Harassment in Nature

I'm running a bit behind schedule this week due to many factors such as rainy weather, an enlarged social calendar and weather delayed mandatory outdoor chores.  All of these things add up to very little time to be out making photos.  For some reason, I am better motivated to write my blog if I have a recent photo or a recent photographic experience to discuss.

      

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I finally got out with the camera Tuesday evening and chose to visit Nygren Wetlands, not far from where I live.  I am always rejuvenated by this place even when I don't see anything to photograph.  Last night didn't start with any instant inspiration as the only critters were a pair of sand hill cranes, one mallard, a host of redwings darting from reed to reed and a full chorus of songbirds hidden away within the dense tree canopy.  As I stared at the good light being wasted for lack of a subject, I embraced the calm ambience of the early evening.  Suddenly, the redwings became incensed at the crane's intrusion into their sacred place.  Then the evening got much more entertaining for me and a bit less tranquil for the cranes.

For some reason our minds tend to romanticize nature existing in perfect harmony. Perhaps this is from watching Bambi, Thumper or others in the Disney family.  Maybe we like to believe that harmony exists in nature because it seems so infrequent within our daily lives.  However, harmony in nature is not the rule as this week's photo clearly shows. Just like us, the critters have their squabbles with those outside their group.  The only difference is that grudges seem not to be part of their composition, unlike us.

The challenge in taking this series of photos was the anticipation of the rapid and spontaneous attacks while holding focus.  I also learned that it is best to overshoot such sequences to enable easier screening in post.  In this instance, I screened out shots where the red epaulettes on the blackbirds didn't display well enough to help them stand out from the background.  Of course, capturing an angry response from the sandhill was equally important.  I hate to admit it, but it is entertaining to watch a good squabble that doesn't end in gunfire!