Tending to the Youngsters

Today’s post features some images I captured over the weekend. The Eastern Bluebird, Missouri’s state bird, is a beautiful bird to watch and photograph. During their nesting season (often up to 3 clutches per season) a lot of opportunities exist to photograph this gem.

Here are a few of the images I’ve edited so far … more to come, later!

A male bluebird approaching the nest box:

Eastern Bluebird male

A female bluebird approaching with a caterpillar:

Eastern Bluebird female

Later, the female arrives in a tree above the nest box, with another caterpillar for the young birds:

Eastern Bluebird female with caterpillar

… and just before entering the box, she perches on top of the box with her “carry-out” meal:

Eastern Bluebird female with caterpillar

I’m already looking forward to another visit at this nest box in the next few days. As the young birds grow, they are not unlike our “teenagers” … always hungry! This increases the activity of the parents as they strive to keep up with the increased food demands, creating great photographic opportunities.

 

Photographic Equipment Used:

  • Canon 7D Mark 2 camera
  • Canon 500mm, f/4 IS telephoto lens + Canon 1.4x TC
  • Vanguard Alta Series 70 tripod, with a Wemberly gimbal head
  • ISO 250 to ISO 800
  • Aperture f/4 and f/5.6
  • Shutter 1/400 to 1/6400 sec.

 

 

Posted in Bird Photography, Nature Photography
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