Category Archives: Michigan Birds

Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan FlyCatcher

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Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan FlyCatcher

Phoebe, Kingbirds and Willows, Oh My!

Sayornis Phoebe

 

FlyCatcher - Photo by Ike Austin

FlyCatcher – Photo by Ike Austin

 

FlyCatcher Michigan Wildlife in the Wetland

The Flying Insect Flycatcher

Late one humid summer afternoon in a Michigan Wetland, in the hidden forest of Jimme’, I saw small olive green-ish, yellowish bird land on a dead, moss covered tree branch; under the canopy of a willow tree. I slowly raised my camera and snapped a photo. I was approximately 20 feet distance and to my amazement, the FlyCatcher paused and looked directly at me. It had lived up to its legendary name “catching insects”, holding a green and yellow grasshopper in its beak; which also gave the Flycatcher a typical portrait pose for this shot.

Michigan FlyCatcher
Grey covets, grey tail, grey head, grey ear line feathers, greyish white chin, yellow chest, grey breast, black legs, grey with white lined tail feathers.

 

Wildlife in the Wetlands

Fly & Catch

NATURE ART GALLERY

Wildlife in the Wetlands Art Related Resources:

View the entire art collection gallery – Wildlife in the Wetlands
Read about the careful art handling process – Art Process, Shipping & Handling

 

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature
Select your favorite photo to be printed, mounted and framed.
E-mail: iaustin@daystarbooks.com

 

Wood Duck – Michigan

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Wood Duck – Michigan, Nature Photography

Aix Sponsa

 

The question is answered…

 

Wood Duck Michigan

Wood Duck Michigan

 

Wood Ducks and Creation

If Creation were racist—as all religions on Lower Earth secretly hope—the plumage of this Wood Duck would be all one solid color.

Instead; there are colors of brown, beige, blue and teal,
speckles of burgundy, red, and black, solid greens, with strips of white, patched together, making one quilt of a sight.

For those true sons that have eyes to appreciate, to see more beauty in diversity.

“Plumage of many colors,” “coat of many colors,”
“people of many colors,” represent a deeper truth – Dialog With Nature.

Nature is the unedited word of  “the God” of creation.

—ThirdSon, Quilts by Nature 

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

 

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification

Photo Taken: Kensington Metro Park, Michigan

About the Wood Duck

Aix Sponsa

Appearance: The Wood Duck is a colorful bird. At times the Wood Duck is very skittish and glides near the edge of lily pads, along the rim of grassy wetland, and watching for the slightest movement or  something out of place that wasn’t there before. Other times the Wood Duck can stare you down with those large red eyes. The Wood Duck like most ducks is a swift flier. Wing span can can extend to 3-4 feet.

Adult: Male is multicolored, its covert and wing bars quilted with vivid patches of plumage with bright metallic feathers on its head.

Flight Characteristics: Swift and quick wings in flight and typically flapping their wings as they rapidly lift and fly off. Wood Ducks prefer open wooded marshes, and wetlands.

Mating Habits: The Wood Duck start courtship during the fall and winter at migration spots. The female Wood Duck selects her mate and are usually monogamous for life.

Migration: Fall migration southward, the Wood Duck returns to northern regions early spring.

Nesting: Will construct a nest open tree cavities as high up as 50 feet. Incubates 10-12 pale white eggs for appx 25-35 days. Young are generally shown where to find food(vegetation and nuts) and gain independence in as little as 30-35 days.

Off Spring: (Called Ducklings)

Feeding: Day hunter. Some diet food includes; vegetation, nuts, and grasses.

Call: Very low squeaky sound.

 

About the Photography

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike Austin

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

 

For an interesting, imaginative, new awareness view about life and attitudes… read the book below.

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birds

 
  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the long river shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next (from bridge to bridge – Ambassador to Bell Isle). I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds Photography Night Heron

 

 

Visit the photo gallery to request prints, photos or screen savers you feel you particularly enjoy.
Nature Photography By Ike Austin

Michigan Birds Dialogue with Nature

The decisions of one, affects all—ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Exquisite Art

 

 

Nature Photography – Mallard Duck Michigan

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Nature Photography – Mallard Duck Michigan

One Bright Sunny Winter Morning in a Michigan Wetland – The Fat Wobbly Waddler Arrives

Anus Platyrhynchos

 

 

Mallard Duck Winter

Mallard Duck Winter Walk

 

What’s the old saying… “if it walks like a duck, waddles like a duck, and quack like a duck, it’s a duck!” Off in the distance, slowly heading in my direction, I saw a fat, waddling what looked like an old, short, midget butterball of a little creature. But, it wasn’t a raccoon, it wasn’t a plump ground hog, it was in fat healthy looking duck. This Michigan Mallard Duck was multi-color; starting with an orange beak, followed by a metallic green head, brown neck, brown on top of its back(mantles), lower underbelly a grayish color of white, ending with orange feet with a black and white tail(coverts). The duck’s metallic green head is reminiscent of the same rich green metallic color of found on beetles. The vibrant tangerine orange of the duck’s feet is unsurpassed by man made color.

The Common Mallard is a summer and winter Michigan birds. Mallards are one of a photographer favorite. It is most recognized by its bright vivid green metallic plumage on it’s head.

 

 

Mallard Duck Winter White Wetland

Mallard Duck Touch Down

 

Michigan Mallard

One snow covered morning, just as I entered one of Michigan’s favorite birding wetlands, I spotted a Mallard Duck making his descent onto a frozen lake covered with powder white snow. The sun was shinning bright and the surroundings bright white. I like to capture Mallards in action. Their wings outspread with feet tucked in and necks outstretched. Even better if the action is captured with a background color of pure white. On this particular excursion, the ground and sky were all reflecting the bright white light. This brightness gave the duck a brilliant glare, a star of green light of a Mallard gliding in slowly grabbing my attention. It had just stopped snowing and the ground all around looked like it was sprayed with a velvet coating of white angle hair. The full scene or white gave the impression that I was in the center of a white winter wonder land. This beautiful Common Mallard bird was nature’s center of attention.

 

 

Dabble of Mallard Ducks

Dabble of Mallard Ducks

A Dabble of Common Mallards Male and Female

Mallards in Michigan

The sun was shinning, the scenery was true therapy for the soul. It has been said, “Man is never closer to God, than when he is close to Nature.” The Michigan Mallard’s landing here, took on the likeness of a story about heaven and the dove. I was ready to take the shot, my camera settings were set in high key to highlight the brightness.

 

 

Mallard Duck Michigan

Mallard Duck Michigan

Mallard in Flight

 

The above shot taken of a Male Mallard Duck captured a duck rising from near vertical position. I did manage to capture a soft bokeh for the scenery background as droplets fell from the orange feet and the bird disappeared in seconds.

 

Mallard Fleet

Mallard Duck

Mallard Duck

 

Lessons Learned From Birds of Nature

What looks common to the natural eye, looks extraordinary to the thirdeye. Encounter with a ThirdDuck in the Forest of Jimme.   – ThirdSon and the River’s Sky.

The Michigan Mallard Duck is more alert and vigilant than I first thought. It sees a good distance capable of spotting danger at distances well over a hundred feet or so. The duck is not that timid. Once I was observed by a small Gaggle of Mallards I could tell had detected my presents however motionless I was at their arrival, after deciding I presented no danger, they settled in but kept a wiry eye toward my semi-camouflaged location. The Mallard can become accustom with human presents, I’ve seen them nesting in a Restaurants flower pot:). See additional Michigan Mallard Duck Photos Here… Mallard Duck Michigan Photo. View other Michigan Birds Here… Michigan Birds.

 

All About the Common Mallard Duck

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Michigan Wetland

Group: Waterfowl
Name: Common Mallard
Anus Platyrhynchos

Appearance:
The Michigan Common Mallard is a 20-30 inches bird with, green face, brown plumage orange feet.

Adult: Color is metallic green head, female is beige with dark brown specks.

Flight Characteristics:
Quick wing beats, several continual flaps when in flight. The Mallard Duck is a fast and swift flier, can abruptly change direction.

Habitat: The Michigan Mallard Duck prefers of course small inland water reservoirs, lakes, ponds and wetlands.

Nesting: Mallard will construct nest made of grasses and line with down. Nests are located fairly close to the ground.

Incubates 7-10 light green eggs for appx 126-30 days.

Mating Habits: The Common Mallards mate for extended periods.

Feeding: pond weeds and small insects.

Call: Series of infamous quack, quack, quack.

 

Bird Conservation in Michigan

Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for Michigan Wetland Management, Learn More… WATERFOWL DNR Michigan

Check out this DNR resource… Identifying Ducks

 

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

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Birding Associations and Organizations

This Weeks Honorable Mention:

National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
Purpose: The National Wildlife Federation is a voice for wildlife, dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring the future generation of conservationists. Read More Here… NWF Mallard Ducks and Details

Membership Required: Y, $30/yr. Includes award Winning Magazine publication AND a NWF field bag!!!
Informative Website Information: Y
Year Long Events: Y
Active Birder Blog(s): Y
Informative Rating: 10 (*****)

Nature Photography – by Ike Austin

Nature Photography that is Therapy for the Soul

 

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Flicker

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Nature Photography – Michigan Flicker

Flicker the Bird – Speckled, Multi-Colored, Michigan Wetland – Brown, White, Red, Black and Tan
Colaptes auratus

Michigan Northern Flicker – Gold Finger

The Michigan Flicker is a true multi-colored, patterned bird. The Norther Flicker has a dash of red on the back of the head, a swatch of black patch on it’s upper chest. Speckled front with black dots all over, with a splash of white on the end top of the tail. With sandy brown color near the upper crown, a strip of sportsman black just beneath the eyes.

 

Northern Flicker Michigan

Michigan Flicker  – Gold Fingers

 

Michigan Flicker – But the most attractive color of this bird is the gold underside covering the entire mantle and tertials from the tip of it’s wingtip to the primary tip projection of it’s tail. Golden under tail coverts, gold colored greater coverts on the edge of the wings, median coverts where a golden slate colored shade of glitter, the greater primary coverts, the marginal, lesser, median, and greater coverts all different shades of gold, gold, gold.

Michigan Flicker in Flight

Michigan Flicker in Flight

 

The Northern Flicker is a summer Michigan wetland bird. This Flicker is mildly photographed bird. It is most recognized because of it’s speckled plumage and rather loud chitter chatty mating call early in the spring.

Michigan Northern Flicker

One hot early July summer afternoon I spotted a Northern Flicker darting across a wetland to eventually land on an extended tree branch. The day was clear and sun shinning bright; a great condition for capturing vivid elements of bird plumage color. During the early spring the Michigan Flicker will perform a series of loud mating calls followed by a rather rhythmical mating dance. This ritual will continue for several days with other male Flickers competing for the females attention. One one occasion I saw two Flickers locking talons as they spun around in a brief aerial dance. The Flicker will carve out a rather large hollow nest within an old dying tree. This is a very active bird that must remain ever vigilant, because the more numerous European Startling is in abundance and will try to steal the Flickers nest every chance it gets.

Northern Flicker Michigan

Michigan Flicker  – Wetland

Michigan Flicker Younglings

The Female Flicker, works in cooperation with the male. Both birds engage in house hold choirs and parenting the young. The birds take turns gathering food and returning to the nest. I was also fortunate to capture a shot of three young Flickers being feed by regurgutation. The three younglings still have about a couple more weeks before they are ready to fledge.

Northern Flicker Nesting

Michigan Flicker Younglings

 

 Michigan Flicker Parenting

I was able to get a couple of good shots that clearly displayed what look like a rather stylish red t-bone located on the back of the Flicker’s head. I had to quickly decide and go-ahead and snap some close shots (something is better than nothing) before the bird fly off.

Northern Flicker - Woodpecker Michigan -

Michigan Flicker – Birds of Michigan – I am Flicker

Michigan Flicker in Flight

The above shot of a Northern Michigan Flicker may not be the best photo, but I did manage to capture the bird in one of it’s many house cleaning flights.

Northern Flicker - House Cleaning

Northern Flicker – House Cleaning

Lessons Learned From Birds of Nature

The Michigan Flicker is a very vigilant bird, it has to be, the bird is under constant threat from other birds that are relentless in stealing the Flickers nest. During the feeding season, the Flicker is busy house cleaning, you can see the bird carrying numerous carefully wrapped waste sacks from the nest. What is most interesting, the Michigan Flicker will not just throw the waste out the nest to the ground. It is apparent that this birds has enough intelligence to is aware or possible threats; the bird seem to realize the presents of excrement might signal a hostile predator that a nest is occupying this particular tree. So, interestingly enough, this excrement is carried a considerable distance from the nesting location.  View more photo here…

Northern Flicker Wetland

Northern Flicker – Carrying egg.

 

View other Michigan Birds Here… Michigan Birds.

About the Michigan Flicker
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Kensington Metro Park
Group: Wood Pecker
Name: Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus

Appearance:
The Michigan Flicker is a 12-13 inch bird with, black speckled plumage front and back, the male is distinguished with a war paint black eye strip just below the pupil., or what might be considered the malar stripe area of the birds face.
Adult:
Color is majority beige and black, female is same color..
Flight Characteristics:
Jittery quick wing beats, several flaps then pause and a slip dip when in flight. The Northern Flicker is an average flier in terms of in flight speed.
Habitat: The Michigan Northern Flicker prefers parks, lakes and wetland areas.
Nesting: Flicker will construct or hew an open cavity nest inside old dead trees. A large cavity is created in preparation to contain several offspring.
Nest Location:
Nests are located 10-40 feet above the ground.
Incubates 5-8 (several white perfectly shaped round eggs for appx 12-14 days (2 weeks).
Mating Habits: The Michigan Flickers mates for extended periods.
Feeding: Seeds, insects (mainly ants), berries and some nuts.
Call:
Mating season; a s series of elongated rhythmical squeaks, which includes an bobbing up and down head motion.
Regular Season: A quick rapid series of chirps.

This Weeks Honorable Mention
Associations that we feel provide real value to the birding community.

Detroit Audobon Society Website
Purpose: To promote awareness and protection of the environment through education, research and advocacy Mission Statement and Code of Ethics… Read More Here… Detroit Audubon Society (link)
Membership Required: Y, $Donation/yr.
Informative Website Information: Y
Year Long Events: Y
Active Birder Blog(s): Y
Dialogue With Nature Informative Rating: 8

Michigan Bird Atlas
Michigan Flicker: Research and statistics, abundance and population. Read more here…

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

 

 

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

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Nature Photography  – Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

On many an Early Morning in a Michigan Wetland – Wetland Habitats
Nycticorax nycticorax

Black Crowned Night Heron

I saw a rather strange looking bird. This bird wore a black thicket of slicked back feathers on top of it’s crown. A large red eye ball with a solid black marble for a pupil) in the middle. The black feathers flowed down it’s back ending just above the tail. Then there was the pure white plumage that covered the chest area and more silverish plumage of the scapulars and coverts on the sides of the Night Heron’s wings. Then we move on down to those alien looking feet. Feet that move like they have a mind of their own. The elongated feet can wrap around a thin branch and allow the bird to extend itself near horizontal reminding me of a human flag – only it’s an outstretched Black Crowned Heron.

 

black crowned night heron adult

black crowned night heron adult

 

The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron is somewhat of a reclusive bird. The Black Crowned is a swift flyer and photographers love to catch a shot of the Night Heron in flight. The bird exibits characteristics that are similar to its other nearest neighbor in the Heron family; the Green Heron.

Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

I will often spot a Black Crowned Night Heron perched high atop of tree stumps. When hunting, the Heron will typically sit on branches that are low to the waters surface and wait motionless for hours for unsuspecting prey. The bird can pounce in a split second and snap up lunch with its beak. While other times the Heron will dive off the branch and submerge its entire body under water to catch a meal. Sometimes you can watch several Black Crowned Night Herons referred to several different names; a rookery of herons, battery of scattering of herons. These groups of Night Herons will congregate, sit for a while, then causally fly off into the distant wetland one by one.

 

black crowned night heron - juvenile

black crowned night heron – juvenile

 

Black Night Heron Juvenile

The sun had not yet totally engulfed the scenery as the young juvenile I was watching was jumping from branch to branch. Half of the wetland was still under a shadow that was cast by a tall set of cottonwood trees located at the western end of the wetland. The place I was located was at the edge of the elongated shadow of the cottonwoods. The green milkweed shimmered as immature heron had just landed just a few feet from my hidden location. The sun rays also lit half of the wetlands surface producing an interesting backdrop for my over active Heron Juvenile that was moving closer to my concealed location.

The above shot of a Crowned Heron may be one of the best photographs I’ve managed to capture of a Black Capped Heron and with the soft bokeh in the background, the scenery of beauty lasted only minutes.

 

night heron

black crowned night heron michigan

 

Lessons Learned From Birds of Nature

The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron is an elusive and vigilant bird. It scouts out a potential threats before settling into a location. This observant Night Heron or Heron Night (often called) will is also distinguished by its maternal parenting skills. I have observed the mature Heron play the role as coach, mentor and parent. On this particular occasion, the lesson of the moment to the young juvenile was how to catch fish for dinner. Under the watchful large red eye of the parent Michigan Black Crown Night Heron, the young juvenile heron was getting a hands-on lesson in survival.

 

black crown night heron in flight

black crown night heron in flight

 

 

 

About the Black Crowned Night Heron
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Erie MetroPark
Group: Herons
Name: Black Crowned Night Heron

Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidae

Appearance:
The Michigan Black Night Heron is a 24 inch tall bird with a distinguished black cap of feathers located on top of its head or crown.

Adult:
Color is top half black, underside white or silverish, female color is similar to the male, the juvenile is rather quite conspicuous with it’s spekled beige and white plummage, bright orange eyes and yellow beak.

Flight Characteristics:
Smooth wing beats, several flaps then pause that produce a smooth sustained glide in flight. The Black Night Heron is a swift flier.

Habitat:
The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron prefers brushy dense thickets located in grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting:
Night Heron is colonial and will construct nest made of branches and twigs of various sizes. Nests are located fairly close to the ground, in trees or shrubs.

Incubates 3-4 pale green eggs for appx 21-26 days.

Mating Habits: The Black Night Heron’s mating habits are unconfirmed.

Feeding: Amphibians, fish, small mammals.

Call: Series of fluctuating deep guark, quarks.

 

Bird Conservation in Ohio
Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for detailed information about the Michigan Night Heron;
Learn More… DNR Ohio

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

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Nature Photography – Michigan Red Cardinal

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Nature Photography – Michigan Red Cardinal

One Early Morning in a Secluded Michigan Wetland – 100 Shades of Red

Cardinalis Cardinalis

 

Red Cardinal

Red Cardinal

 

I saw one hundred shades of red sitting on a frosted frozen branch.  This Cardinal was red on red, in red on black. No, no, it was red, on black, on red, with a red beak!  This bird had a red cap at the top of it’s crown, red ear patch, red moustachial stripes, red eye ring, red nape at the nape of it’s neck. The ruby red color was even covering the entire mantle and tertials from the top of it’s head to the primary tip projection of it’s tail. Red under tail coverts, red greater coverts on the edge of the wings, median coverts where a charcoal slate colored shade of red, the greater primary coverts, the marginal, lesser, median, and greater coverts all different shades of red. Did I mention the bird had a red chest and even an all red beak?

The Northern Cardinal is a summer and winter bright ruby red winged creature.  This Cardinal is another prolific photographed bird.  It is most recognized because of it’s bright vivid red plumage.

 

Michigan Red Cardinal

Michigan Red Cardinal

 

One Cold and chilly morning I spotted a Red Cardinal sitting motionless in a thicket of branches.  The morning air was chilled and crisp. Normally, this bird is photographed on branches covered in a layer of pure white snow.  However, on this occasion, the thicket of branches were covered in a thin layer of ice. This ice gave the branches an almost pinkish hew, a unique contrast with the Cardinal posing as the center piece.  The branches looked as though they had been sprayed with a coating of velvet frost sprinkled the  full length of the branches which gave the effect of diamonds studs along the many smaller stems. This all red Northern Cardinal bird looks like a living Jewel.

 

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal Female

 

The sun had not yet disturbed this frosty frozen scenery as the birds location was protected; set just below a twenty foot ravine.  But this was quickly about to change as the sun slowly rose, it encroached on the Northern Cardinal’s location, the sun rays also quickly melted the ice crystals off the nearby branches on contact. I had to quickly setup and try to get this shot.

 

Cardinal

Cardinal in Flight

 

The above shot of a ruby red Cardinal may not be the best photo, but I did manage to capture the scenery just before it all dissipated in minutes.

Lessons Learned From Birds of Nature

The Northern Red Cardinal is a very alert and observant bird.  It scouts out a potential feeding location with distant threat surveyance strategy. It is elusive and very skittish. This observant Cardinal will also match previous scenery against current and can quickly distinguish that something has changed since it’s last visit.  This is a very observant and intelligent bird. See additional Michigan Red Cardinal Photos Here… Red Cardinal Michigan Photo.  View other Michigan Birds Here… Michigan Birds.

 

About the Northern Red Cardinal

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Erie MetroPark

Group: Groesbeaks and Buntings
Name: Northern Cardinal
Cardinal cardinalis

Appearance:
The Michigan Northern Cardinal is a 8-9 inch bird with, black face mask and all red plumage, and a bad hair day crown.

Adult: Color is bright red, female is beige with orange beak.

Flight Characteristics:
Jittery quick wing beats, several flaps then pause and a slip dip when in flight.  The Red Cardinal is a fast flier.

Habitat: The Michigan Red Cardinal prefers brushy dense thickets located in grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting: Cardinal will construct an open cupped mounded nest made of branches and twigs of various sizes. Nests are located fairly close to the ground.

Incubates 3-4 bluish eggs for appx 12-14 days.

Mating Habits: The Northern Cardinals mates for extended periods.

Feeding: Seeds, insects, berries, grain.

Call: Series of fluctuating song like low-high whistles. Song Bird.

 

Bird Conservation in Michigan

Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative

Michigan Department of Natural Resources 

Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for Michigan Wetland Management, Learn More… DNR Michigan

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

 

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners

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Birding Associations and Organizations

This Weeks Honorable Mention:

American Birding Association (ABA)
Purpose: The ABA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides leadership to birders by increasing their knowledge, skills, and enjoyment of birding. Mission Statement and Code of Ethics… Read More Here… ABA Code Of Ethics

Membership Required: Y, $45/yr.
Inforemative Website Information: Y
Year Long Events: Y
Active Birder Blog(s): Y
Informative Rating: 8

Nature Photography – by Ike Austin

Nature Photography that is Therapy for the Soul

Michigan Birds

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Michigan Birds

Michigan Birds  –  Many Shapes, sizes, colors and groups. 

Many Coats of Colors

Michigan Birds; there are Michigan reds, blues and white birds of color. Grey birds, green birds and orange ones too. Yellow birds, yellow and black, yellow birds with blue. There are blue birds with blue wings, some others with blue caps and other Michigan birds are blue all over. Beige, with black tips, brown with black strips, and multicolored like the rainbow, big and small, mean and timid. Birds painted in a variety of colors from the tip of their beak to the end of their tail, nails and toe.

 

 

Michigan Birds

Michigan Birds – Photo by Ike Austin

 

Shapes and Sizes

There are tall Michigan Birds, tall and skinny, big and fat. There are a plenty of small birds, tiny birds and minauture birds a squring about. Michigan has birds with giant wing spans over six feet wide, others with small spans only inches in length.  Some birds are fast, others slow, still some are swift can turn on a dime.

 

Michigan Bird

Michigan Bird

 

Michigan Birds   – Some Fly High, Others Low

Some Michigan Birds fly high others fly low. Some glide, others dive below.  Some ride the thermal waves others ride the wind. Some Michigan birds flap with a rapid motion while other birds clap as they flap.

 

Michigan Birds

Michigan Birds

 

Is it a Kettle of Hawks or a Rafter of Turkeys? 

Some Michigan birds stay alone, while others live in groups, called gaggles, brewds, flocks and fleets. Some birds travel in congregations, pods, volery or bevy of a crowd. A cast of Michigan hawks, a charm of darting finches, a cover of angling coot. A bevy of surfing quail,  siege of hunting herons, a clattering of chattering ravens, a party of noisy blue jays. Who have not seen a darting of dabbling ducks bobbing and waving, diving and dunking, and the gulp of cormorants atop the trees. A colony of gulls, a drum of gold finches, a loft of pigeons huddled close. Michigan hosts groups of swallows, and herds of swans or are swans called a bevy or bank? Let’s not forget a Michigan all time favorite; the geese.  Are they called a group of gaggle or plump? classification of Michigan birds groups goes on and on.

 

 

 

 

Michigan Birds - Dabble of Ducks

Michigan Birds – Dabble of Ducks

There’s a Michigan Bird shape and sized to fit every camera lens.

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners

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Raptor Bird of Prey – The Redest RedTail

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Raptor Bird of Prey – The Redest RedTail

Buto Jamaicensis

The Redest RedTail

Hawk Talons looks more like natures version of Automatic Knives for this large raptor bird of prey. The Red tailed hawk is one of Michigan’s favorite bird of prey hawks.  The mature redtail looks almost powerful. the chest can appear protruded & robust and if you are fortunate to get a closeup look at an open set of those claws or technically known as talons , the sight will leave you with an impression of futility for those unfortunate enough to get snared by those talons hydraulic death grips. Check out these MONSTER TALONS on this Michigan Red-tailed Hawk!!!

The Michigan Red-tailed Hawk is single mindedness in it’s pursuit and is non-distracted by other birds that seek to antagonize the Michigan raptor bird of prey while enjoying a meal.

 

Raptor Bird of Prey - Michigan Red-tailed Hawk

Raptor Bird of Prey – Pair of Predators – Red-tailed Hawk

 

 

nature photography red tailed hawk

Redtail of the Redtail Hawk closeup

 The Red, Robust Raptors of Michigan

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Birds Photography Night Heron

Nature Photography – Michigan Belted KingFisher

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Nature Photography – Michigan Belted KingFisher – The Blue Streaker

Megaceryle Alcyon – to grieve

Every Michigander should make seeing a Belted KingFisher in action a 2013 commitment.  Observing their fishing activity is both therapeutic and interesting to watch.  Firstly, the KingFisher quickly sends out a rapid machine gun like voice (KingFisher Call) to signal its arrival. After landing on a protruding strategically located tree branch, the King Fisher is now ready to dive for underwater prey. See Michigan Belted KingFisher photos here.  Flickr – Michigan Bird photos King Fisher here.

Michigan – Blue Waters, Blue Birds – The Great Blue State

 

Belted KingFisher Michigan

Belted KingFisher Michigan

Visit Wildlife in the Wetlands Art Gallery

 

 

nature photography - michigan

 

 

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Birds Photography Night Heron