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Iowa Photo: Birding with fresh eyes
Gazette Visuals
Aug. 29, 2021 6:00 am
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A cardinal spots a photographer Aug. 3 at Morgan Creek Park in Palo. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Fall is an exciting time for birders because migrations are about to get underway, meaning that shore birds, warblers and many other species we don’t usually find in Iowa will be making their way through the state.
But as the backyard variety of birder knows just as well, the feathered residents of our state that live here year-round can be just as exciting. If you’re a fan of this lower-impact way of birding and want to switch things up, observing variations in bird personalities can be fun.
I was out walking with a friend recently who has found a new love of birding, and it was exciting to see our avian neighbors through her eyes. I’ve seen cardinals and wrens galore but have never photographed one scrutinizing me quite so intently. As is the case whenever I’m making photos, finding new ways to see a common subject can be just what I need to bring some wind back into my sails.
An eastern wood-pewee perches on a branch Aug. 3 at Morgan Creek Park in Palo. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A wren is disguised in the knot of a tree at Morgan Creek Park in Palo on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A spotted sandpiper searches for food Aug. 3 at Morgan Creek Park in Palo. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A juvenile robin holds a berry in its beak Aug. 3 at Morgan Creek Park in Palo. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)