F/10.0, 1/400, ISO 200.
Brown Pelicans
What did the bra say to the hat?
You go on a head, and I’ll give these two a lift.
Interesting Fact: During a dive, the Brown Pelican tucks its head and rotates its body to the left. This maneuver is probably to cushion the trachea and esophagus—which are found on the right side of the neck—from the impact. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Pelican )
F/8.0, 1/250, ISO 200.
Sandhill Crane
What did the tie say to the hat?
You go on ahead and I’ll hang around.
Interesting Fact: The elegance of cranes has inspired people in cultures all over the world—including the great scientist, conservationist, and nature writer Aldo Leopold, who wrote of their “nobility, won in the march of aeons.” ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/ )
F/6.3, 1/50, ISO 200.
American Flamingo
What did one hat say to the other?
You stay here, I’ll go on a head.
Interesting Fact: The American flamingo has adapted to its shallow-water environment in several ways. It has evolved long legs and large webbed feet to wade and stir up the bottom of the water bed to bring up their food source to then be retrieved. To feed, it has evolved a specialized beak which is hooked downward and features marginal lamellae on the upper mandible, and inner and outer lamellae on both the upper and lower mandibles. These are adapted for filtering out differently sized food from water.[16] Depending on the food source in their area, diets depend on the exact morphology of their beaks on what can and cannot be strained out of them. It submerges its head under water to retrieve its food, and may have its head under water for long times, which requires it to hold its breath. Factors which affect the habitat choice of American flamingos are environmental temperatures, water depth, food source, accessibility of an area, and the presence of vegetation beds in feeding areas. If available food items do not meet the needs of the flamingos or the temperature is not appropriate to their requirements, they move to a better feeding or more temperate area. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_flamingo )
F/6.3, 1/100, ISO 400.
White-throated Sparrow
What did the tie say to the hat?
You go on ahead and I’ll hang around!
Interesting Fact: White-throated Sparrows hop when they’re on the ground rather than walking or running. They forage in the leaf litter, often using both feet at once to scratch backwards, then pounce forward at anything they’ve uncovered. They also toss leaves aside with flicks of the head. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-throated_Sparrow/lifehistory )
F/6.3, 1/160, ISO 500.
House Finch
What did one hat say to another?
You stay here, I’ll go on a head.
Interesting Fact: House Finches nest in a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees as well as on cactus and rock ledges. They also nest in or on buildings, using sites like vents, ledges, street lamps, ivy, and hanging planters. Occasionally House Finches use the abandoned nests of other birds. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Finch/lifehistory )
Through Open Lens 