Marcia

When going birding in my area, the best place to go birding is Presque Isle State Park, at Lake Erie, in Erie, Pennsylvania. I especially love to bird at this time of the year because the summer season is beginning to slow down, the tourists leave, and the birds can reclaim their favorite spots. Three days after taking pictures of the Canada Goose, I went to the North Pier and found one of my favorite birds, the Great Blue Heron. The Heron love to hang around the Pier because they stay close to the fishermen on the Pier and sometimes are able to catch a goby from a fisherman, who throws it in the Heron's direction. The area along the Pier is filled with people enjoying a walk along the Pier or Fishing on the Pier, and the Heron are not intimidated by the people on the Pier. There are times when a human may get a little too close for comfort and the Heron will make a small adjustment and maneuver it's way into a more secluded area where it still has a vantage point, focused on the water or fishermen. On this day I was able to capture a picture of a Heron making just such an adjustment. A couple strolling along the Pier didn't notice the Heron until they came a little too close and the Heron moved to safer ground. I was able to get the photo of the Heron's moving into a new, safer area. When I went to edit the pictures, I was disappointed that the Heron was not facing me, but to my side. I was fascinated when I saw the flecks of water coming off the feet of the Heron, as it took flight. This bird is huge and again my editing challenge was to go easy in the cropping of the heron, to try and get the effect I wanted, showing the flecks of water coming off the legs and feet. It is fascinating to watch a Great Blue Heron as they take their position on the Pier, to fish with the other fishermen that come everyday to the Pier.  

In the last post I explained that I had gone to the North Pier on the shores of Lake Erie, and on  my way back from the North Pier, I stopped at a pond on the park because I saw an Osprey flying above the pond. At one point the Osprey flew right over my head and then dove into the water right in front of me. I was able to get clear shots of the Osprey overhead and after coming up out of the water. when the Osprey splashed into the water I could feel the force of the bird and the water on impact from the bird, but the Osprey was so close, I couldn't get the camera to focus that well and those pictures are a little blurred, so I am submitting pictures of the Osprey overhead, after it came up out of the water, and then flying away. This Osprey was very beautiful and such a powerful force. Beautiful!

The final chapter in the story of the Heron is how it moves into the tall grass of the pond to camouflage itself as it continues it's fishing expedition. What I like about these pictures is that, when I go out searching for the heron I always make it a point to stop in these areas of tall grass. If you are careful and very quiet you can see them as they are hidden in the tall grass and they are quiet, themselves, and so concentrating on their goal, that you can actually camouflage yourself and spend a long time observing the Heron's actions. The area of Presque State Park and this pond is a high pedestrian area, so although the Heron is aware of and use to people being around as he fishes, and although initially out in the open, the heron eventually migrates to these tall grass areas for some privacy and then the heron is able to relax and work on the task at hand - fishing for dinner. I did not stay long enough to see him make his catch because when he went into the grass, I knew he needed his privacy and it was more important for him to get his dinner than for me to get a photo.I didn't want him to fly away because I was a distraction to him, or making him nervous. The Great Blue Heron is a fascinating bird to watch!

One of my favorite birds is the Great Blue Heron and I follow these Herons when they come into our area, from Spring to late Fall. Sometimes during a mild winter, we see them throughout the year. In this discussion I will be explaining the actions of a Great Blue Heron as he studied the shoreline of a pond on Presque Isle State Park. This Heron's story is of his fishing of this dinner as he explored the pond and the shallow areas of the water. The first set of pictures shows his movement as he walks around the pond shoreline. What I noticed in the Heron's movements was his intent and the determined direction of his hunt. In the photos you will see that the Heron and the water around him, point out his direction. The motion of the Heron and the water are very much connected. Initially the Heron is in a pool of water that surrounds it's legs, then as it moves the water creates an arrow showing the intended direction of the heron's moments. The Heron is very methodical in it's movements and the water supports and illustrates that methodical movement!

That is a beautiful photo! It just catches your eye immediately. You just see and feel the motion of the birds.

I found two "sit spot" at Presque Isle State Park. This is a Park in Erie, Pennsylvania along the shores of Lake Erie. One of my sit spots was along a wooded area along a road leading to a Boat Launch to the Lake. I have been up and down this road many times but this time I sat and listened and watched for bird activity. I happened to see a Red-headed Woodpecker and then  I saw a second Red-headed Woodpecker. They were very active and I was able to get a couple of pictures of the Red-headed Woodpeckers. I also could hear various bird calls and used my App on my phone to identify which was the call of the Red-headed Woodpecker. For the number of times I have been down this road, this was the first time I have ever had the opportunity to see and observe a Red-headed Woodpecker. A first for me. I then went to area I go to where there is a wildflower field and some berry trees. I go there many times and watch the birds as they eat from the berry trees. I was able to get pictures of an American Robin at this sit spot. Then, when I got home my Mourning Dove was at my feeder. It was at it's usual perch looking over available seed and after making it's observations, it flew down to an area on the ground to eat the seed it had eyed from it's perch. I have included pictures of the Red-headed Woodpecker, and American Robin  with this discussion.

I did my research on birds that visit my backyard. I usually do bird watching and taking photos at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, along the shores of Lake Erie. It has been difficult to take photos at Presque Isle recently. First the water levels at Lake Erie have risen significantly and caused many birds have left or gone deeper into the wooded areas to get away from flooded trails and increasing water levels. The other thing that is driving the birds deeper into the wooded areas, are the number of people coming to the Park to exercise, walk, and bike. The birds and other wildlife are slowly being pushed out of their regular habitats. This is the reason I decided to research my backyard birds. This has been interesting because I have been able to watch Parent birds bring their young into the yard to eat from my feeders and the many berries and other edible plants in the backyard. The research that I did helped me to identify what the parent birds were doing for their young. The young House Sparrow would flap it's wings and run up to the parent bird to get food and as they progressed the young bird started to eat the seed and other food on it's own. The other interesting thing I learned is how everything in my yard is used by the animals that inhabit my backyard. I have a Trumpet Vine and the rabbits that come into the yard eat the fallen petals from the Trumpet Vine. My pictures are not as clear as I would like because I took the pictures from my window rather than try to go outside and take pictures and disturb the House Sparrow Parent feeding it's young. I appreciate what I have learned in this lesson, and through my research, because I feel like I pay closer attention to the behaviors demonstrated by the birds and other animals, and with background research understand why the birds are demonstrating the behaviors I observe.