There are only about 2 [large noticeable ] birds that don't leave Alberta [Northern Manitoba] in the winter. The Raven and the Whiskey Jack (Grey Jay). [To avoid be corrected over and over - I was wrong - more than 2 ]
There are some that migrate south (Snowy Owls) and some that migrate north (loons), but the Ravens stay with us all winter and summer and they are really smart and precocious. That is why the First Nations peoples call them the "Trickster".
Today, the sky was flat and as a consolation prize, I took these pictures of some ravens. But Ravens are tough in the winter - black on white.
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Comments and feedback are appreciated. Scott
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Canon EOS R8RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM lens200mmf/8.01/200s160 ISO+1.3 EV
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Canon EOS R8RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM lens225mmf/8.01/320s250 ISO+1.3 EV
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Canon EOS R8RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM lens214mmf/8.01/320s320 ISO+1.3 EV
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Canon EOS R5EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXT lens372mmf/5.61/400s800 ISO-0.3 EV
Great captures of very clever birds, and birds that crows hate because ravens will take crow chicks right of our their nests despite being mobbed by several crows.
Scott Stoness wrote:
There are only about 2 birds that don't leave Alberta in the winter. The Raven and the Whiskey Jack (Grey Jay).
I would have thought that number would be closer to 50:
Imagemaster wrote:
Great captures of very clever birds, and birds that crows hate because ravens will take crow chicks right of our their nests despite being mobbed by several crows.
I would have thought that number would be closer to 50:
Thanks Tony. I grew up in just short of the tree line in Northern Manitoba and I did not see any of these birds on the list in the winter on my trapline at -45c. But you are right, they are here in Southern Canada in the winter, with many of them being migratory.
Glad you keep me honest and you like the captures of my non rare common ravens.
Thanks for the feedback. Scott
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In my failed defence:
Perhaps up to 8 in northern Manitoba that stayed all year and did not migrate.
From bird advisor - There are some birds that stay all year in Manitoba but many migrate in or out in the spring and fall. These lists give you the most common birds recorded in checklists by bird watchers in summer or winter on ebird.
Winter Birds Manitoba: from Bird
Black-capped Chickadee 62.83% ? maybe
White-breasted Nuthatch 38.57% ? - don't think so
Common Raven 35.66% yes
Blue Jay 33.80% yes
Downy Woodpecker 32.03% [Not where I lived]
Hairy Woodpecker 31.64% [Not where I lived]
House Sparrow 30.20% [Not where I lived]
Common Redpoll 26.49% [Not where I lived]
Black-billed Magpie 19.84% [Don't think so]
Pine Grosbeak 15.55% [Don't think so]
American Crow 14.35% [Not where I lived]
Red-breasted Nuthatch 11.21% [Not where I lived]
Rock Pigeon 10.19%. [Not where I lived]
House Finch 8.06% [Not where I lived]
Snow Bunting 7.84% [maybe]
Ptarmigan [Yes - where I lived]
douter: Glad you like the set. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
morris: Glad you like the detail in the ravens. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
n.v.m.: Yup. I was wrong. When I think of Ravens, I always transport myself back to Northern Manitoba on my trapline because the Ravens and the Whiskey Jack's (and Ptarmigans too -so I was wrong there too) were my only companions I remember. Thanks for keeping me honest. Much appreciated. Scott
I share your admiration of ravens. While they are often considered nuisance birds, they are so very important to the recycling of nutrients in the environment. Furthermore, they are a nature photographer's friend as they happily point out the location of wolves, coyotes, and owls.
I love how you processed this image. In the last two years I've been obsessed with strong contrasting tones in nature, and your choices in composition and post-processing amplify the the animal's form against its stark landscape.
OwlsEyes wrote:
I share your admiration of ravens. While they are often considered nuisance birds, they are so very important to the recycling of nutrients in the environment. Furthermore, they are a nature photographer's friend as they happily point out the location of wolves, coyotes, and owls.
I love how you processed this image. In the last two years I've been obsessed with strong contrasting tones in nature, and your choices in composition and post-processing amplify the the animal's form against its stark landscape.
cheers,
bruce
Ravens are special. Smart, tough, good with the cold, very social and communicative and family orientated. And as you say they are recyclers and are a great indicator of dead animals (and a nuisance on my old teenager trapline).
Glad you like the processing and composition - I was thinking of making them even more high key.
Scott Stoness wrote:
Ravens are special. Smart, tough, good with the cold, very social and communicative and family orientated. And as you say they are recyclers and are a great indicator of dead animals (and a nuisance on my old teenager trapline).
Glad you like the processing and composition - I was thinking of making them even more high key.
Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Scott
Scott... like I said, I love work like this and find myself looking for ways to do more of it. You might enjoy my post from Japan on the nature board. Specifically, the red-crowned crane images embrace this purposeful attempt to contrast elements of the subject from the environment.
cheers,
bruce
OwlsEyes wrote:
Scott... like I said, I love work like this and find myself looking for ways to do more of it. You might enjoy my post from Japan on the nature board. Specifically, the red-crowned crane images embrace this purposeful attempt to contrast elements of the subject from the environment.
cheers,
bruce
Thanks Bruce - I just looked and they were very nice pictures of red-crowned crane. I see the similarity. Thanks Scott
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