Emerald Bay Photo News and Updates

I'm no wildlife photographer.

I'm not saying that because I don't *like* to photograph animals. Rather - quite frankly - I'm not terribly good at it. I lack the patience to sit in one spot for hours, observing, stalking and waiting for the wildlife to come along. I lack the ultra-big and fast lenses that are simply a requirement for anyone wanting to shoot wildlife seriously. And I lack the experience to be able to frame an animal in an exciting-never-before-seen-way when it does come along - I'm usually just giddily happy when I even get one in front of the lens.

Yet when wildlife insists on doing cool stuff right in front of me (aka my own backyard) and if I can go observe and photograph it at my leisure (aka from my own deck), even I can be persuaded to take the occasional animal shot.

Point in case:


About 3 months ago, I noticed that the tree with the nesting hole (roughly 70 feet from my living room window) had a new tenant - a pair of Kestrel Falcons (also often referred to as Sparrow Hawks). While they're abundant and widespread in the U.S., I felt nonetheless honored that they would choose *my* tree over others to nest in. Soon, they were busy at work too - freeing my yard of gophers and other vermin, and delighting me with their flying acrobatics.

Not long after, the nest was getting noisy. We started hearing loud and high-pitched demands of food from baby kestrels, and saw the parents working tirelessly to provide for them. The weekend before last then, I saw them for the first time - almost already at full size and plumage, three young falcons sat on the branches surrounding the nesting hole. I watched them flail around, beat their wings, but mostly just cry for more food. I figured, they'd be there for a while, so I didn't bother to take any pictures.

The very next day however, one of the youngsters took his first flight. In the beginning, I saw him make only short trips to surrounding trees. Then longer ones. Until finally, the entire brood took the plunge. That's when I decided that I should probably take my camera, put the dreaded tele-converter (I really hate those things - they make your camera slow and add grain) on my 300mm (in effect 450mm) lens, and head down to the tree. Hand-held, I was able to snap a few images of the young Kestrels as they hung out in their nesting tree, resting before the next flighing attempt.

Good thing I got that done too. The very next day, both parents and their three young were gone. I haven't seen or heard them since. But it's taught me a couple of valuable lessons - for one, my equipment sucks for taking wildlife shots. And two - I'm no wildlife photographer. I'll happily return to contemplating angles and lighting on structures again...