F/5.6, 1/500, ISO 360.
Western Grebe
What kind of stroke can you use on toast?
BUTTER-fly!
Interesting Fact: Folk names for this bird include Dabchick, Swan Grebe, and Swan-necked Grebe. It is the largest North American grebe. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/63/overview/Western_Grebe.aspx )
F/5.6, 1/500, ISO 250.
Brown Pelicans
Do you know what the white stuff in bird poop is?
That’s bird poop, too!
Interesting Fact: Pelicans incubate their eggs with the skin of their feet, essentially standing on the eggs to keep them warm. In the mid-twentieth century the pesticide DDT caused pelicans to lay thinner eggs that cracked under the weight of incubating parents. After nearly disappearing from North America in the 1960s and 1970s, Brown Pelicans made a full comeback thanks to pesticide regulations. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Pelican/lifehistory )
F/5.6, 1/500, ISO 360.
American Coots
Father: Why did you get such a low score in that exam?
Son: Absence!
Father: You were absent on the day of the exam?
Son: No but the boy who sits next to me was!
Interesting Fact: Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead, each one of the coot’s long toes has broad lobes of skin that help it kick through the water. The broad lobes fold back each time the bird lifts its foot, so it doesn’t impede walking on dry land, though it supports the bird’s weight on mucky ground. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/lifehistory )
F/5.6, 1/500, ISO 200.
Marbled Godwit
Why does it take pirates so long to learn the alphabet?
Because they spend years at C!
Interesting Fact: It often inserts its entire bill into the mud, and its head is totally submerged at times. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/251/overview/Marbled_Godwit.aspx )
F/5.6, 1/500, ISO 220.
Elegant Tern
California Week Two
A sailor trying to sneak back to his ship about 3 o’clock in the morning was spotted by a chief petty officer who ordered him to explain his tardiness. The lame explanation didn’t work. “Take this broom and sweep every link on this anchor chain by morning or it’s the brig for you,” the chief said. The sailor began to sweep, but a tern landed on the broom handle and he couldn’t continue. He yelled at the bird, but it didn’t budge. He finally plucked it off the broom and gave it a toss. But the bird came right back and again landed on the handle. Over and over, the same routine was repeated. A toss, one sweep, and the bird was back. When morning came, the chief also was back. “What have you been doing all night? This chain is no cleaner than when you started!” “Honest, chief,” said the sailor, “I tossed a tern all night and couldn’t sweep a link.”
Interesting Fact: Unlike some of the smaller white terns, it is not very aggressive toward potential predators, relying on the sheer density of the nests and nesting close to other more aggressive species such as Heermann’s Gulls to avoid predation. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/467/_/Elegant_Tern.aspx )
F/5.6, 1/60, ISO 400.
Costa’s Hummingbird ( Female )
California Week Two
What does a cat call a hummingbird?
Fast food.
Interesting Fact: Researchers have found that Costa’s Hummingbird can enter a torpid state, with slowed heart rates and reduced body temperatures, under low ambient nighttime temperatures. The hearts of torpid Costa’s Hummingbirds beat about 50 times per minute, while those of nontorpid resting Costa’s Hummingbirds beat 500 to 900 times per minute. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Costas_Hummingbird/lifehistory )
F/ 5.6, 1/125, ISO 100.
Rufous Hummingbird
California Week
Why do hummingbirds hum?
Because they forgot the words!
Interesting Fact: The Rufous Hummingbird makes one of the longest migratory journeys of any bird in the world, as measured by body size. At just over 3 inches long, its roughly 3,900-mile movement (one-way) from Alaska to Mexico is equivalent to 78,470,000 body lengths. In comparison, the 13-inch-long Arctic Tern’s one-way flight of about 11,185 mi is only 51,430,000 body lengths. (AAB) ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird/lifehistory )
F/5.6, 1/250, ISO 400.
Black Skimmer
California Week
How long do chickens work?
Around the cluck!
Interesting Fact: Although the Black Skimmer is active throughout the day, it is largely crepuscular (active in the dawn and dusk) and even nocturnal. Its use of touch to catch fish lets it be successful in low light or darkness. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Skimmer/lifehistory )
Through Open Lens 