Wild Life Pictures – Red-Tailed Hawk Michigan
I find that the best times to capture wild life pictures are early in the morning or early evening just before sunset. Interesting lighting effects can introduce striking highlighted effects on bird plumage. See wildlife photo of Red-tailed Hawk full wing spread.
Wild Life Pictures - Red Tailed Hawk - Michigan Photography by Ike Austin
One afternoon basking in the early warm rays of the setting sun, my attention was drawn toward the resident young Red Tailed Hawk born just several weeks earlier. The young Red Tail hawkling had been squawking incessantly for the past several days; it hadn’t quite figured out how to catch it’s own food, I found this to be an opportunity to capture some raw wild life pictures.
For several weeks, the young Red Tail Hawk squawked for it’s mother to come and feed it; you could almost hear… “Feed Me” in all those raspy repetitive calls for momma. On one rather humorous occasion, trying to sneak pass her young offspring, the mother made a mad dash to travel across the wetland from one set of tree tops to the other side of the wetland. She was not quick enough as the young Red Tail hawkling caught a glimps of his mother and ratched up his hunger calls and took off like a bolt of lighting toward her direction to catch up to mother Read Tail; what a set of wild life pictures or video that would make.
Wild Life Pictures - Red Tailed Hawk
As the sun was preparing to make its final lazy descent, the young hawkling made a verticle dive off the branch straight down toward the ground like he had done so many times before only to come up empty handed or discovered after he had flew back to a branch to enjoy a meal, he had only grabbed and returned with a lump of empty grass. Photo of full Red-Tail.
Not this time; this time the young Red-tailed hawkling had stood his ground, this time he did not bounce around, he did not squawk, he was focused as never before. This aerial predator instincts kicked in, he was up against a super prey that could inflict serious harm if it decided to fight back and resist the aerial attack. He gripped it with all of his might this time and then spread his wings and lifted the prey skyward to get it to a branch for an evening dinner–this group of images became one of my favorite series of wild life pictures.
Wild Life Pictures - Red Tailed Hawk
I was amazed to see that it was not a fierce prey at all; but, rather a small frog. The way Red-tailed was acting, you would have thought he had caught a rabbit or squirrel or something.
Red-tail was on his way to becoming a true predator, later that same summer, I spotted Red-tail Hawk circling high above in the cloudless blue sky, silent, looking down, ready to fall like a bullet upon unsuspecting prey.
I guess Red Tail learned that silence, not squawking for momma, was the way to survive in the wild life of the wetlands.
As Red Tail Hawk rose with his bounty, I managed to capture a couple of wild life pictures of a young predator in action.
About the Photography
Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike AustinNature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Bird photo by Ike AustinNational Geographic
Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest
Tags: red tail hawk, red tail michigan, red-tailed hawk, wild life pictures, wild life pictures michigan
Nature Photography – Michigan Osprey
One Early Morning in a Michigan Metro Park
I went Osprey hunting several weeks ago, based on the historical patterns that the return of the Osprey’s was imminent after a long winter.
The early morning air was crisp and chilly to my hands and also it seemed to had an operational affect my camera equipment. There was a slight mist on the water’s surface and off in the distance the mist became a transparent milky white that appeared to be sandwiched between the bare tree tops and the water; seagulls circling low to the water’s surface disappeared as they darted in and out of the thick white mist.
Osprey Spring Arrival in Michigan
My wait wasn’t long before my camera equipment was swung into action. A large shape of a bird in flight was heading my way with a trail of squawking seagulls chasing close behind. It was the infamous Osprey, the Osprey had upset the other birds of the lake with it’s massive and intimidating flight.
Michigan Osprey
Arrival of the Michigan Osprey 2012
Osprey – Magnificent Bird in Flight
The Osprey broke through the distant fog, coming in low barely skimming the water’s surface. With’in seconds it was swooping upward expanding its wings, and extending it’s razor sharp talons outward in full spread–looking like a hand full of automatic knives, then hovering and simultaneously maneuvering itself downward into the nest.
With an almost biblical appearance, the Osprey’s approach and landing maneuvers is always a sight to behold. First, one is captivated by those extended wings of the Osprey, the seemingly various poses this bird appear to orchestrate just for the camera–it’s almost as though this bird is performing at it’s best for the audience of wide eyed admirers. The Osprey never seems to disappoint the many spectators and photographers that come to visit young and old alike.
This particular Osprey brought a new branch to the nest, look’s like the branch was being used as a crowbar on her mate (Bird, Fulcrum, Lever). Was this a female Osprey using a tool trying to get her lazy mate out of the nest to go hunt for some fish?
Michigan Bird - Osprey Royalty
After settling down into the nest. The majestic Osprey makes a surveillance of its domain, it carefully looks around from atop it’s throne; if there is an Osprey couple occupying the nest, what a royal looking pair they make, both looking very regal as they often sit side by side like two statuettes overlooking a kingdom together. Another Michigan Osprey Nesting Pair.
Mating Osprey Pair
Kensington Osprey Mating Pair - Michigan Bird
About the Osprey
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Kensington MetroPark
Group: Hawks and Egales
Name: Osprey
Pandion Haliaetus
Appearance:
The Michigan Osprey is a long 4′-6′ wingspan, black and white plumage, long skinny legs, and long powers intimidating talons.
Adult: Color is black and white
Juvenile: More grey-ish in color
Flight Characteristics:
Extended wings in flight and typically ride thermal drafts similar to large raptors. The Osprey will glide over the surface of water until it reach it’s nesting place.
Habitat: The Michigan Osprey prefers open grasslands, lakes and wetlands.
Nesting: Osprey will construct a rather large mounded nests made of branches and twigs of various sizes. They can be spotted high in the tops of trees, man-made platforms in parks and amazingly, high on top of 300′ foot high cell towers.
Incubates 2-4 yellowish eggs for appx 38 days. Younglings go in flight in about 50 days from days of birth.
Mating Habits: The Michigan Osprey mates for life.
Off Spring: (Juvenile) as with most larger birds.
Feeding: Fish.
Call: Series of low-high whistles.
About the Photography
Nature Photography - Michigan by Ike Austin
Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Bird photo by Ike Austin
National Geographic
Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest
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Tags: birds of michigan, michigan birds, Michigan Osprey, nature photographer, nature photography
Michigan Birds – A Lesson Learned in Jimme’
I was standing one early morning facing the rising sun. Suddenly, a creature that was calmly gliding upon the surface of the water attracted my attention, it came to a complete stop and from a completed stationary position… exploded vertically straight up out of the water into the air. The being–I say being because an exchange of wisdom had taken place during this incident, in the forest of Jimme’ things look like animals but they are not. This was no ordinary Mallard Duck like the one’s back at home where I come from.
Mallard Duck Michigan
All other flying beings that I had witnessed required a long run-way for a good running start to get air-born. This being was able to launch itself straight up into the air from a liquid substance, mind you just minutes before, the being was submerged under the water and not drowning. So, from under water, to the water’s surface, into the air and burst into sustained flight to go from one end of the forest to the other side in seconds. Traveling over many ground ridden obstacles it was able to avoid.
“You wonder,” the being said to my mind as it flew pass me, how I am able to not be handicapped by the three mediums–water, air and ground. Read More Here … Michigan Mallard Duck
Therapy to the Soul Photography by Ike Austin
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Tags: mallard duck michigan
Sandhill Crane – All About Michigan Birds
What a rather strange and peculiar looking bird. The SandHill Crane looks more like a giant Big-Bird television character than a natural bird of Michigan.
My first exposure to the Sandhill Crane took place several years ago. One day, my wife and I were cruising through Kensington Park in Michigan, when all of a sudden our attention was drawn to a rather loud trumpeting sound that echoed like it was being played through an amplifier. I stopped the car and we both starred in amazement at two nearly five feet tall giant prehistoric pterodactyl winged creatures on the golf course. It was these two birds that were repsonsible for the bellowing echo of a noise that could be heard for at least one mile I’m sure. Their heads bobbed up and down alternately as each took turns being lead noise maker. I had to quickly regroup my thoughts just to make sure I had not been transported into a Jurassic Park movie.
You must understand that as growing up, all we saw in our neighborhood were pigeons, sparrows and seagulls.
The sight of this big-bird was a total surprise because both my wife and I had frequented Kensington Park on regular basis over the past thirty years and we have never encountered anything like the Sandhill Crane, a huge noisy cackling bird that is hard to miss.
I have created a series of Sandhill Crane photos for you to enjoy. Learn More Here… Go to; Nature Photography - Michigan Birds SandHill Crane
Sand Hill Crane - Michigan
SandHill Crane Michigan
Michigan SandHill Crane – Photo by Ike Austin
Michigan Osprey Early Morning Glide
One early morning just after sunrise, a giant air creature called a SandHill Crane swooped past my position, passing me by without making a sound. Just then, after traveling a few hundred yards, Grus Canadensis started making a wide u-turn heading back toward me. The whole event took only a few seconds, I aimed my camera, focused, and snapped a couple of shots before the SandHill was out of view–blocked by obstructions in the landscape. This is one large Michigan Bird to get such a close in flight shot of. The lighting, shadows and almost metallic looking plumage–how eloquent, how smooth to the eye-sight this bird look.
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Images of Birds - Michigan, Birds of the Gods
One Strange SunSet in Jimme’ – A Particular Sun
One late evening I was sitting quietly amist a deep thicket of shrubry, I had not moved the slightest for I had just awaken from a dozing off-nap. When I opened my eyes I started looking directly in front of me and began to focus through the many thin branches crisscrossing in every direction. I saw a group of old men sitting motionless and soundless, yet they appeared to be transfixed and in communication with someone far off on the horizon.
I turned to look in the direction they all were facing and I saw a most beautiful sun set scene as I had ever witnessed. Lucky for me there were not many branches to obscure my few from this angle.
I too became gradually mesmerized by the huge, dimly lit orb of golden light that seemed to elicit a most inspiring awe of all who was privileged to behold. A spectacular display that drew the attention of man and birds alike.
- Michigan Birds – Green Heron
This particular Sun that appeared in the sky of Jimme’ that evening was a thousand times larger than the one where I come from… Continue Images of Birds here at the nature-photography photo gallery.
Images of Birds
There is plenty of opportunity to capture many striking images of birds throughout Michigan during summer and winter months.
This Sun was magnificent! I realized I had not inquired of it’s name. I would
Green Heron Michigan Birds
later, in a most mystifying way in my encounter with the man who write’s on thin air, I would later in life discover the awesome identity of that, particular, Sun.
On one occasion, I spotted a large green bird perched up high in a tall tree sitting on a branch in full attention, dressed to kill in it’s Sunday’s best of forest green plumage, but what a most striking image of this Michigan Bird as it seemed to stretch and pose for the camera shot.
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Tags: green heron michigan, images of birds. image of bird. green heron
Bird Photography by Ike Austin
For all traumatic experiences, a passage through nature can sometimes offer surprising psychological results.
There is much testimony over the ages and from many sources who have written about spiritual benefits during their exposure to nature.
Bird Photography
It is with this purpose that I have assembled a collections of bird photography of Michigan Birds.
I hope that those who view the bird photos find a renewed strength, experience a reduced weight of personal burdens and gain a new enlightenment that will result in real & permanent benefit to the soul.
“The silence of nature sometimes has the effect to alter the mind. Quite often when I have come close to nature, I am transformed from the uncivilized to those that are nearer heaven, being among speechless nature, I discovered I am amongst the truly civilized.” —ThirdSon and the River’s sky
Enjoy this collection of… Bird Photography that is truly Therapy for the Soul.
Tags: bird photography
Birds in Flight – Michigan Bird Photography
A few Michigan birds in action, performing aerobatics flight maneuvers. There is plenty of opportunity to witness the grace of birds in flight of all sizes and places throughout Michigan.
Take a look at this giant Horned Owl as he jumps to a branch that is atop of the tree cavity where his owlets are huddled in a tight snuggled group. View full size bird photo here… Michigan Great Horned Owl.
Michigan Birds - Great Horned Owl
Birds of Michigan – Birds Eye View
There is a sense that he who rules the skies, rule the land.
In visiting the many Michigan Metro Parks over the past thirty-five years, and walking the many off the-beaten-path nature trails, I witnessed some of my most interesting sightings of nature and a plethora of birds of Michigan.
The birds of Michigan and nature has not disappointed, even against the onslaught and wholesale destruction of over seventy-five percent of Michigan wetlands, nature rises above the occasion delivers a visual spectacle for all who visit her and wish to be enlightened.
The birds still dart, sore and glide across the skies keeping a watchful eye upon the earth and it’s less than faithful stewards below, and to some, with a slight tip of their wing, and looking at me with the eyes of a man, they covertly signal their sign of approval… I quickly snap a shot to freeze the precious moment of this rare invitation of acceptance to later gain deeper insight into the many mysteries of birds and nature.
One early morning deep in one of the hidden forests I visit, one gigantic bird glided pass my position where I stood at the edge of steep drop-off, this birded looked to be hundreds of years old an big and long as a the box car of a train forty to fify feet in length. He passed me in total silence, we made eye contact, I heard him speaking…
“Whomever destroys his own habitat and that of others… What is man?“ —ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
Whomever destroys his own habitat and that of others... What is man?
Nature Photograpy That Brings Therapy to the Soul – I hope these photos serve your health the same.
Visit the photo gallery to request prints, photos or screen savers you feel you particularly enjoy.
Nature Photography By Ike Austin
Tags: birds of michigan, michigan birds, nature photography, nature speaks
Michigan Birds – For the Love of Michigan
Michigan is a profusion of many species of birds, bird rookery’s, habitats and a migration hot spots for many other non-resident birds that use Michigan as a rest-stop as they make their annual journey from one state to their over wintering vacation spot.
I happened to be lucky enough one day (while visiting Erie MetroPark) to get a photo of a Ross Goose, a Canadian northern bird that paid a quick rare visit to Michigan on it’s migratory journey to California. The Ross Goose seemed quite at home as it co-mingled among a gaggle of native Michigan Birds.
Ross Goose
Nature Photograpy That Brings Therapy to the Soul – I hope these photos serve your health the same.
Visit the photo gallery to request prints, photos or screen savers you feel you particularly enjoy.
Nature Photography By Ike Austin
—ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
Tags: michigan birds, ross goose
Nature Photography – Nature Speaks
There is a peculiar emotion that can swell up inside you sometimes when you are walking among the animals of the wild. This emotion can cast a feeling of deep appreciation for the earth, water, and even sounds of nature. The precious moment of emotion may last for an extended period of time or, it might be fleeting, leaving you with an incessant urge to try an recapture the feeling.
Nature Photography - Bee Wasp
You will find yourself a loss for words to explain the experience. How does one describe when there are no words within the half-million or so words in the English language. You could say, I felt lofty, I felt as though an invisible weight I never knew was there, suddenly lifted from my shoulder. You might try describing a sublime serenity that eased over your mind as you causally stood and became mesmerized by the flicking, shimmering thousand tiny reflections of light that bounced off the waters surface into your eyes. Before you knew it, as you slowly returned to reality from this transcendental state, a considerable amount of time has passed and you were momentarily disconnected from the cares of the world.
Your only hope might be nature photography. A quick snap shot from a camera has the potential to capture the moment, or at least the physical aspects of scenery which can sometimes rekindle emotions you felt during the period.
Nature Photography - Ancient Feet
Nature photography can be simple as using any off-the shelf, point and shoot store bought camera.
Taking photos of birds, animals and a scenery’s of nature is therapy for the soul. Whether you walk alone, with your spouse or your entire family, the walk among the open elements teaming with life and profusion will mentor the soul and mind of all who will be patient enough to let nature speak.
Ancient Feet
“I share the Earth, the Sun acknowledge my presents by casting my shadow upon the face of the Earth. The space the earth has granted my feet, is a covenant between me and earth, not man.”
“The silence of nature has the effect to clean the mind of constant noise pollution. Pure sounds and images of nature alter the soul, when you come close to nature, stress is transformed to calm, when you leave behind the noisy hustle and bustle, you are now amongst the truly civilized.”
—ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
My walks with nature has truly been, therapy for the soul.
I wish everyone who view these nature photos, benefit in a way that nature intends you to. Visit the ThirdSon Nature Photography.
“Go, take your walk, give your undivided attention and listen to nature to learn what you must learn.” —ThirdSon
Tags: michigan nature, nature michigan, nature photography, nature photos