Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan FlyCatcher

Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan FlyCatcher

Phoebe, Kingbirds and Willows, Oh My!

Sayornis Phoebe

 

FlyCatcher - Photo by Ike Austin

FlyCatcher – Photo by Ike Austin

 

FlyCatcher Michigan Wildlife in the Wetland

The Flying Insect Flycatcher

Late one humid summer afternoon in a Michigan Wetland, in the hidden forest of Jimme’, I saw small olive green-ish, yellowish bird land on a dead, moss covered tree branch; under the canopy of a willow tree. I slowly raised my camera and snapped a photo. I was approximately 20 feet distance and to my amazement, the FlyCatcher paused and looked directly at me. It had lived up to its legendary name “catching insects”, holding a green and yellow grasshopper in its beak; which also gave the Flycatcher a typical portrait pose for this shot.

Michigan FlyCatcher
Grey covets, grey tail, grey head, grey ear line feathers, greyish white chin, yellow chest, grey breast, black legs, grey with white lined tail feathers.

 

Wildlife in the Wetlands

Fly & Catch

NATURE ART GALLERY

Wildlife in the Wetlands Art Related Resources:

View the entire art collection gallery – Wildlife in the Wetlands
Read about the careful art handling process – Art Process, Shipping & Handling

 

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature
S
elect your favorite photo to be printed, mounted and framed.
E-mail: iaustin@daystarbooks.com

 

Great Horned Owl – Michigan

Great Horned Owl – Michigan

Bubo virginianus

 

Great Horned Owl Michigan

Great Horned Owl Michigan

 

Far back off the beaten path, in one of Michigan’s Metro Parks, I spotted a Great Horned Owl departing from its well concealed nest of 4 owlets. ThirdSon and the River’s Sky Saga

 

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
National Graphic 2011-2014
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

 

Michigan Eastern Bluebird – Bird of Red, White, and Blue

Michigan Eastern Bluebird – Bird of Red, White, and Blue

Sialia sialis

 

Framed by blue skies, and deep patriotic red, white, and blue colors; sitting colorfully looking out in serious contemplation, the Eastern Bluebird adorns the casual observer with a pleasing sight of beauty.

Looking like a royal flag staked on a branch, high above the wetlands, found all across the state of Michigan.

With its unique red, white, and blue plumage, only the Eastern Bluebird can boast colors that represent patriotism found is so many flags of nations.

Eastern Blue Bird

Eastern Blue Bird

 

 

 

Eatern Bluebird

Eatern Bluebird

Nature Photography Eastern Bluebird

Nature Photography Eastern Bluebird

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

Wood Duck – Michigan

Wood Duck – Michigan, Nature Photography

Aix Sponsa

 

The question is answered…

 

Wood Duck Michigan

Wood Duck Michigan

 

Wood Ducks and Creation

If Creation were racist—as all religions on Lower Earth secretly hope—the plumage of this Wood Duck would be all one solid color.

Instead; there are colors of brown, beige, blue and teal,
speckles of burgundy, red, and black, solid greens, with strips of white, patched together, making one quilt of a sight.

For those true sons that have eyes to appreciate, to see more beauty in diversity.

“Plumage of many colors,” “coat of many colors,”
people of many colors,” represent a deeper truth – Dialog With Nature.

Nature is the unedited word of  “the God” of creation.

ThirdSon, Quilts by Nature 

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

 

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification

Photo Taken: Kensington Metro Park, Michigan

About the Wood Duck

Aix Sponsa

Appearance: The Wood Duck is a colorful bird. At times the Wood Duck is very skittish and glides near the edge of lily pads, along the rim of grassy wetland, and watching for the slightest movement or  something out of place that wasn’t there before. Other times the Wood Duck can stare you down with those large red eyes. The Wood Duck like most ducks is a swift flier. Wing span can can extend to 3-4 feet.

Adult: Male is multicolored, its covert and wing bars quilted with vivid patches of plumage with bright metallic feathers on its head.

Flight Characteristics: Swift and quick wings in flight and typically flapping their wings as they rapidly lift and fly off. Wood Ducks prefer open wooded marshes, and wetlands.

Mating Habits: The Wood Duck start courtship during the fall and winter at migration spots. The female Wood Duck selects her mate and are usually monogamous for life.

Migration: Fall migration southward, the Wood Duck returns to northern regions early spring.

Nesting: Will construct a nest open tree cavities as high up as 50 feet. Incubates 10-12 pale white eggs for appx 25-35 days. Young are generally shown where to find food(vegetation and nuts) and gain independence in as little as 30-35 days.

Off Spring: (Called Ducklings)

Feeding: Day hunter. Some diet food includes; vegetation, nuts, and grasses.

Call: Very low squeaky sound.

 

About the Photography

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike Austin

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

 

For an interesting, imaginative, new awareness view about life and attitudes… read the book below.

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birds

 

  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the long river shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next (from bridge to bridge – Ambassador to Bell Isle). I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds Photography Night Heron

 

 

Visit the photo gallery to request prints, photos or screen savers you feel you particularly enjoy.
Nature Photography By Ike Austin

Michigan Birds Dialogue with Nature

The decisions of one, affects all—ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Exquisite Art

 

 

Michigan Cedar Waxwing – Oil Dipped Wing Tips

Michigan Cedar Waxwing – Oil Dipped Wing Tips – Sitting on a Branch

Bombycilla Cedrorum

The most beautiful, handsome, colorful, mysterious, portrait, pose, of a Cedar Waxwing Michgan bird.

Black masked eyepatch, autumn tinted bronze mantle, gradually, softly fades to grey. Master painted, oil dipped blood red, dapped on tips of secondary wings.  With brightest lemon yellow nature could find artistically stroked at the tip of the tail. To capture and hold, briefly those that behold… mesmerizing beauty sitting on green.

 

Cedar Waxwing Michigan

Cedar Waxwing Michigan

 

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

 

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

Hummingbird Michigan – Smallest Fastest Bird

Hummingbird Michigan – Smallest Fastest Bird

Archilochus colubris

Michigan Hummingbird is the teeny weeny, itsy bitsy, tinniest, miniaturist, pee wee of all birds. Yes, the Hummingbird is itty-bitty, minature tinny, littlest, smallish, pocket-sized, mico, mini of a birdie.

Small But F-a-s-t! I Do Mean Fast! –
The Hummingbird is fast. Hypersonic in fact. It’s a little speedball, can move like mad. It’s agile, brisk, quick and swift. It is to fast to see,  just a blur if right in front of me. It’s a jiffy dot with wings, moving in a blink from place to place in nothing flat. Hummingbirds move at breakneck speed, are fast as lightening, dashing, flashing, quick as crazy. See this photo… Rudy Throated Hummingbird

 

Humminbird - Michigan Full Spread

Humminbird – Full Spread

 

The Hummer can zoom to and fro smooth as quick silver, faster than Sammy Davis, quiet as a mouse. It will zip, zip, zip from pedal to pedal, seeking what it may find. Nectar here, nectar there, from bloom to bloom; darting in and out.

 

Hummingbird

Hummingbird

 

The Hummingbird is faster than Gun-Smoke, quicker than Sun-Dance Kid. I draw my guns, point it to the tip of your nose, slap your face, and re-holster all before the word… “Draw.” Or, should I say, all before the letter “D” is pronounced.

 

Hummingbird Pictures

Hummingbird Pictures – Resting on Hosta

 

Yes, I’m fast, faster than a speeding bullet,  an 8 armed ocotups, a rat-trap, a blink, a wink, much quicker than a finger snap. I’m faster than Mohammad Ali, quicker than his fastest jab. He go “jab-jab”,  I go… “buzz-saw” (1000 jabs to his one). Blistering quick, instantaneous fast, I’m double-quick, sudden-swift, the winged wonder of birds.

I might be small, but I’m faster than them all, that’s why “I am Legend”, and they call me “The Hummer.”

 

Ruby throated Hummingbird

Ruby throated Hummingbird – Nectar Extractor.

 

 

All About the Red Throated Hummingbird
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Michigan Wetland

Family: Trochilidae
Name: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris

Appearance: The Michigan Ruby Throated Hummingbird is a 4 inche bird with, green plumage, white under body, and red throat..
Adult: Color is metallic green, female is green without the red throat.
Flight Characteristics:
Quick blurry fast beats, smooth continual flaps when in flight. The Red Throated Hummingbird is a fast and swift flier, can abruptly change directions on a dime.
Habitat: The Hummer prefers of course small inland water reservoirs, lakes, ponds and wetlands, parks, and back yards.
Nesting: Hummingbirds will construct nest made of grasses and line with down. Nests are minarature deep pocked cups.
Incubates 2 whitish eggs for appx 13-16 days.
Mating Habits: The Common Mallards mate for extended periods.
Feeding: Uses its long beak and tongue to draw nectar from flowers.
Call: Sharp chip.
Migration: Travels a remarkable 500 miles to South America in late fall October.

Bird Conservation in Michigan
Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative

Department of Natural Resources
Check the Cornell University Department of Natural Resources for Attracting Hummingbirds to your yard., Learn More… Attracting Hummingbirds

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

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Birding Associations and Organizations
This Weeks Honorable Mention:

Michigan Audubon Society
Purpose: Michigan Audubon connects birds and people for the benefit of both through conservation, education, and research efforts in the state of Michigan. Read More Here… Michigan Audubon ORG

Nature Photography – by Ike Austin
Nature Photography that is Therapy for the Soul

 

 

 

Michigan Sandhill Crane – Nature’s New Lead Trumpeter

Michigan Sandhill Crane – Nature’s New Lead Trumpeter

Michigan Sandhill Crane is King of the Noise!  

 

Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird by ike austin

Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird by ike austin

 

No other bird of any size can bellow out a louder noisy echo than the Sandhill Crane. More notably, a pair of Sandhill Cranes. The loudest title among birds use to belong to the Canadian Geese.  But in more recent years, a new claim to become nature’s head trumpeter has shifted to another of our feathered friends. Yes, a new king of the noise with at least five times the volume, that carries ten times the distance, and in unison, in perfect synchronization between a pair of cranes… the birds, are relatively new comers to the Michigan landscape. Learn more about the Michigan Sandhill Crane.   You can listen to the calls of the cranes here… Calls of the Cranes

 

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

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Nature Photography – Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

Nature Photography  – Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

On many an Early Morning in a Michigan Wetland – Wetland Habitats
Nycticorax nycticorax

Black Crowned Night Heron

I saw a rather strange looking bird. This bird wore a black thicket of slicked back feathers on top of it’s crown. A large red eye ball with a solid black marble for a pupil) in the middle. The black feathers flowed down it’s back ending just above the tail. Then there was the pure white plumage that covered the chest area and more silverish plumage of the scapulars and coverts on the sides of the Night Heron’s wings. Then we move on down to those alien looking feet. Feet that move like they have a mind of their own. The elongated feet can wrap around a thin branch and allow the bird to extend itself near horizontal reminding me of a human flag – only it’s an outstretched Black Crowned Heron.

 

black crowned night heron adult

black crowned night heron adult

 

The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron is somewhat of a reclusive bird. The Black Crowned is a swift flyer and photographers love to catch a shot of the Night Heron in flight. The bird exibits characteristics that are similar to its other nearest neighbor in the Heron family; the Green Heron.

Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

I will often spot a Black Crowned Night Heron perched high atop of tree stumps. When hunting, the Heron will typically sit on branches that are low to the waters surface and wait motionless for hours for unsuspecting prey. The bird can pounce in a split second and snap up lunch with its beak. While other times the Heron will dive off the branch and submerge its entire body under water to catch a meal. Sometimes you can watch several Black Crowned Night Herons referred to several different names; a rookery of herons, battery of scattering of herons. These groups of Night Herons will congregate, sit for a while, then causally fly off into the distant wetland one by one.

 

black crowned night heron - juvenile

black crowned night heron – juvenile

 

Black Night Heron Juvenile

The sun had not yet totally engulfed the scenery as the young juvenile I was watching was jumping from branch to branch. Half of the wetland was still under a shadow that was cast by a tall set of cottonwood trees located at the western end of the wetland. The place I was located was at the edge of the elongated shadow of the cottonwoods. The green milkweed shimmered as immature heron had just landed just a few feet from my hidden location. The sun rays also lit half of the wetlands surface producing an interesting backdrop for my over active Heron Juvenile that was moving closer to my concealed location.

The above shot of a Crowned Heron may be one of the best photographs I’ve managed to capture of a Black Capped Heron and with the soft bokeh in the background, the scenery of beauty lasted only minutes.

 

night heron

black crowned night heron michigan

 

Lessons Learned From Birds of Nature

The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron is an elusive and vigilant bird. It scouts out a potential threats before settling into a location. This observant Night Heron or Heron Night (often called) will is also distinguished by its maternal parenting skills. I have observed the mature Heron play the role as coach, mentor and parent. On this particular occasion, the lesson of the moment to the young juvenile was how to catch fish for dinner. Under the watchful large red eye of the parent Michigan Black Crown Night Heron, the young juvenile heron was getting a hands-on lesson in survival.

 

black crown night heron in flight

black crown night heron in flight

 

 

 

About the Black Crowned Night Heron
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Erie MetroPark
Group: Herons
Name: Black Crowned Night Heron

Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidae

Appearance:
The Michigan Black Night Heron is a 24 inch tall bird with a distinguished black cap of feathers located on top of its head or crown.

Adult:
Color is top half black, underside white or silverish, female color is similar to the male, the juvenile is rather quite conspicuous with it’s spekled beige and white plummage, bright orange eyes and yellow beak.

Flight Characteristics:
Smooth wing beats, several flaps then pause that produce a smooth sustained glide in flight. The Black Night Heron is a swift flier.

Habitat:
The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron prefers brushy dense thickets located in grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting:
Night Heron is colonial and will construct nest made of branches and twigs of various sizes. Nests are located fairly close to the ground, in trees or shrubs.

Incubates 3-4 pale green eggs for appx 21-26 days.

Mating Habits: The Black Night Heron’s mating habits are unconfirmed.

Feeding: Amphibians, fish, small mammals.

Call: Series of fluctuating deep guark, quarks.

 

Bird Conservation in Ohio
Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for detailed information about the Michigan Night Heron;
Learn More… DNR Ohio

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

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Raptor Bird of Prey – The Redest RedTail

Raptor Bird of Prey – The Redest RedTail

Buto Jamaicensis

The Redest RedTail

Hawk Talons looks more like natures version of Automatic Knives for this large raptor bird of prey. The Red tailed hawk is one of Michigan’s favorite bird of prey hawks.  The mature redtail looks almost powerful. the chest can appear protruded & robust and if you are fortunate to get a closeup look at an open set of those claws or technically known as talons , the sight will leave you with an impression of futility for those unfortunate enough to get snared by those talons hydraulic death grips. Check out these MONSTER TALONS on this Michigan Red-tailed Hawk!!!

The Michigan Red-tailed Hawk is single mindedness in it’s pursuit and is non-distracted by other birds that seek to antagonize the Michigan raptor bird of prey while enjoying a meal.

 

Raptor Bird of Prey - Michigan Red-tailed Hawk

Raptor Bird of Prey – Pair of Predators – Red-tailed Hawk

 

 

nature photography red tailed hawk

Redtail of the Redtail Hawk closeup

 The Red, Robust Raptors of Michigan

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Birds Photography Night Heron