Wood Thrush, at the nest with hungry chicks. Medford, New Jersey (Steve Greer / SteveGreerPhotography.com)
by Steve Greer
First published in Birder’s World magazine April 2007
With the morning rush over, and most of the songbirds having stoked up on the quality seed at the feeders, I now found myself mesmerized watching the ants crawl up and over my shoes.
“Lunch is Readyyy!!” Brought back to reality by the lyrical singing voice on the walkie-talkie dangling from the tripod, I peer out of a screened portal from my photo blind. I can see my neighbor, Jack, looking through his kitchen window at me with his walkie-talkie pressed against his ear and holding up a plate with an oversized double-decker sandwich that looked so good, I thought I could smell the garlic mustard from inside the blind. This was a culinary creation that he is famous for, at least in my neighborhood, and it made it all the more delightful to be his neighbor.
My now grumbling stomach and dull ache in my back join ranks to convince me it’s time to take a break. “OK”, I whisper to the growing mutiny, “but first, just one more look through the viewfinder……” If my collarbone hadn’t gotten in the way, there is no telling where my jaw would have stopped. In the center of the frame is a boldly colored Great Crested Flycatcher standing on my prearranged perch, looking directly towards the lens and into my soul. As the rest of the world slipped away, including the sandwich, I squeeze off several frames of this very cooperative subject. Changing positions on the branch and posing for a few more verticals, the Flycatcher then hopped to it’s nearby nestbox, disappearing inside to feed its’ hungry and very vocal youngsters. “Ok,” I conceded, “now, its time for lunch.”
It is the nature of humans to engage in activities that are not, strictly speaking, sensible. Nature photographers have long been suited to telling tales of trekking great distances to remote locations of the planet, enduring all sorts of discomfort, in search of the perfect image. Stories of backcountry hikes carrying 40lb. backpacks and being assaulted by stinging insects and charging rhinos, seem the norm. I admire these photographers who are out exploring the wilds, on the opposite side of the planet, enduring the unforgiving elements with patience that borders on insanity. Yet, most of my experiences have lent themselves to a more comfortable, and dare I say, sensible way, of creating natural history photos.
Always on the look out for the next great image myself; I too spend time scouting out new locations – all within my neighbors’ backyard. Instead of airports, jet lag, and heavy bags of gear, I simply walk the well-worn path over to the next house, with my camera in tow, and immediately I’m welcomed with an oasis of flora and fauna. Thankfully, my neighbors Jack and Connie, have green thumbs and are very accommodating to my photography interests. They create wonderfully lush and wildlife friendly environments and then they allow me to come over and set up photo blinds. Somebody pinch me. With so much animal diversity and habitat designed to attract and support wildlife, I find myself there often, at different times of the day, and during all seasons. This backyard haven provides unlimited photo ops.
It all started one day, sitting on the back deck in their yard, observing the traffic patterns of the local wildlife that calls this place home. Over a slice of homemade apple pie, we all watched a pair of Wood Thrushes carrying bits of nesting material from one side of the yard to the other. My heart quickened with the realization that the nest was nearby. Not wanting to stress the parents, nor reveal the nest site to potential predators, I waited until the following year to assemble a platform 20 feet high and 38 feet away from the nest site, months before they arrived. Once the pair returned and only when they had successfully completed their courtship, refurbished the nest, incubated the eggs, and the chicks begun to hatch, did I climb into a very small photo blind on the top of the platform. Witnessing the caring intimate moments of both parents raising their family kept me in that blind everyday for almost 2 weeks, until all the chicks had successfully fledged. The small glimpse into their life’s struggle made all the planning and waiting worthwhile.
From that first discovery, Jack and Connie began in earnest to redesign their backyard, learning about the types of vegetation and food sources that would attract more wildlife. This husband and wife team started planting native plants to attract butterflies and hanging bird feeders to draw in the songbirds. When more animals began to frequent their property, the next step was to provide a habitat that would entice them to stay and raise a family. To encourage birds to nest, they planted dense foliage, allowed an area of tall grasses to grow, hung a wire cage full of nesting materials (scraps of yarn, twigs, down feathers), and installed nest boxes specifically designed for the habitat and the species that frequented the neighborhood. Avoiding pesticides encouraged a diverse insect population to return, which attracted even more animals. And as an alternative to herbicides for weed control, they incorporated landscaping film and shredded bark mulch as a primary source of ground cover in their landscaping plans.
But what really got the yard jumping was the introduction of water. A pond was to be the focal point of the garden, and once it was installed and running, the occupancy rate jumped 1000%. Whether it’s a birdbath, pond or stream, any shallow pool of water acts as a real magnet for all sorts of wildlife – especially if the water is dripping, splashing, or moving. Soon there were sounds of woodpeckers drumming on trees, croaking bullfrogs at the waters edge, and sights of numerous butterflies delicately fluttering from flower to flower. Even the occasional Red-tailed hawk cruised through to see what all the commotion was about. Through their efforts, not only did they have a complete ecosystem thriving in their backyard, they became better naturalists. This dynamic duo is now inspiring others in the neighborhood to remove expanses of lifeless sod deserts and begin planting wildflowers and fruit bearing trees.
Getting started is easy. Checking with the botany department of your nearby college or university for a list of shrubs and trees native to your area will ensure your plant selections are naturally adapted to the climate in which you live. If you include non-native plant species in your plan, be sure they are not considered “invasive pests” by plant experts. Reviewing your ideas with a local arboretum or knowledgeable garden center can help identify your soil nutrient requirements and you can also see what many plants look like. Try not to do too much all at once. Drawing a map of your property, you can decide how you would like your yard to look overall, and then begin slowly by planting a shrub here or placing a bird feeder there. Over time, you will be rewarded with the distinctive mud-lined nest of robins and their beautiful blue eggs, to the baritone noted call of green frogs.
Back in my blind, waiting for a family of juvenile Eastern Cottontail rabbits to make their predictable appearance from their den site, the walkie-talkie squawks to life. “This is rubber duck here. I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee brewing – it will be ready in about 15 minutes.” I smile at my good fortune and ask myself, “What more could a nature photographer ask for?” Ok, I’m always asking for better light.
To learn how you can attract more wildlife to your yard, please visit the following references:
- eNature, http://www.enature.com/backyardwildlife
- US Department of Agriculture, NRCS, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/WildHab.html
- National Wildlife Federation, http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/attractspecificwildlife.cfm
- National Audubon Society, http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/index.html
- The Birdhouse Network, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse