Anna's Hummingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted April 25, 2010174 views11 comments

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ, USA
Date: April 11, 2010
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8, TC20E (2x), SB-800, G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 200, Aperture priority matrix metered @ +2/3 ec, 1/60th at f/11, fill flash
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, full frame

I rarely do any nest photography as I don't want to put the young birds at risk, but I do shoot some hummingbirds at Boyce. This nest was located along a very popular trail and was pointed out to me by one of the staff. I looked hard for a position that would give a view of the nest without touching any of the overhanginf foliage. I was happy with this view and more happy that no other people had come along the trail while I was shooting. I departed without having disturbed the nestlings, nest, or vegetation.

When I shared this shot with a friend he showed me his shots taken about a week before when he had discovered the nest. It was obvious that between the time he'd taken his shots and I'd taken mine someone had trimmed some of the overhanging vegetation to allow the view I had here. This really makes me sick – knowing that anyone would put these birds at risk for the selfish reasons of getting a clean photo. I probably should have posted this in Environmental Photo Journalism but I wanted it to get maximum attention.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 25, 2010 at 11:17 AM

It's a privilege to see the wonderfully constructed nest and the little heads sticking out. I hope they survive. I know you aren't a big fan of flash, but looks like it was required here with the bright background.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 25, 2010 at 11:20 AM

Rich, I saw this on your blog and was impressed them as I am now. It's a shame that someone did what they did but at least you have a beautiful photo to make as an example. And there's nothing stopping you from putting it in EPJ as well

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on April 25, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Nice shot under difficult conditions. Observing nests such as this from a distance is always fun. Unfortunately when they are found and word spreads there almost always seems to be some 'bad apple' that comes along that puts their needs above that of the bird's (saw a similar thing last year - and the chicks did not survive).

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 25, 2010 at 12:03 PM

Great commentary to go along with this shot Rich. I agree. We as nature photographers should never endanger the critters we are trying to photograph. If you can't get the image without disturbance, then don't get the image. Gary mentions that some fill flash would have helped this, but I see from your techs that you did use fill flash. No doubt this was tough lighting, but the details look good in the larger version IMO.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on April 25, 2010 at 1:25 PM

A wonderful look a the youngsters here. I've heard many tales of photographers endangering the lives of the birds and animals they longed to shoot, just for the sake of one photo....pretty sad.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on April 25, 2010 at 4:32 PM

Good job and thanks for posting this. The little guys look like they are waiting for lunch. I guess they are always looking to get fed.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 25, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Sensational image Rich. The fact that some hair brain disturbed the environment is alarming, but the shot is outstanding and I'm glad you posted it.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 25, 2010 at 8:45 PM

"This really makes me sick – knowing that anyone would put these birds at risk for the selfish reasons of getting a clean photo." - Richard Ditch

"If you can't get the image without disturbance, then don't get the image." - Ron Bielefeld

Rich, I really appreciate this photo and your commentary, especially knowing the circumstances. You and Ron put it very well in words and your image certainly made it strike home with me.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 26, 2010 at 9:51 AM

Good photo and interesting story. Just wondering, could it have been an arboretum employee who trimed the branches back, thinking it would give a better view to visitors? If so maybe speaking to them about the need to leave nest sites alone would be helpful, also maybe some signage at the entrance about not distrubing nest sites would help? I have not been there so don't really know what may be there now. Just a thought.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 26, 2010 at 12:53 PM

Good photo and interesting story. Just wondering, could it have been an arboretum employee who trimed the branches back, thinking it would give a better view to visitors? If so maybe speaking to them about the need to leave nest sites alone would be helpful, also maybe some signage at the entrance about not distrubing nest sites would help? I have not been there so don't really know what may be there now. Just a thought.

Its possible that one of that an employee did this - there is a large staff. But this isn't the sort of stuff they normally do. I could understand it happening as a part of general cleanup work along the trail if it wasn't known to be there, but it was shown to me by one of the regulars who really finds a lot of stuff and respects it (in 10-15 minutes she showed me nests of Vermilion Flycatcher, Phainopepla, Cactus Wren, House Finch, 4-5 hummingbirds, and a new "mystery" nest she hadn't figured out yet).

There's the typical signage already posted about staying on trails, keeping dogs on leashes, not collecting any plant material, not smoking beyond the paved parking lot. And visitors have been good in following these.

The trimming at this nest was done by someone who knew exactly what was needed for a clear shot so I still suspect another photographer.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 26, 2010 at 7:30 PM

Nice shot, Richard. It is too bad someone thought they needed a clean view that badly.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments