Hummingbird Heaven in Arizona

Two years ago, I was visiting the hummingbird aviary at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson when I heard from other photographers about Madera Canyon, Arizona. This is a major migration stop-over area for migrating hummers. The next day I drove to the Canyon, but I was only able to stay for a few hours. Yes, indeed, there were many hummingbirds, so I made it a point to return in the future. In April 2012 I returned and this time we had reservations at the Santa Rita Lodge.

These broad-billed hummingbird images were taken right outside the lodge, where many birders and birds converge.

Hummer Hover

Hummer Splendor

Hummer Swandive

Happy Hummer

Colorific Hummer

Hummer Handstand

We heard from the birders that Sierra Vista (southeastern corner of Arizona near the Mexican border) area was also a hotspot for hummingbirds especially the Magnificent and the Lucifer hummers.

We traveled on to the famous Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast Inn (another birder mecca) in Sierra Vista, where we were rewarded with exciting sightings of the Rufous, Black-chinned, Magnificent and the elusive Lucifer hummingbirds. Mary Jo, the proprietor was a gracious host and she does a fabulous job of attracting a wide variety of beautiful birds to her property.

Rufous Rising

Black Chinned Bonanza

Magnificent

The Lucifer seemed to be the most sought after by birders and photographers. Birders travel from all over the US to this location to see the Lucifer hummingbird.

Elusive Lucifer

Hummingbirds can fly forward, backward, up, down, left, right and upside down or just hover. They dart about very quickly. A good time to photograph them is when they are hovering at a feeder or flower. They hover for only a second (or less), so anticipation is a factor for success.

These images were photographed with my Canon 500mm lens from 15 feet away (the nearest distance for this lens and still achieve focus) and Canon 1D Mark 4 body.

Annular Solar Eclipse – “Ring of Fire”

Witnessing a solar eclipse is an unforgettable event, but when it’s the annular solar eclipse, then it may be a once in a lifetime experience. In this eclipse, the moon does not completely cover the sun. When it is perfectly centered as a concentric circle within the circle of the sun it creates the effect known as the “ring of fire”.

Beth and I drove from Denver to Albuquerque with our friends Jim and Bev to experience this event. Albuquerque is the largest city in the western US that was directly on the “annular track”. We tried to prepare for this occasion by searching for special eclipse glasses to protect our eyes. Every place in Denver was sold out. Santa Fe, New Mexico had none. Then we discovered that the University of New Mexico Observatory in Albuquerque would be giving out 2000 pairs of protective glasses to those who attended their solar eclipse event. That became our destination!

Star Gazer Throng at the Observatory

We arrived at the observatory, joined the throng of thousands, and were fortunate enough to obtain glasses for the four of us. The celestial show started minutes later. First contact of the moon touching the sun was at 6:28p, full totality and annular ring of fire was 7:36p. What a sight!

Annular Eclipse – “Ring of Fire” as seen through solar eclipse glasses

Our eclipse solar shadows were unlike any shadow we have ever experienced. The altered shape of the sun’s glow gave our shadows strange, elongated and curved shapes.

Eclipse Shadow

As the sun and the moon set together in an unearthly embrace over the horizon, we wandered back to our car feeling that we had experienced an event of a lifetime.

Jim Geis and Bev Walter Watching the Eclipse

Beth and Rich Seeley Watching the Eclipse

Interview by the Boulder Daily Newspaper

I was the subject of an interview and video by the the Boulder Daily Camera Newspaper for the current Safari Spring show at the Creations Arts Gallery in Louisville, Colorado. Show ends May 26, 2012.

I will be doing a presentation on our Kenya safari adventure at the Louisville Library, Thursday May 17, 2012, 7-9p

You can read the interview and view the video at:

Interview and Video

Presentation on Wildlife in Kenya at Louisville Library

You are cordially invited to my presentation on our photography safari in Kenya.

The presentation will include images, video and interesting stories of our adventures at Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park and other places.

The presentation will take place at the Louisville Public Library, Louisville, Colorado, at 7-8p, Thurs May 17, 2012.

There will be a reception at the Creations Arts Gallery following the presentation.

Safari SpringPresentation 5-17-12

Hope to see you there.

Rich

Borrowing Burrows

It took 4 trips, the purchase of a bird blind and 5 hours of impatiently waiting in the blind for a burrowing owl to pop up out of its nest. Some photographers are just lucky enough to walk up to a burrowing owl, shoot the photo and successfully get the shot and be done. Not me.

Burrowing owls are small owls (about 9 inches tall)  and were at one time fairly common and widespread over western North America. Populations have declined and in some cases have disappeared due to human encroachment on their habitat. They are listed as endangered or threatened in a number of states and are endangered in Canada.

How Many Owls in this Image?

They do not dig their own burrows, but instead will “borrow” the vacated burrows created by prairie dogs and squirrels for nesting. The elimination/reduction of prairie dogs can cause the populations of the burrowing owls to collapse, further endangering them.

The burrowing owl is currently listed as threatened in Colorado.

Our first trip to find/photograph a burrowing owl was with the help of an Audubon guide, Bob Bradley, who was kind enough to lead us to the location of a nest near Grand Junction, Colorado. We found the nest, saw the owl – my very first sighting!

The second trip, using my 500mm lens and tripod I tried to get close enough, but the owl would fly off before I could approach within 300 feet. Too far for good photography.

On the the third trip to the nest site, we used the Honda Pilot as a bird blind. I was able to get to within 150 feet and start to see some detail in the bird, but still not close enough for good bird photography.

Burrowing Owl Barely Burrowed

For the final (I wish) and fourth trip, I first purchased a portable bird blind and was able to set up “camp” as close as 60 feet from the nest. The blind worked. I was able to get a few shots and video of one owl poking up above the rim of the nest. But it took 5 hours of waiting time. There has to be a better way?

Burrowing Owl Burrow Borrowed

Will there be a fifth trip? Well, I have to make use of my investment and it’s about time for some luck!

Bird Blind Side View

Bird Blind Front View

Comes with a chair, room for one, but no toilet facilities

Spring 2012 Newsletter

My Spring 2012 Newsletter is finally published.

Check out my great news about Denali National Park:

Spring 2012 Newsletter

Denali

Bison in Winter

I am always amazed when I watch and photograph bison in Yellowstone National Park in the winter. They seem docile, slow moving, peaceful, unconcerned and focused on foraging.  But we are not fooled - they are the most dangerous animal in the park. The bison’s temperament is often unpredictable, attacking without warning and can run at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. In Yellowstone, five times as many people are killed by bison than by bears every year.

Will Winter Ever End?

Winter is particularly difficult for bison. On average, 9 out of 100 adult bison will die during the winter. Generally these animals entered winter in poor condition due to age, disease, or injuries. Young bison entering their first winter face a higher risk of dying: 20 to 40 of every 100 first-year animals may die from accidents, winter exposure, or predation.

Tough Travel

Icy Morning

Bison are vegetarians and feed on grasses and sedges. Snow covered vegetation force the bison to dig into the snow to forage for food. They use their massive heads like a snowplow to clear away snow to reach the grasses below. In heavy snow years, bison may become trapped in a foraging area and not be able to reach new food sources, contributing to starvation.

Foraging Face

The snow plowed roads and snowmobile trails in Yellowstone have contributed to an improved survival rate of the bison. They are able to move to new foraging grounds by using the roads and trails.

Searching for New Foraging Grounds

One last point, the proper name is Bison, not Buffalo. Buffalo (water buffalo) are found in Africa, not America.

View this short video of bison foraging in the snow: