Picture Of The Week 08-25-08

Where: Falmouth, ME • Audubon's Hog Island

Notes: The best way I have found to get close to a bird is to anticipate where it will be next. This is surprisingly not hard to do with some birds after a little observation of their habits. This Neotropical migrant was foraging for insects in the soft morning light along the eastern shore of Audubon's Hog Island sanctuary (Audubon Hog Island Camp). Most birds have a morning and late afternoon feeding routine. I observed a small group of birds busily searching for breakfast and generally heading north along the edge of the water in their search. So I headed up the path ahead of them and found a position with good light and open perches at a distance of about ten feet. With the sun to my back I waited, camera ready and quiet. Sure enough, the birds soon showed up right where I was waiting. The birds attention to their search for food distracted them just enough that they paid little attention to me. Then this juvenile bird landed right in front of me and the adult flittered above searching for small caterpillars and insects. The more I study the behavior of birds the greater appreciation and understanding I have of their beauty and presence.