Raven's Nest

Raven Nest from Dale Bohlke on Vimeo.

When you can't find the icons of Yellowstone there are always birds to see and photograph. This nest was conveniently located across from a pull out allowing eye to eye viewing of the nest. A vole was being dissected on the cliff behind us and the chicks were being fed over a couple hours one morning. I watched until one of the adults settled in after the feeding session.

Technical: Tight shots were recorded using a 600 mm lens and 1.4 tele-extender on a Canon 7D with an effective focal length of about 1350 mm. Shots are uncropped.

Home sweet home

A pair of great blue herons enjoy the morning sun while at their nests in a rookery. 

Success!

I visited the mourning dove nest for the first time in a couple weeks and was greeted by a fluttering of wings as the adult noisily left. I took a couple shots of the motionless chicks and left. This is the pair before hatching.

Mourning Dove Nest

I am always worried when I flush a bird off its nest. This mourning dove nest was found by accident while roamng the prairie. The photog in me needs to take a couple shots so I did and moved on. A couple days later I returned to check and flushed the bird again. It is still on the nest so I'm satisfied the eggs will progress naturally.

Great Horned Owl Family

For the last several years a great horned owl has nested in Mammoth. It's location is well known and visited evenings by tourists armed with all types of cameras. The adults are frequently seen resting in trees overlooking the street. We were there when the owlets were about 10 weeks old and at least one was almost at the fledging stage. 

Spring Chickadees

Everyone sees chickadees at their feeder during the winter. This pair set up a nest and is raising a family. I have been watching the nest daily hoping to film the young peeking out of the nest.  Family commitments will not allow more time at the nest so the young will meet the new world without an awaiting photographer to record them.

Sleeping Crane

This crane fell asleep on the nest while I was watching it yesterday. There are several things you never hear wildlife photographers talking about. I'm sure more could be added.

1. Watching grass grow.
2. Watching ice melt.
3. Watching sleeping wildlife.
4. Waking up with a back ache after an afternoon chasing butterflies while hunched over and carrying your gear.
5. Don't forget the ticks, and phantom ticks, after laying down on wet grass to get the ultimate macro shot.

Nest Building

I spent some time last week watching a pair of chickadees excavate their nest.  They are just as entertaining and frenetic in the spring as when at winter feeders . Both worked on excavating the nest and one was so impatient to get in that it looked in to see how the other was doing. They were laying in carpet (grass, etc.) on Saturday so the nest must be complete. Hopefully there will be some young to see in a couple weeks.

Killdeer Nest

This is the time of year I stumble on nests and young.  It is always an ethical question to either ignore a photo opportunity or back off completely. The mother is instinctually tied to the nest but there is an unseen line in the sand which when crossed will result in the loss of the nest.  What do I do?  I usually try to get a couple quick shots and back off.  Have my actions resulted in loss of the nest? I'm sure they have.  What do you do when you come across a nest?

Home Sweet Home

An osprey pair built this nest along the road last year and are using it again. We'll see if they have any young, if so there should be some good feeding shots. Technical: recorded while in a Toyota blind.