Nature clicks #241 - Gray Catbird

 

The Gray Catbird is not an uncommon bird in most parts of the United States during the summer. Its catlike “meow” call, that gave the bird its name, can be heard along forest edges, marshes, or streams. They often imitate the call of other birds, like jays, swallows, kingfishers, or grosbeaks (source: iBirdPro app). The catbird prefers low, dense vegetation and that’s why it is quite often not so easy to make a decent picture of this summer resident. Their gray color does not provide a lot of contrast in a low light situation, like in the dense bushes and trees as we have them here in Eastern Iowa, and focus is hard to obtain sometimes. I had countless tries to make a picture of the Gray Catbird during the last few years but this is the first time that I like the outcome. Not that there isn’t any room for improvement but I’m happy to present this image to you. Yes, this doesn’t have the “wow” factor, gray is probably not the favorite color of most people, but my concern as a nature photographer is to create awareness for all the species that need our attention in our local and global ecosystems.

Nature clicks #159 - House Wren

 

Here in Iowa, where the winter can be long and cold, we all like to talk about the signs of spring and summer, even if it is nearly the same procedure every year. Beside the call of the Sandhill Cranes there is no better sign for me than the chatter of a male House Wren in the early morning right beside our window. Immediately after their arrival from the South they start building nests from twigs in cavities and nest boxes and try to attract the females by their flutelike melody. I built a couple new nest boxes this winter because the old ones were falling apart. The wren didn't hesitate a second before taking possession of the new housing a week ago.

I like to photograph birds on overcast days. The light may not always be sufficient for a fast shutter speed, which can be a problem to freeze the action of the bird,  but its quality beats direct sunlight by far. Because of the fast movement of its bill the head of the wren is quite often blurry. It takes a while to get a shot like this...