Nature Photography – Michigan Cooper’s Hawk

November 25, 2012 by iaustin

Nature Photography – Michigan Cooper’s Hawk

One Early Morning in one of the Michigan Metro Parks…

I went on my traditional weekend walk in the park several weeks ago. There appeared to be an unusual amount of predatory Cooper’s Hawk activity this Michigan fall season. This particular morning the air was crisp with a stillness that created a relaxing silence. There were many small birds darting about off in the distance as well as near my position. The low muffled sounds of leaves occasionally blown about on the ground with a few dis-colored ones falling, circling in an unpredictable pattern drifting to the ground.

Cooper’s Hawk – Michigan Birds

Darting about, there were, blue jays, wood peckers, Chickadees, and Nuthatches, sparrows-all kinds, red cardinals and grey slated juncos… the forest was teaming with bird activity and profusion. There was also a large Dule of Morning Doves frantically moving about on the ground in search of food. Life is easy for these birds and all is safe and worry free in the forest, or is it?

Cooper’s Hawk in Michigan
Before I could react the doves suddenly burst into flight, in an instant they were all air-born implementing full evasive escape maneuvers. All of the others birds followed suit; within a fracture of a second the quite, peaceful serenity had been disrupted.

A large shape of a bird in flight was bulleting across the wetland heading straight for the panicking flock of different specie of birds. It was the infamous Cooper’s Hawk, this predatory stealth attack was achieved without the Cooper flapping its wings. The hawk’s sneak, rapid approach had startled the landscape of serenity.

He quickly maneuver in and out, swerving and curving around shrubs and trees with blinding agility and speed. As fast as the Cooper’s Hawk arrived he disappeared.

Cooper’s Hawk dive, glide, strike

The scenery now still and barren of activity. After a few moments of searching, I saw him sitting motionless like a statue on top of a small protruding branch sticking about two feet from the ground. He had not caught any prey, by design? perhaps this was just a practice drill of which I have witnessed the Cooper Hawk engaged on other occasions.

Michigan Cooper’s Hawk
Flight of the Michigan Cooper’s Hawk 2012
Cooper’s – Arobatic Bird in Flight

I wondered how the predatory Michigan’s Cooper Hawk glided such a long near linear angle and distance without flapping his wings and arrive at its destination target with such speed and force; this distance traveled had to be at least three hundred feet and the hawk did not start from atop a hundred foot tall tree.

Coopers Hawk – Nature Photography

After a few moments, the Cooper Hawk spun and darted to the right, wings fully spread (just enough to not collide with tight enclosed shrubbery; but expanded enough to speed out into the open, only about one feet above ground with a quick zig and zag he was gone again.)

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Bird

Instantly I began searching the sky and surrounding area, I spotted the Cooper’s Hawk rising from an obscure camouflaged back drop, onto the tip of a tree branch. It now perched, looking about, in meditations of lessons learned about it’s potential prey it had just intimidated. But this is a restless bird, only after a couple of minutes (unlike a Redtailed Hawk that will sit is one spot for hours) the Copper’s Hawk makes another unpredictable left-spin-dive split second dive off the branch and downward toward the ground.

Coopers Hawk inflight 180 Michigan Birds – Photo by Ike Austin

This time when the backdrop of tree branches camouflaged his plumage, he went totally stealth and I could not keep up with his wing flaps, curves, spins, dives… seconds later, where he is now… I could not find.

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Birds

Cooper’s Hawk In Flight Michigan Bird

Note the more rounded tail in this photo, this is one sure indicator that this is a Cooper’s Hawk vs a Shark Shinned Hawk that has a more square tail as seen in some of the photos on this page. Can you spot the difference?

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Nature Photography

The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk is one of the most adverse predators in the Accipiter family. These birds glide through forest trees and grasslands with the ability to often track and snatch prey in mid flight. Michigan birds and nature photography are capturing wild life in everyone’s backyard.

About the Cooper’s Hawk
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Erie MetroPark
Group: Hawks and Eagles

Name: Cooper’s Hawk
Accipiter Cooperii

Appearance: The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk is a long 3′ to 4′ wingspan, dark brown plumage on it’s back along the scapular and mantle areas. skinny legs, and long small talons, small beak. typical yellow ring cere found on most hawks; but with a rounded tail or primary tip projection and a stronger contrast between the head cap and crown (it is this rounded tail feather that mostly distinguished the Cooper from the Shark Shinned Hawk.)

Adult: Color is dark brown with spotted front of orange and white plummage.

Juvenile: More tan-ish brown in color.

Flight Characteristics: Quick flapping wings in flight and typically extended glide attributed with most raptors. The Cooper will fly from tree to tree over a large area until it spots an appropriate target to hunt

Habitat: The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk prefers open grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting: Cooper’s will construct nests made of branches and twigs of various sizes. They can be spotted high in the tops of trees located about 25-60 feet above the ground. Incubates 3-5 bluish eggs for appx 36 days. Younglings go in flight in about 50 days from day of birth.

Mating Habits: The Michigan Cooper do not mate for life as the Osprey does, Cooper’s will raise one brood per season.
Off Spring: (Juvenile) as with most larger birds.

Feeding: Songbirds, doves, and small rodents.

Call: Series of low elongated whine like sounds.
About the Photography

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

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Lessons Learned – Dialogues in the Forest of Jimme’

Nature Speaks – Nature Photography, Therapy for the Soul – Everyone can Hear

Nature Speaks – Through Birds – Therapy for the Soul

Michigan Bird – Mallard Duck – Sun and Darkness Dialogue

Michigan Bird – SandHill Crane Ancient Feet Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great Horned Owl Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great White Egret Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Green Heron Dialogue – One Strange Sunset in Jimmie’

– ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Nature Photography – Michigan Osprey

April 14, 2012 by iaustin

Osprey

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

All The Spring Loving Paid Off! Osprey Three Siblings Michigan Birds

Osprey Gold Michigan Birds - Photo by Ike Austin

Osprey Catch of the Day! Michigan Birds – Photo by Ike Austin

Predatory Birds of Prey – Michigan

Osprey at Sunrise

As the male Osprey (on of several predatory birds of prey in Michigan) returned one morning basking in the golden rays of the rising sun with a large coy fish, he let out a loud piercing shriek. It was as though he was shouting to his three young juveniles now all staring upward as he did get their attention; look at me, see what a large fish I have, I will not be dropping this one off in the nest, it is still alive and to big for any of you, now watch where I take the fish to eat it!

The male Osprey (one of the largest raptor birds of prey) then proceeded to fly overhead pass his offspring to a branch far off in the distance where he would first make sure the prey was dead and then help himself to an early morning meal. Thereafter, he would return to the nest with fish nuggets for his trio of anxiously waiting juveniles.

View a couple of more Oprey photo’s below.

Osprey-Attack-michigan – Photo by Ike Austin

Osprey-Hang Glide-michigan – Photo by Ike Austin

Osprey Automatic Knives Michigan Birds

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 brown 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 day 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

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Resources:

Osprey Sightings

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to Learn More…

The Department of Natural Resources requests help from wildlife observers to report any sightings of osprey in southern Michigan, particularly in the Maple River area (north of St. Johns,) and in southeast Michigan (Oakland, Wayne, Macomb and Livingston counties.) Report Osprey sightings here at DNR.

Birding Associations and Organizations

This Weeks Honorable Mention:

Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan (OWSEM)
Purpose: Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan (OWSEM) is a volunteer organization. Our goals are to help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in their efforts to restore the Osprey to Southern Michigan and to educate the public about this very special raptor.… Read More Here… http://www.owsem.org/

Membership Required: N

Informative Website Information: Y
Year Long Events: Y
Active Birder Blog(s): Y
Active Reporting: Daily
Informative Rating: 8

Osprey Nesting Endangered – Cell Towers

Sandhill Crane Michigan

March 19, 2012 by iaustin

Sandhill Crane Michigan

All about the Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird. 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.

Grus Canadensis

My first exposure to the rather large Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird 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 responsible for the bellowing echo of a noise that could be heard for at least one mile I’m sure. Each of the SandHill Crane’s 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.

Sandhill Crane Michigan

Big, Brown, Beautiful Michigan Bird
Every Michigander will be shocked at their first sight of the SandHill Crane. Observing the birds flight activity is therapeutic to watch. Firstly, the the large grain smoothly glides through the sky. With hypnotic graceful flaps of its large wings, the over sized Crane is one that will bring excitement to the young and old alike.

Michigan – Blue Waters, Blue Birds – The Great Blue State

Michigan’s Big Brown Beautiful Bird

Sanshill Cranes – Michigan Bird by ike austin

The Michigan Sandhill Crane Surprise

You must understand that as growing up, all we city folks saw in our neighborhood were pigeons, sparrows and seagulls.

The sight of this SandHill Michigsn 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 Michigan Sandhill Crane, a huge noisy cackling bird that is hard to miss.

I have created a series of Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird photos for you to enjoy. Learn More Here… Go to; Nature Photography – Michigan Birds SandHill Crane

Michigan Sandhill Crane

SandHill Crane Ancient Feet

Even the feet of this giant SandHill Crane Michigan Bird has a rather mechanical, prehistorical look that can quickly conjure up stories from one with a wild imagination. The SandHill is a very astute parental bird. Both parents equally share in the responsibility to rear their young. These birds are often seen taking a strolls through with their young juveniles following closely behind mimicking the actions of the parent SandHills; pecking at small gravel, twigs or blades of grass.

On another occasion, we spotted a pair the the giant SandHill Michigan birds cackling up a storm; their was a German Shepard coming up the path. What was so funny to my wife and myself, was that the dog was looking back and forth, first at the SandHill Michigan Cranes then at us, he did this several times. It was as though you could read his mind… the dog looking at us was thinking… “what the what is that”! Do you see what I see? I’ve been visiting this park all my life, but I have never seen nothing like this be-fo!

SandHill Crane Michigan

Michigan SandHill Crane – Photo by Ike Austin

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Kensington Metro Park

An early arrival to Kensington Park provided a rare sighting of a rather large Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a fence post, this post was only about three feet high. This was indeed a strange sight being that this bird is normally seen perched high atop telephone poles twenty-fifty feet tall. I slowly grabbed my camera and started to snap a stream of pictures thinking that the bird would take off as soon as it detected our presents. But it did not fly off, the hawk stood on the post for hours looking all around at everything and everyone; as by this time a group of curious spectators had congregated on the spot. The SandHill Crane Michigan Giant was the point man on this one.

Michigan Sandhill Crane Bird

Sandhill Crane Michigan the Curious Bird

Those curious hawk spectators included humans and other birds of all kinds; Blue Jays, Red Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmouse, and of course, the giant, tall lanky SandHill Crane soon arrived. The smaller birds darted in and out from branch to branch quickly just to get a close up look at this hawk. Then the Michigan SandHill spots this hawk and just like everyone else, it decided it was a strange sight indeed and just like all good humans, it had to get a closer look. The SandHill took several quick long strides toward the hawks location, and then slowed as he got closer. After getting within a couple of feet of the hawk, the SandHill slightly tilted it’s head and blinked it’s eye’s. You could now hear the Michigan SandHill Big Brown thinking the same thing all of the forest inhabitants were thinking… “what the what” is a hawk doing down this low and why is he not afraid of and of us, is he sick, or confused, disoriented perhaps?

Sandhill Michigan Bird by ike austin

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Erie Metro Park

For a few seconds we all braced ourselves for it looked as though the SandHill was actually about to strike out at the hawk. But it did not… that was close! I too was thinking that maybe the hawk was ill, but; that thought was soon abandoned because after about thirty minutes of so, the hawk decided he had seen enough of the underworld and suddenly hopped to another post, took one last look around, then flew off. Big Brown Rustic SandHill Crane Michigan along with the rest of us watched in amazement.

Michigan SandHill Crane Early Morning Glide

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Wetland Overlord

The Michigan SandHIll Crane – What a splendid bird of Michigan – One early morning just after sunrise, a giant air creature called a SandHill Crane Michigan Big Brown 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 Crane 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.

Lessons From Nature – Michigan SandHill Crane Parenting Tips?

SandHill Crane – Parenting Tip of the Week

Lessons From Nature may present itself in a most peculiar looking bird, the SandHill Crane Michigan Bird. One of nature’s most interesting birds reside in Michigan, the Michigan SandHill Crane is picturesque bird, tall, slim, colorful, graceful in it’s walk and extended stride. The SandHill Crane is a relative new arrival here in Michigan(cranes Michigan) ). For most first time observers, the Michigan Crane size alone comes as a total surprise at first site.

A pair of Michigan SandHill Cranes will echo alternate crane calls in synchronized sequence in unison as each Michigan Crane bobs his/her head up and down in opposite directions. The loud verbose trumpeting echo will travel for at least a mile. Everyone with’in this parameter know the going and coming of the infamous Sandhill Crane Michigan Big Brown Rustic also known as Sand Cranes.

Sand Cranes in Michigan are quickly populating farmlands, wetlands and Michigan Parks all over the State. They are often seen in singulary flight as well as mass migrations to New Mexico that could include thousands of Cranes heading for warmer weather. Those Michigan SandHill Cranes that remain will transform their summer rustic colored plummage for a more silver gray-ish color. This winter color will allow the Sandhill Crane Michigan bird to better blend against the winter background.

Sandhill Crane Michigan Winged Giants
The Sand Hill Cranes sport’s a trademarked red baseball cap on top of their heads located just behind the beak. With a wing span that extends five to six feet, the average Sandhill Crane Michigan bird stands about four to five feet tall and average ten to fifteen year life spans! Michigan Sand Hill Crane in Flight

: Michigan Sand Hill Crane – Great Parenting

What we can Learn – Mating for Life, Great Parenting Skills
In my observation of the Michigan Sand Hill Crane can teach us many lessons from nature, one in particular, I am impressed by the parental attention given to the young cranes. From the time they are born from the early colt stage, until they reach juvenile status (about ten months old), the young cranes are pampered and nurtured with great care; never leaving the parents eyesight. They are gently and plenty fed, walked, tucked and cuddled by both parents–yes the male SandHill Crane participates in raising the young and just like some rare morally correct humans, SandHill Crane Michigan birds mate for life; something we can learn from one of the largest birds in Michigan.

The Michigan Sand Hill Crane can make for some of the most interesting picturesque of crane birds and nature photography in Michigan. It is another one of those large birds that with the proper background can present themselves as creatures right out of a jarassic park prehistoric scene. ( See Sandhill Crane Michigan photo of three birds in flight above)

Sandhill Crane Michigan

Michigan Bird Details

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Kensignton MetroPark, Lake Erie MetroPark

Rails and Cranes
Name: SandHill Crane
Grus Canadensis

About the SandHill Crane Michigan

Appearance: The Sandhill Crane is a tall 4′-6′ tall grayish, brownish plumage, long skinny legs, and long bills.

Adult: Color is grey

Juvenile: Brownish red

Flight Characteristics: Extended necks in flight and typically ride thermal drafts similar to large raptors. SandHill Cranes will glide on a series of thermal rises until they reach their intended destination.

Habitat: The SandHill crane prefers open grasslands and wetlands.

Nesting: SandHills will construct a rather large mounded nests made of grass and leaves. Incubates 2 eggs for appx 29-32 days. Younglings go in flight in about 50 days from days of birth.

Mating Habits: The SandHill Crane mates for life.

Off Spring: (Chick or Colt)

Feeding: Insects, invertebrates, grain

Call: Very loud gobbly trumpeting sound and distinct sound the echoes for a great distance.

Listen-Video Here: SandHill Crane Crane Call

Sandhill Crane Michigan

Resources:

Migration and Wintering

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for SandCrane Hill Michigan migrations, Learn More… DNR Michigan.gov SandHill Crane

University of Michigan Zoology; Sandhill Crane Nesting Pairs and Breeding Population Learn More… U of M Zoology

Population, Numbers and Trends… Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

MSU Distribution, Breeding Biology, Conservation Learn More… Michigan Bird Atlas

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Places of Interest

Michigan Huron-Clinton MetroParks

Check out the Michigan Lake Erie official website for park details. Learn More … Lake Erie Metropark

Check out the Michigan Kensington official website for park details. Learn More … Kensington Metropark

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

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 shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive.
Read More Here

Michigan Birds Photos by Ike Austin

December 26, 2011 by iaustin

Michigan Birds – Nature Photography by Ike Austin

Enjoy the many photography nature and wildlife shots, listen to the thoughts and feelings that these images place in your heart. In my personal walk with nature it has been truly therapy to my soul. These nature photography and bird pictures will help relieve stress and help you clear your mind from the noise of everyday life that prevents us all from hearing and seeing the pure sounds and images of nature which has the capacity to benefit and alter the soul in a positive manner.

Michigan Birds

Nature Photograpy That Brings Therapy to the Soul – I hope these photos serve your health the same.

Nature speaks a silent language all of it’s own. Walk, then wait for those precious and rare moments when nature will reveal itself to you, a personal message crafted for your own benefit. It may be communicated by a bird, insect or larger four legged mammal. It might be passed to you from the ripples on the surface of a lake or arrive to your soul upon distant low and muffled thundering emulating over the horizon.

Michigan birds are also messengers of nature. I have been the recipient of nature’s many lessons and accumulated, time ripened wisdom. Kensington Metro Park – Jimme’ section.

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

National Geographic 2011
Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest

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

Dialog with Nature

Nature – Teaches the Soul

Category Archives: Nature Photography Michigan

Nature Photography – Michigan Cooper’s Hawk

Nature Photography – Michigan Osprey

Osprey

Resources: