Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge's 96th anniversary

 

The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge celebrated its 96th anniversary today, as well as Earth Day.  

The gate to D-Line was opened for four hours and my adventure began on the narrow dirt road and ended up in the small town Perry. 

The scenery along D-Line was beautiful and marshes attracted many birds such as coots, cormorants, ibises, yellow-headed black birds and others. 

Yellow-headed blackbird.

White-faced ibis.

Generally, life is good.

It's Time to Build a Nest

I photographed this female Yellow-headed Blackbird last July.  She was preparing to build her nest and gathering materials for it.  Probably, the nest was almost ready and all that remained was to bring a few dry straws into it.

Yellow-headed blackbirds always build their nests over the water but it's not safe for nestlings who sometimes fall in and have to swim a short distances to vegetation.

I read that the male Yellow-headed Blackbird can attract up to eight females to nest within his area.  The male helps feed nestlings, but usually only in the first nest established in his territory.  The other females have to feed the young all by themselves.

Generally, life is good.

Male Yellow-headed Blackbird Trying to Attract a Female

I am always waiting for the arrival of Blackbirds. The male display are fun to see and hear.  They arrive first in the early spring to choose their territory and the wait for females begins. 

The male has to work hard to attract the female because it's she who will choose a mate, and not otherwise.  

The male in the photo above sings with all his heart, hoping that some female will like his song.

Some people call these songs ugly and bizarre, weird and hilarious, but the female Yellow-headed Blackbird finds them irresistible.

Life goes on.  

Female Yellow-headed Blackbird

 

I don't have many photos of females Yellow-headed Blackbirds.  Females are more shy than males and prefer to hide in marshes.

The photo above was taken in May.  The female Yellow-headed Blackbird decided to show herself to the world as a wonderful gymnast.  I was very impressed!

Generally, life is good!

Look How Brave I Am

That Sunday morning was very unpleasant.  At the beginning the rain was drizzling but soon it began to knock on my windshield furiously.  I tried to find one good reason why I was driving in heavy rain to Bear River and I couldn't find one until  I saw in the swamp a soaking wet male Yellow-headed Blackbird.

The bird didn't hide from the rain, it sang hoping to attract any female blackbird who happened to be around but there were no females. They were waiting till the rain stops in their shelters.

 

The brave male Yellow-headed bird at some moment stopped singing.  

 

Generally, life is good!

Male Yellow-headed Blackbird

I often say to myself that is enough, you have so many photos of the Yellow-headed blackbirds but every time I see these birds I take photos anyway.

This male Blackbird was looking for a mate singing so loudly.
 

Bear River in May - I. The Silent Stories

At the beginning of May there were many stories happening at Bear River. These stories were simple and silent but every one of them was unforgettable.

A lonely Sandhill Crane passing by. It's certainly not his habitat.

The family of Canada Geese with their babies are heading to the Bear River. It's a long walk and they will make many stops before they reach their destination.

Great Blue Heron, a permanent resident at Bear River. It seems that he is always lost in his thoughts.

Pelicans are like us, they are very sociable and prefer to stay in colonies. But there is always one who is the exception to the rule. He usually is a loner and doesn't follow the crowd.

Great Blue Heron is taking flight and often awkward in my photos.

The obnoxious Yellow-headed Blackbird chose an odd place to perch getting into the Avocets' territory.

Snowy Egret studies his reflection in the water.


May is a wonderful month at Bear River because many birds are already in the refuge and some of them are in nesting and soon will raise their young ones.

Yellow-headed Blackbird is Looking for Food

Blackbirds are challenging subjects to photograph. They are very active and it's  difficult to exposure properly their fine black feathers.  I always had a difficult time to photograph Blackbirds perching on the tall reeds but on the ground it was a little bit easier with exposure but not with composition.

My first portrait of male Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Here the Blackbird posed for a second and I got a shot without cutting his tail or bill.

Caught insect and ready to swallow it.

 Staying in the dry grass for a while. Soon in a few seconds the Blackbird will be gone.

Young Yellow-Headed Blackbird

Yellow-Headed Black Bird

Yellow-Headed Blackbird

The male displays are fun to see and hear. Some people call its song ugly and bizarre, weird or hilarious, but a female Yellow-Headed blackbird finds it irresistible.

In a Marsh

A female Yellow-Headed Blackbird was very skittish and spent most of her time in a marsh. Only for a few minutes she took a short break.

In a marsh looking for food. 

Here is a male Yellow-Headed Blackbird sets up territory waiting for female to arrive.  He sings a croaky courtship song showing off his plumage. Hopefully, a female would be impressed enough to mate. 

Yellow-Headed Black Bird - II.

I took a lot of photos of these birds in April at Bear river.
Recently I didn't see many of these birds in the desert 
but I am sure they are still there.

Observer

That was a cloudy evening on Bear river  and I had a difficult time sometimes to get a proper shutter speed.
When I saw this bird the sun came out from under the clouds for a few seconds and I was able to get a few pictures of female Yellow-headed black bird.

A Bird Sings Because It Has a Song

Farmington Bay. Yellow-headed black bird.
 

The Gymnast, The Dreamer and The Commander

I was leaving Bear River refuge when I noticed a Yellow-headed black bird.
It was getting dark and my first thought was that light was so low
that I wold not get sharp pictures.
Then in a few seconds another Yellow-headed black bird appeared.
And soon there was a colony of them 
sitting on the tall plants and loudly chatting.  

First, I took pictures of the Gymnast (picture above).
It's a male. He has a brilliant yellow head and black body.

Then I took pictures of the Dreamer, he is also a male.

The Dreamer

 


And later we worked together on a portrait of the Commander.
Why is he the Commander?   
When he left his plant with rich call/croak 
every single Yellow-headed black bird was gone.