Date: 5/1/26 12:51 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Unusual Backyard Migrant: Red-Winged Blackbird
Ann,
We all - myself included - tend to rely too heavily upon 'expert
knowledge'
as it applies to a species ... and then we turn around and easily accept
individual behaviors as "normal".
For example, I'm a birding photographer and have gained considerable
knowledge about bird behavior as it relates to my getting images ... so
if a
particular individual (such as the well-known Short-eared Owl at the
East 90)
allows me close, long views ... I tend to expect that same behavior from
other SEOWs and even from some random Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a
pole along the road I'm driving. But that's a "fallacy" because some
individual birds have "non-standard behaviors".
The difficulty/trick is to just accept that whatever you are seeing is
well within the range of expected behavior. The basics still apply - birds
are motivated by food, sex, territory, and threats.
On our recent trip to Ecuador literally -every place- we went had
dozens of hummers. Each time there was a different mix of species
but the general behavior was essentially the same. Then, after I had
taken a hundred or so shots that time I started to 'slow down and
watch/experience what was happening'. Then I would set up my
camera for a particular place/behavior and just wait for the shot to
happen - worked like a charm. Next day/next stop ... I was right back
shooting the first 100 shots before I stopped to watch and observe.
Just enjoy what you get to experience and let the "general behaviors"
guide you to be more likely get the situations you'd like? And then
pay attention and get the experiences you want!
- Jim in Skagit
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