If you have been fortunate enough to be in the presence of an Owl, then you have experienced the calm and focused knowing energy they possess. When you look into an Owl's eyes, it seems they see you.. the real you. I believe the intellect of the Owl is what their prey fears most. Therefore their prey becomes fear itself. Fear is based from lack of knowledge. If we don't understand a situation, we avoid, judge or condemn it. What if we become more curious to unfamiliarity? If we become scholars of our fears, then light is cast where there were only shadows. Fear is afraid of being discovered..so stand before it and say.. "I See You" ~ J.L. Deitz
I believe our minds are not held captive by our bodies. If your mind is free, there are no limitations to what is possible. This is a photograph of a Bald Eagle rehabilitating in captivity. The light reflects the shadow of a cage on the branch from which he stands..his cage is merely just a shadow. His mind is free because he accepts the room as it is. The infinite darkness that surrounds him is filled with the possibilities of what was, is and will be. He stands fearlessly with integrity..understanding that his current surroundings does not reflect who he really is. ~J.L. Deitz Bald Eagle In Rehabilitation
The Vulture is not considered a beautiful bird to most. It is one who is often judged by their appearance and "occupation" here on Earth. Who else would volunteer to do the job that they so honorably do for us? When I look at them, I see perfection, beauty and purpose. You have a purpose.. Understanding this allows acceptance for everything that crosses your path. When you're given the opportunity to stand in the light and be seen for the first time, all about you is revealed. The veil disappears and you see who you have become from all of your life experiences. When in doubt, choose to believe that you belong exactly where you are.. as you are. ~J.L. Deitz
"Ye be Pirates in that thar tree.."
Shimmering in the golden light, a Crabapple tree inhabits the lake shore. A large band of birds in flight thieve the sunlight from my eyes. They are here for the berries, flittering about the branches speaking a language only deciphered by their court. This was their merry land, rich with plunder. As I approach, naturally they flee.. I am an outsider for now. So I invoke my right of parlay, and stand quiet and still until they honor my request for engagement. For what seems like an eternity, only the lapping waves are my companion. Suddenly, the tree began to tremble as they returned by the hundreds! I am beneath a flock of lawless birds enveloping a tree canopy and it is nothing short of magnificent. Having discovered their loot, there was no turning back.. I must join as a rogue or it's exile for me. What a colorful bunch dressed appropriately to their character, drinking the fruit from the tree tavern one by one. Swallowing the berries whole, beaks covered in juice this was the life for an outlaw bird, savvy? At the waters edge, my soul has become full again. Here with the birds it will linger, no matter where my body roams. -J.L. Deitz Lake Pleasant, Adirondacks October 4, 2015
Surrounding ourselves with only like minded people conflicts with get things done. If we are invited to both friend and foe affairs, we are being seen and respected as true leaders. That is where progress is born. If this is practiced, there can be no real enemy.. only ideas. Our ideas then become action.. Our action becomes an unprecedented solution, that cannot be realized without one or the other working together. ~ Jess Deitz American Bald Eagle (Adult Female) Hudson Valley, New York Photographed from a rowboat. Canon​ 7D Mark II | 400mm f/5.6L USM | 1/4000 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 640 | Handheld
This is image is real.. I just flipped it over. Her reflection was showing another side of her character. How can we really be sure which side is right side up anyway? Mallard Lake Pleasant, Adirondacks
Out of the trees, wingtips nipping the branches behind me.. "SQUAWK!" says the Great Blue Heron. I restrain myself from reaching for its gigantic feet, while this prehistoric bird coasts just above my head. Never have I had such an experience before.. This was our rendezvous with destiny in the afternoon light.
"Five Bald Eagles surrounded us on the waters.. four in the sky and one on shore. She called on her family one by one from the big blue, ordering their descent onto the nearby tree thrones. Our journey had lead us to a court of Kings and Queens, with the halls bathed in gold." More about the photo: By keeping my distance, wildlife continues to reward me in return. If I had approached any closer we wouldn't have been invited to the party. It was an incredible feeling to watch the Sun go down in the company of Eagles. Canon 7D Mark II | Canon EF400mm f/5.6 | 1/2000 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 400 | Taken handheld from a rowboat, heavily cropped
I want to take you into the mind of a Gull. As you can see here the bounty is plentiful on the Ocean shores.. but nature insists that we put effort into obtaining the prize it so abundantly provides. It could seem that the Ocean is being cruel at first doesn't it?.. so many colorful and beautiful things to choose from, with every wave more is washed in and some taken away.. and when it's finally within our grasp, there is a hardened shell that appears to be impenetrable keeping us further from what we desire. But this is really to our advantage.. a gift. With so many things to experience during our brief stay here, we need to be more selective with what we put our time and energy towards. This bird is focused. It doesn't care about the incoming waves, other surrounding Gulls.. me clicking my shutter away. It knows what it wants and that tells the source of all things to send more of it and show her a way to master it. Is this bird actually engaging in such complex thinking? Probably not. But does that make it less intelligent and inferior to the human mind? I say no. It's making decisions based on instinct which we all have but we let thinking get in the way. So who is really the wiser? Too much mind can lead to too much sorrow and no treasure. She loves clams. She needs clams to survive. She will go after it no matter what.. find a way to crack open the hard shell. Eat it. Move on. Game over. She won. Nature has it all figured out and we are all part of it.
Misunderstood because of their personality and social etiquette. Everything you feel when you look at something is a direct reflection of you. This bird is beautiful ..
For the Birds
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Great Horned Owl
A young Great Horned Owl preparing to leave home. Thank you for the time that I've had with you, good luck out there..
Great Horned Owlets
Why edit the branches when they show how difficult your shot was? It's like writing a song and removing all the pain.
