Birds! Birds! Birds! | Northern California Nature Photographer
When I began learning photography, birds were not on my radar as subjects. People, nature, landscapes, still life, and general things of interest to me were my subjects. In fact, I’ve never really cared for birds. It might be because I was attacked by a rooster once upon a time. A story for another day.
Then when the pandemic hit, I took a photography class that was targeted to photographing wildlife in your own backyard. Insects, rabbits, squirrels, and, yes, birds. Perfect for staying close to home while still enjoying photography. This meant a new long telephoto lens, learning about birds/wildlife behaviors, and learning about locations where they might be found. Trust me. I really knew nothing about birds at the time.
This new class got me out to all of the National Wildlife Refuges in our area where I’d never been before, and gave me something new to learn.
Fast forward a few years and now I’m tuned in to migration, habitat, and I even know the names of many of the birds. Am I a birder? Nope! A true birder would put my knowledge to shame. But, I am finding that they are such an enjoyable, accessible subject. Except chickens! They are definitely accessible, but not so enjoyable for me. Maybe one day. For now, I’ll continue to search out and attempt to photograph some of the unique behaviors of other Birds! Birds! Birds!
Here are a few of the photographs I’ve taken of birds in the last few years.
Birds! Birds! Birds! 2020
Birds! Birds! Birds! 2024
Haven’t seen enough birds yet? Check out this blog post from 2022: So Many Birds
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As my interests evolved in photography subjects, I became interested in wildlife and, ultimately, birds. Because birds are everywhere, they are just such a great subject. Each year during the winter there are thousands of sandhill cranes in the valley who over-winter here.
From the first time I heard the call of loons on a nature program on TV, I was captivated! The calls of the loons seem a bit forlorn, mysterious, and a somewhat haunting. I wanted to see, hear, and photograph them in person. British Columbia was just the place!
Nesting on power poles might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about birds building their homes, but for ospreys, it's a common occurrence that showcases their adaptability and resilience in the face of changing environments.
As my interests evolved in photography subjects, I became interested in wildlife and, ultimately, birds. Because birds are everywhere, they are just such a great subject. Each year during the winter there are thousands of sandhill cranes in the valley who over-winter here.
It’s mating season for the Mute swans and they perform a very elegant mating ritual which we wanted to photograph. We had gotten to our destination at daybreak when the geese, swans, and other wildlife seemed to be just waking up. It was quite calm and peaceful without much activity.
I enjoy shooting multiple genres. So a couple of years ago, I began learning to shoot wildlife - mainly birds. The Sandhill Cranes are one of the species that occupy our area during the late fall and winter. Armed with only a brief description the location in which I might find them, I headed out very early to locate and photograph them. It's hard to find birds, even very large birds, when it is still dark. But, I did.
The new year arrived with so many birds in January 2022. When the weather becomes cold and foggy or rainy, getting out for landscape photography is a little more difficult. So, I look for other things to shoot. In the Sacramento Valley, we are in the heart of the Pacific Fly Zone, so there's an abundance of migrating waterfowl. There are also lots of birds of prey.
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As a published, featured northern California fine art photographer living in the greater Sacramento area, I specialize in fine art landscape, nature, and still life photography. My style is authentic, fresh and personality-driven. I offer several educational opportunities including workshops and photography mentoring. You can learn about them by going to SERVICES and WORKSHOPS. While currently living in rural northern California with my husband and a couple thousand walnut trees, I post regularly to Instagram.
Please CONTACT ME with any questions or to schedule your learning session.
Serving Yuba City/Marysville, East Nicolaus, Wheatland, Lincoln, Woodland, Davis, Roseville, Rocklin, and the greater Sacramento area.
(530) 633-7575
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When I began learning photography, birds were not on my radar as subjects. People, nature, landscapes, still life, and general things of interest to me were my subjects. In fact, I’ve never really cared for birds. It might be because I was attacked by a rooster once upon a time.