365 Project: April photos

April is a month when photos greatly increase due to the nicer weather.  This means more outside programs, more wild bird opportunities and of course, spring flowers.  This blog will include all three.  

Jake, a Great Horned Owl (photo: Cathy Spahn)

First I will start off with a photo of Jake, the Great Horned Owl.  I was on a display at the Onondaga Caves State Park and Jake was sitting in the grass with some prairie grasses behind him.  I just love this photo.  I find that Jake is just a beautifully photogenic Great Horned Owl, and with the right background he is just beautiful.

Two of the Forest Park Great Horned Owl fledglings (photo: Cathy Spahn)

Sticking with the theme of Great Horned Owls, I have also chosen a photo of two of the three baby/fledgling Great Horned Owls at Forest Park, Near downtown St. Louis.  This pair of Great Horned Owls has nested and raised babies near the Muny, an outdoor theater in Forest Park, for years.  If you happen to know where they like to hang out you can find them relatively easily. 

One of the babies was just fascinated with the sound of my camera.  The female sat close by, but never did anything. Fortunately, they are used to people, so they are more comfortable, but still cautious.  When photographing young animals always keep an eye on the parents.  If they start getting restless you are too close or doing something wrong and it is time to back away.  Never push your luck with parent birds/animals.  For example, the limbs of the tree in this photo are not in the best locations, but I was not about to scare the birds or make Mom unhappy, so I dealt with the limbs.  Even with the interfering limbs it is still one of my favorite photos.

Tulips shot from below (photo: Cathy Spahn)

Spring flowers mean color.  I spend many hours every year out at the Missouri Botanical Garden taking photos of flowers.  On this particular shot I decided to do something a little different.  I chose to shoot these tulips from the ground looking up.  I just loved how this came out and have to try this again with other flowers.

Prothonotary Warbler, Castlewood State Park (photo: Cathy Spahn)

The last photo I have chosen is of a Prothonotary Warbler. This is a migratory species that shows up middle to end of April.  They nest near the water.  I went for a walk in Castlewood State Park, which is across the Meramec River from World Bird Sanctuary.  I had a total of three Prothonotary Warblers flying around.  I find their yellow to be just the most spectacular color.  The blue on the wings with the yellow makes it a beautiful bird.  The light that day just made these birds stand out.

Even as I write this, the photo opportunities have been stacking up for May.  If you love taking photos I really recommend trying a 365 project or other form of a photo project.  I find myself getting out more and seeing so much more than I normally would.

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

             

Can You See Me?

Those who know me are well aware that I can’t go anywhere without my camera.  This is especially true when I’m on duty as a volunteer at the World Bird Sanctuary.

I’ve catalogued 100’s of photos of the animal residents, both those on public display and those behind the scenes.  I never tire of their personalities, antics, and posturing behaviors.

One of the most intriguing of these behaviors is that of “pancaking” or sunbathing.  The bird will flatten itself out on the ground with its wings spread out to collect some serious rays.   Even those that are nocturnal still love the sunshine.  I recently caught Xena, a female Eurasian Eagle Owl, pancaking in the weathering area behind the Environmental Education Center.

Can you see Xena in this photo?

Eurasian Eagle Owls, in their natural habitat, nest on rock ledges or in caves so they must be able to blend in with their surroundings.  The first time I showed this picture to a friend, they said, “what bird?”  At first glance, they didn’t even see her.  Her natural coloring and markings make her almost disappear from view.  If you’re not looking for her, you’d never see her.  This got me to thinking about camouflage.

Many animals have developed natural camouflage that helps hide them from predators, thus greatly increasing their chances for survival.  Have you seen a Walking Stick in the park or a Praying Mantis at the zoo that looks like a leaf?  Have you seen a frog that looks like mud and butterflies that look like flower petals?  Chances are your eyes have passed over these and other creatures without registering that you’ve seen anything other than a tree or a rock or the ground.  These are all examples of how that natural camouflage can hide an animal from not only a predator’s eyes but ours as well.

If Timber were sitting on a branch next to the tree trunk you probably would not see him.

Timber is an Eastern Screech Owl.  A fierce predator in their own right, Screech Owls often find themselves as prey for larger raptors.  Being camouflaged is really important for their safety and survival.  Cavity dwellers, these amazing little owls blend in with the rest of the tree. 

Here’s Jake, a most excellent Great Horned Owl, at a recent Camera Day event at World Bird Sanctuary.  We made a perch in a tree on our display line and stationed Jake there. 

Here's Jake--if you cover his eyes he would be almost impossible to see

His natural color and markings are so like the tree trunk that if he closed his eyes, and we didn’t know he was there, he would be virtually invisible.

The next time you go walking in the woods thinking you are going to find some owls or turtles or snakes, think again about where and how you look.  I guarantee that they are looking at you long before you see them – that is if you can see them at all.

Submitted by Sandra Lowe Murray, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer Naturalist