be willing to pay top dollar for such
a photograph, don't you? Please post your thoughts by return post as soon as you have
the time. I realize you are a man of few words and that you
make each word count, so I do not expect a long reply or a lengthy
contract for such an adventure. Sincerely Yours, your pal, PS: And of course I shall reimburse you for the expense of
lawn mower gasoline. Fair is fair. And feel free to discuss
with your Sunday School Class before making a final decision
since I would be crossing state lines for such a project and
I am not sure what ethics may apply in such a case. From: rindfleisch12"at"elknet.net Here’s a question for all you shutterbugs…. Last spring, I purchased a 500 mm lens for my camera and could
hardly wait to use it. It was a beautiful sunny day. Packed
up my gear and the new lens, a chair and planted myself to get
a super pix while the EABL’s were just starting their nest building.
Everything is set-up – tri-pod secure, camera & lens focused
on the house. Time to get comfortable and wait for the little
couple – and with just one click, I’ll have my perfect shot
upon their arrival. Right? About 30-45 minutes of patient, quiet waiting, I realized that
I had nothing to drink. I can’t go thirsty! Besides, the blues
were in the nearby trees still, deciding if it was safe to return
to their house and finish building their nest. I didn’t think
my departure would be a big deal for a quick visit to the house
and resume my wait with beverage in hand. I was about 20-30 steps away when I could hear the familiar
chirp from where I was just sitting! Sure enough, I turn and
there he is, right on top of my camera ready to get a shot of
the little lady in their new home! If only I would have had
another camera to take a pix of the little blue photographer.
It was too funny. I guess he liked the viewing advantage, as
he stayed there for some time. Looked like a Picture Pefect
perch! Too cold today (-3 F). Even my little ducks were shivering
this morning. Thankfully, a warm up is on the way. Good luck shutter bugs, On Sat, 8 Mar 2003 14:59:28 -0500 Marie Hicks wrote: Thanks for all the wonderful encouragement and advice about
PS maybe Wendell will share film types!!!! I use Kodachrome 64 for true colors and the old Ektachrome when I wanted a really dark blue "bluebird" as Kodachrome shows more reds/yellows and Ektachrome was heavy on blue saturation. This has been replaced with Elitechrome now. I am passing on a hint that I got from someone that when you have a photo that you want to last, to take the time and get special glass cut for the frame that screens out the UV rays. It is inexpensive. I just did it today for the photos that Wendell Long allowed us to download, and got some of my more important family photos done at the same time.Tina
www.cabelas.com
Merlin Wright at Brownville Nebraska
HI List can anyone give me a web site that has designs for bird blind in nature centers? I need something that doesn't look like a homeless person built it out of plywood. I need this information quite soon as they want to build plywood binds in a beautiful place and they will not be compatible with the surrounding habitat.
Bob Wilson
Will the flash from a camera hurt the baby bluebirds eyes in anyway?
,Paul
Fifth Day Creations.com
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 07:36:22 EDT ,Paul
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 06:47:24 -0500 I am not a professional, but I don't believe I have ever seen a bird act like it even seen the flash! ...
Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 13:05:38 -0400 I am so excited. I have been 'blue-birding' now for about 3 years, but all my boxes have only been occupied by Chickadees, Titmice, and Swallows, so this is exciting!
I am a bird photographer, and I was wondering how to get photos of the babies after they hatch. The top comes off on this bluebird box (unlike the side doors) so I can look down into the box. I know that after the babies are 12 days old, you shouldn't look inside, because the babies could prematurely leave the nest, but I was wondering if I could get a few photos of the babies the first few days. I am just looking for 1, maybe 2 photos, and I will only be there for less than 30 seconds, focus the camera, depress the shutter, nothing else than that. Is this ok to do? Like I said, I would be there less than a minute.
Thanks for any helpful input;
Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 07:31:15 -0500 Dan, I have one top-opening box and took the opportunity this year to snap a few pictures of one clutch of little eastern bluebirds. If you are quick
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 12:15:05 -0400 Somebody mentioned to me a few days ago that it is ok to take the nest out of the box for photos. She said she showed children the enst by taking it out. Without a flash, I can't get adequate photos in the box. So, I've decided it's better not to get photos inside the box than to have something wrong with the babies. But, is it ok to take the nest out for a few seconds, snap a photo, and put it back in as soon as I took it out? Will this harm the babies? I will not take the nest out if the sun beaming down.
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 11:33:15 -0700 ...
Go ahead and do it. It won't harm the young. A few seconds of sun exposure also won't prove harmful to the young. We do it all the time as we chronical some of our boxes.
Have fun as you record your nest's progress for posterity... How about sharing some of them when you're done?
Best regards, Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 09:04:47 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA Update: They still haven't fledged - we sure are confused by what must have been going on the other day. Holding our breath until take-off! :-) Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 13:06:39 -0500 Friends, Anyone interested in getting together for a wildlife photo workshop this year? I am considering the following to determine the amount of interest if any? Please let me know your thoughts? The 2002 schedule for my MrSimple Photographic Workshops is as follows: E-mail if you have any interest. I have one opening remaining in each workshop except the Waynesville location is filled, will add you if you want on standby. These workshops are designed for Seniors only and will require some hiking but not as much as a teenager is capable of doing. Seniors are defined as age 40 plus(sorry). If a couple wants to include a child(must be at least age 12). Limit one child per couple. Grandparents are not allowed(the Grandparents part is a joke--grin required here) I also need one able bodied assistant as a gaffer(whatever that is) for heavy equipment. Gaffer does not pay my $20. fee. Big deal huh? I limit these workshops to Bluebird-L members only, so you will know some people and will want to avoid certain ones depending who has signed up. I cannot imagine being in the same group as Bruce Burdett for example! (Hope that is a joke---is he ok, I have not heard from him since he was reading his new camera instructions last month). Has anyone heard from Bruce or Fread?? Let me know, if you just have to attend a workshop that is full, I will let you teach in my spot. But I won't pay. All the foregoing is a survey to determine the amount of interest only--nothing is set in concrete yet, but if there is enough interest we will lay plans accordingly. Write me and express your thoughts please? Look forward to hearing from the photo buffs on the list. Will let you know what the results are in a future posting. Thanks for your time. Should there be enough real and sincere interest in such an affair, any one or more, we will form a committee of the whole and lay specific plans accordingly. This does not have the blessing nor the wrath of Cornell or NABS. Just something I want to do with my pals on the Bluebird List, and am trying to decide the locations where greatest number of people show the most likely spots where they would be able to attend considering the travel and total expense and distance etc. Thanks Again for responding. Sincerely, Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002 17:52:48 -0500 Friends, I have received a suggestion that I start an old fashioned Internet discussion group, similar to the original Wendell Long Institute, but limited to those who enjoy Nature and Wildlife photography, especially those who photograph bluebirds and other cavity nesters and use either a digital or film camera. I am more than happy to announce the organization of such a discussion list. We will keep it simple, as we did the first one. All you need to do is send me your email address and I will add it to the group and provide you with a list of the members and their email addresses. When you post you just email the group list from your email address book and all of us will read your post. If you want to say something good about a member and don't want them to see it you just leave that person's address out of your post when you send. Only interested members of the Bluebird-L and the WLInst are invited to join. Just send me the E-mail address you want to use for the discussion group and tell me to count you in or sign you up or something original like that. We will exchange our own photographs if you want and also exchange our own great photography of wildlife. This will be the home group for the Wildlife photography nuts--or semi-nuts. I hope you will join before the group is filled. We will have to limit ourselves to 30 members in order for all to have plenty of space to talk and discuss as much as is needed. I am especially interested in those who have shown such a great interest in photography in the past and have been taking or learning to take photos of wild birds. I will acknowledge your membership by return E-mail. I think you will enjoy this. Thank you. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, PS: The Name of the Group will be:The Natural Selection of Wildlife Photographers. Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 17:49:28 -0400 I was recently given an educational kit that was put together and distributed by NABS. I can find no year on it. In this kit are four numbered and signed prints by Pennell Turner. One is of male and female Eastern Bluebirds, one is male Mountain bluebird, one is male Western Bluebird feeding a nestling, and the last is of three fledglings. I did an Internet search to find more information on Pennell Turner, but was unsuccessful. Can anyone on the list tell me who Pennell Turner was? Brenda Nature Club of Central New York Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 12:27:48 -0500 Marie Hicks Marietta, GA March 6, 2003 I am interested in photographing nesting activity inside a nest box that opens from the side. However, I don't want to startle and/or scare off the birds inside. How do you open this type of box to monitor or photograph without freaking out the birds? There is no glass partition inside the drop down door on this box. Does anyone have suggestions for a nonstressful photo method, ie, fiber optic camera, etc.? Are the top opening boxes better for monitoring and photographing? I have noticed some awesome photos on links from this list and would greatly appreciate any advice on photographing bluebirds in general. My bluebirds have a real "social anxiety disorder" when I try to get close, with or without a camera! I really envy you guys who have a friendly rapport with your bluebirds! I am having some success "buying their friendship" with mealworms. Maybe if I wear a bright blue jacket and a red vest... :-) Thanks for this great bluebird info source!! Marie (enjoying bluebirds in the Atlanta 'burbs!) Morning Light Photography, Inc. To: bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu My slot box in the back yard opens on the side. |