Western Kingbirds can be found throughout most of the western half of the U.S. in the spring and summer months, but they seem to be especially populous in Texas. While on a trip to Dallas last weekend, I had the pleasure of observing these feisty flycatchers once more.
Though I saw lots of them during my morning birding trip to Cedar Hill State Park, I hadn't gotten good pictures yet. Maria and I were being driven into downtown Dallas by Clare Daly and Lauren Legasse, two excellent and accommodating friends, when we spied a Kingbird perched atop a sign. Upon hearing my panicked cries, Clare swung the car around and we all transitioned perfectly into safari birding mode--it was marvelous. The Kingbird flew across the street to a new perch, but using great teamwork we all got in the right position to get some shots. Well done team!
He adopted a rusted iron cable for as his perch of terror. From this lofty throne, his majesty would descend to terrorize the fire ant minions living on the ground below, claiming the sacrifices one at a time.
Another reason to love Kingbirds: They massacre fire ants--truly, a King worthy of adulation and praise.
I bet Big Bird has a better singing voice. And I've seen Big Bird ice skate and speak actual words. And he's smart enough to have a heating blanket in his nest for those cold winter nights. And he's friends with a Snufalupagus, or however you spell it (yes, I realize I'm on the internet if I am here leaving a comment, and I could easily "Google" the word "Snufalupagus" and discern the proper spelling, but that takes too much time - although probably less time than it took to type this explanation in the parentheses, which I now realize has become a giant waste of time).
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, though (although you lose points for taking pictures of him on an iron cable and not in a truly "natural" habitat - that's kinda like photographing animals at the zoo, isn't it? That doesn't count.).
You haven't seen Kingbirds ice skate and speak too? You need to get out in the field more Moe. I'll concede the point about 'snufalufagus'. I guess I just always found that fuzzy elephantine creature to be a little bit creepy.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I don't worry about the "Hand of Man" so much in my photos. If the aesthetic works, I'll let it go. I've always found it a bit odd that some photographers insist there has to be nothing unnatural in the photo at all at all (especially when we have birds named Barn Swallow, Barn Owl, Roadrunner, Kitchen-Aid Cuckoo, American Goldminefinch, Spotted Towtruck, etc.) while firing away with their $15,000 camera rig (hardly a product of nature).
Perhaps some day I'll have the luxury of photographing totally al naturale, but in the mean time no, I don't think that taking a picture of a free bird perched on a fence is the same as photographing birds in a cage at the zoo. The bird on the fence is still free to leave and behave as it normally would. now, luring them in to a feeder is a little bit different, but still fun.
Here are some links to another photographer's work to reinforce my side:
http://www.iowavoice.com/2008/03/05/belted-kingfisher/
http://www.iowavoice.com/2007/01/05/american-kestrel/
http://www.iowavoice.com/2007/06/23/barn-swallow/
Is it cheating to photograph ducks on a man-made lake? Birds in a manicured nature preserve?
I hope not!!! Then all my discoveries at the Sweetwater facility wouldn't count!!:)
DeleteI don't think anybody's shots would count anywhere!
DeleteHaha You linked to a crappy photographer!
ReplyDeleteOh sush
DeleteKingbirds eat fire ants? I had no idea...great observation, and sick close ups.
ReplyDeleteThanks Seagull. I guess the oversized ants in Texas make it worth their while. This guy had a pretty sweet set up too. Perched just above the opening to the ant hill, he had an unlimited food supply.
DeleteAny bird that eats Fire Ants deserves a Royal Coronation and a Crown! I am so allergic to fire ants that just three bites nearly put me into the hospital.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the hand of man in my images but I prefer things like rusty wires, barbed wire, old wood and things that have tons of character. Usually if something is new or shiny the image gets dumped.
Yikes Mia! Stay clear of those six-legged red monsters! Or, bring a Kingbird bodyguard with you whenever possible.
DeleteI know what you mean about the silver and shiny stuff--it's way distracting and off-putting in an image. But I also agree that the older stuff, or things like fence posts and barbed wire, which are themselves a part of the story of a landscape and its creatures, can add a lot to a photo.
Cleverly written post! Ant on mighty Kingbird! Awesome shots of the bird and his victims.
ReplyDeleteThank you Debbie. Watching him eat fire ants was...shall we say a particularly satisfying experience.
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