This saucy jay moved in so close to me that I couldn't get all of him in the frame. He seemed to be studying my equipment carefully. Because I was near a recreational area, he may have experienced food handouts from other hikers and so expected more.
Have read recently that there is concern that West Nile Virus could have serious impact on the population of many birds including Crows and Jays, and there have been noticeable die offs recorded so far in the east coast. I would miss these noisy characters so hope they won't become uncommon or rare.
I shot him because his color is so beautiful. Taken near Lake Tahoe in April.
Super job capturing this opportunity! I have hundreds of Steller's Jay photos, some even said to be good ones, and this is one is one that I wish I could claim as my own. Very nice!
Posted by Ned Fenimore on May 17, 2007 at 10:41 PM
Very nice capture Janet. Great catchlight in the eye (and overall exposure and DOF is right on). If I was to pick, I'd say a little more room on the left hand side to give the Jay some space to look into. But having shot plenty of portraits of my 2.5 year old son, I know first hand that with fast moving subjects that don't take direction (at all), mine is a extremely minor nit.
What everyone else has already said, and then some.
Urban jay populations seem to be on the upswing, I encourage them. This week I weeded my overgrown community garden plot, and one was all over my discard pile, about four feet from me as I tore apart his landscape. I think my discard pile must have been swarming with something she liked, every time I threw a new weed on the pile she was all over it.
I love the warm brown of your guy's head and shoulders!
Discussion
5 repliesHave read recently that there is concern that West Nile Virus could have serious impact on the population of many birds including Crows and Jays, and there have been noticeable die offs recorded so far in the east coast. I would miss these noisy characters so hope they won't become uncommon or rare.
I shot him because his color is so beautiful. Taken near Lake Tahoe in April.
-Brett
Urban jay populations seem to be on the upswing, I encourage them. This week I weeded my overgrown community garden plot, and one was all over my discard pile, about four feet from me as I tore apart his landscape. I think my discard pile must have been swarming with something she liked, every time I threw a new weed on the pile she was all over it.
I love the warm brown of your guy's head and shoulders!