Of course that may not apply to all circumstances, but it works here. The wind was excessive that morning, so I shot handheld and swayed with the trees to keep the Owls in focus. This particular nest stays in shadow a majority of the time. Thanks to the wind and the flexibility of a White Pine for bringing these Great Horned Owlets into the light.
Great Horned Owl
A young Great Horned Owl preparing to leave home. Thank you for the time that I've had with you, good luck out there..
Eastern Screech Owl
It was a bitter cold one out there today. The Morning Sun worked its way up to the hollow of a Sycamore Tree to find a Screech Owl tucked away inside.
Lil' Screech then stepped out into the light for some warmth.
November 2014.
Dream Swept
Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
There is nothing more beautiful than an Owl in flight during a Winter Sunset.
Short-eared Owl
Barred Owlet
A baby Barred Owl with it's little rain soaked head, is good medicine for the soul.
The mother watches nearby deeper in the trees.. she isn't certain we have discovered her Owlet yet. Just for safety, she calls out a faint "hoooooah" to lure us away from her young and closer to her.
Bald Eagle
Finishing touches to the nest
Osprey and Carp
Poetry
Northern Harrier Hawk
She Warrior
I love to see her dance.
This is what it looks like seconds before a Harrier Hawk strikes its prey. The inertia from forward flight comes to a complete halt as she flips her body over and downward towards her target. Her strategy for a successful hunt is instinct, speed and agility synchronized with absolute silence.
Female Northern Harrier Hawk
Behind the Scenes:
It's possible to get a shot like this using your car as a blind. This Hawk flew in about 12' away from my Jeep. If you wait quietly and are patient.. the wild comes to you. It's not necessary to bait or audible calls.. so much more rewarding to find what you're looking for without all that added trickery. Using these tactics only interferes with the animals natural abilities and causes distress. You don't necessarily have to remain unseen to get the shot.. but by doing so, you allow birds/wildlife to hunt or rest for survival without any distractions from us.. It should always be about them first. When the Sun goes down, life gets tough for birds and animals.. especially in the Winter months. A Hawk or Owl might not mind your presence at times, but the Voles they're hunting could be scattered all over the place from your human scent and vibrations. This is so important to keep in mind at the Wildlife Refuges especially. It's a privilege when the wild invites us into their world.. after all, that land is for the them and we are just lucky spectators.
If you decide to explore the Refuges, please stay on the trails within the marked boundaries.. use common sense and respect to the land and the Wild that inhabits it.
Northern Harrier
Gray Ghost
Male Northern Harrier Hawk
Gray Ghost
Male Harrier Hawk
Coopers Hawk
Coopers Hawk (Juvenile)
A brief rest from a recent aerial battle with a Crow tribe. If it wasn't for the Crows sounding off the predator alarm, I wouldn't have looked to the trees to discover this beauty.
January 13, 2016
Orange County, New York
Broad-winged Hawk
Studies show that these Hawks migrate about 4,300 miles.. covering an average of 70 miles each day.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
This photograph was on the cover of the Poughkeepsie Journal in February of 2014.
Speed Patrol
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Gyrfalcon
Hudson Valley, New York
Crested Caracara
Montgomery, New York
April 11th 2015
Taiga Merlin
Merlins are fierce, energetic Falcons that patrol shorelines and open areas looking for their prey of small birds (and sometimes dragonflies). They fly powerfully, with quick wingbeats, pausing to glide only rarely. They also spend long periods perched in open areas, scanning for prey.
Merlins nest in forested openings, edges, and along rivers across northern North America. They have also begun nesting in towns and cities. During migration and winter, be on the lookout for Merlins in open forests, grasslands, and especially coastal areas with flocks of small songbirds or shorebirds.
The taiga form migrates from far northern breeding grounds to the coastal and southern U.S. and as far south as Ecuador. ~ All About Birds
Hudson Valley, New York
March 2, 2015
Zorro
Tree Swallow
This has been a good conversation..
Tree Swallows
Dressed fit to be a Superhero
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallows
A pair can make up to 1000 trips collecting mud for their nests. They prefer to build it in a shelter near grasslands, where the insects are plentiful.
Cedar Waxwing
Eastern Kingbird
" I'm an Eastern Phoebe, in the rain eating bugs.. "
Upper Jay, Adirondacks
Eastern Phoebe
The Eastern Phoebe is a master at catching insects and builds a beautiful mud nest lined with moss, grass, leaves and feathers.
Keene, New York
Adirondacks
Penny for your thoughts?
Eastern Bluebird
Sun Worshiper
Just me and a Bluebird watching a sunset together.
Bluebird and Pine
Gold Finch
American Goldfinch
Leucistic Robin
Leucistic Robin.. or a bird from Wonderland.
What is Leucism? Here is some info from the web..
Leucism is caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin, from being deposited on a bird’s feathers. As a result, the birds do not have the classic plumage colors listed in field guides, and instead the plumage have several color changes that include:
-White patches where the bird should not have any
-Paler overall plumage that looks faint, diluted or bleached
-Overall white plumage with little or no color discernible
The degree of leucism, including the brightness of the white and the extent of pigment loss, will vary depending on the bird’s genetic makeup.
That makes them something special.. :)
Town Cryer
One of the most fearless songbirds on Earth. If there is a predator such as an Owl in the area, you can count on the Chickadee to force it out of the shadows so others can flee to safety.
Chickadee
Indigo Bunting
Indigo Buntings are actually black, the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue.
They migrate at night using the pattern of stars nearest Polaris.. they will become disoriented if they can't see them.
Song Sparrow
High Peaks, Adirondacks
A young Sparrow leaves it's nest and joins the great big world.
Grasshopper Sparrow