Photo Project Year 3 - July

July was a slower month for photos for me.  I do have three very different highlights for the month. 

This being July, I started out with making an attempt at photographing some 4^th of July fireworks.  This year I used my camera on a monopod.  I did use the fireworks function on my camera, but I am still learning, and with the camera I have that is the best route. 

Fireworks display (photo: Cathy Spahn) 

I took many photos of the fireworks, some of which did not work. It took a few shots to get the timing down.  I did get several shots that show nice colors and burst.  One photo in particular demonstrates color and a few different bursts.  The other challenge I ran into at this location was either trees in the way, or as I found this time, a light that managed to get into all of my shots.  If I go to this location again I have to get there earlier to locate a spot away from the trees and lights.  However, I still really like this shot even with the light in part of it.

Watching the baby European Barn Owl being fed (Hailey closest to the camera/Madilynn closest to the owl) (photo: Cathy Spahn)

The second photo for the month of July was when my sister, brother-in-law and nieces came for a visit.  During the course of the day they were here we did many things, and of course one of them involved visiting the World Bird Sanctuary.  One of the best experiences I was able to give my nieces was for them to get a chance to meet a few day old European Barn Owl.  My nieces just fell in love with the baby owl.  Of course the big thing was she wanted to pet the owl, but once she got to see staff member Roger Wallace try to feed the baby owl she sat quietly and they all watched closely.

Sunflower and bees (photo: Cathy Spahn) 

The last photo I took at the very end of the month.  I was out birding, just wandering around to see what I could find.  I took many photos that day, and amazingly my favorite shot is not of a bird, but rather a sunflower with bees.  I came across this beautiful field of sunflowers. Most of the flowers were beyond peak, but a few were just right.  This one flower was just beautiful and I set my camera on continuous shoot mode because I saw the bees in the area.  I was concentrating on the bees on the sunflower, but when I looked back through my shots I found this photo with the bees flying into the flower.  I just love it.

Keeping a camera with you as you go out and about can lead to many very interesting and beautiful photos.  Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t, but that is half the fun of photography.

Submitted by Cathy Spahn, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

You Had To Bee There

My husband and I feed the birds—both at our home here in St. Peters, MO and at our cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks, MO—although admittedly the Lake cabin is more my husband’s domain.

Even though he religiously feeds our “Lake” birds and loves watching them, he usually doesn’t have the patience to get out the bird I.D. book and look up new species when they come calling.  It’s much easier to call home and try to describe it to me so that I can I.D. it for him from 150 miles away.  Our conversation usually goes something like this…”It’s greenish and about the size of a robin.  What is it?”  Of course, my stock answer is…”I can’t tell from here—take a picture!”

Last week I got one of those calls.  However, this call had a little bit of a twist to it.  Earlier in the day when we talked he told me that the Hummingbird feeder was so covered with bees that he thought he was going to have to take the feeder inside and quit feeding the Hummers.  He said the bees were literally driving the Hummers away from the feeder.  

 The “mystery bird” trying to get to the bee inside the feeder 

Not too long after that I received a “mystery bird” call.  Apparently this “olive greenish” bird had shown up at the feeder and was feasting on the bees.  My husband wanted to know what kind of green bird eats bees.  Of course I gave him my stock answer…”Take a picture”.

That evening he called again to tell me that the bird had spent a good part of the day perched in the nearby trees at the edge of our deck, and every now and then would swoop to the feeder to feast on the bees. By the end of the day the bees were gone—presumably resting snugly in the bird’s belly!  Our Hummingbird feeder is now bee free!  Isn’t Mother Nature amazing?

  Female Summer Tanager (Western Race)  

And…yes…he did take a picture.  Apparently our feeder was a buffet for a female Summer Tanager, western race—a bird that we’ve never seen at our home feeders.

If you live in an urban area where you only see the more common “city” birds, take a ride out to the World Bird Sanctuary.  If you bring your picnic lunch and your binoculars and your bird book you may see some of the more uncommon birds at our bird feeding stations.  There are benches strategically placed for a relaxing session of bird watching.  Spend an hour…or a day.  No fees and no reservations required.

Restrooms are nearby, and once you get tired of watching the songbirds you can stroll down our paved exhibit line.   The birds in our display enclosures are always ready to welcome visitors..

Submitted by Gay Schroer, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer/Photographer

A Lifelong Fascination

Do you love creatures that fly?  I do--and have ever since I was very young.

 C. hypsea (Commonly called a Lacewing) - Photo Copyright The Butterfly House, 2011, Mark Deering

I remember noticing Butterflies when I was 5 or 6.  I would chase them, but also observe them and their beautiful colors.  We lived in an apartment when I was younger.  I do not think we had any kind of garden, but yet in between the apartment buildings would appear these little flashes of color; winged wisps.  I like to think of them as winged messengers from God, telling me that there was more out there in the big world than my mind could imagine.  Instead of gardens we had acres of dandelions and clover.  Some butterflies would light on the yellow or white flowers.  I remember the white Cabbage butterflies.  

 O. priamus, male (one of many species of Birdwing Butterflies) - Photo Copyright The Butterfly House, 2011, Mark Deering

Bees were fascinating also.  Someone showed me how to catch bees in a jar.  Sometimes you could catch 2 or 3 and have them all buzzing in the jar all at once.  We would always have to let them go before we came in for dinner.  Yes--I did get stung a few times, but wild winged things fascinated me.  When I was a little older someone taught me to catch the bees with my fingers.  We would catch them by their wings and hold them for a few seconds and then let them go.  Sedum with their little purplish flowers often attracted the bees and the butterflies called Skippers. 

D. plexippus - (or Monarch Butterfly) Photo by Gay Schroer

In 1970 the winds were just right for a big part of the Monarch Butterfly migration to pass through St. Louis.  The Monarchs were migrating from the north to the south...going right thru my subdivision--hundreds of butterflies flying thru my yard and all the neighbors’ yards.  Torrents of orange and black butterflies poured between the houses and over the rooftops.  It lasted for many days, and one evening during the peak of the migration I walked up to the woods at the top part of my street. There were thousands of butterflies landing near each other on specific trees.  About five of these trees were the main roosts.  They were so thick it was hard to see bark or leaves--just orange and black butterflies! I was told that the Monarchs were heading south and going to Mexico where they would spend the winter on a few very important acres.  Migration of butterflies and birds still fascinates me to this day. 

Fasten your seat belts because spring migration of birds is under way.  Those of you with bird feeders have recognized the transition of bird species at your feeders.  Anybody who lives in our area that was paying attention was able to see and hear daily flights of Snow Geese the last week of February and some of the days in March.  You could even hear the geese going over at night, like the night I went around the back of my house at 8pm.  I heard the Snow Geese but couldn't see them. Migration--inspiring, fascinating, spiritual, is underway.

Enjoying one creature in nature often leads to enjoying many other creatures of many different species. Somehow birds became my passion in 3rd grade.  I am privileged to work with birds and on behalf of bird species everywhere.

C. memnon (or Giant Owl Butterfly) - Photo Copyright The Butterfly House, 2011, Mark Deering

After you visit the World Bird Sanctuary, be sure to visit the Butterfly House.  What an interesting and fascinating collection of Butterflies you will see. What a spectacle!  Butterflies will surround you and may land on you or your friend or family member.  They are often attracted to your colorful clothing.  Take the time to experience the butterflies up close.  I was able to enjoy March Morpho Mania this year—all about the Morpho Butterfly species.  What an amazing experience!

 M. peleides (Blue Morpho Butterfly) - Photo Copyright The Butterfly House, 2011, Mark Deering

While you are at the Butterfly House be sure to take the time to visit the hatching chambers.  You will see the chrysalids hatching or changing into butterflies--metamorphosis.  Be sure that any children in your group get a chance to see this miracle.

I enjoyed my visit so much that I asked Mark Deering, the Acting Director, if I could use some of his butterfly pictures for my blog.  He was kind enough to give permission.  World Bird Sanctuary has worked with Mark and the Butterfly House in the past and we have a very good relationship.  My coworker Sara Oliver said that the Butterfly House was her favorite St. Louis tourist attraction--next to the World Bird Sanctuary.

Visit World Bird Sanctuary and the Butterfly House. We are only a half an hour from each other.

World Bird Sanctuary is open 8-5 Daily.

The Butterfly House is open 9-4 daily except Mondays 636-530-0076 

Submitted by Michael Zeloski, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist.