Bright-eyed Chukar – Nikon D810, f11, 1/800, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This past Sunday was a beautiful day to be on Antelope Island State Park the sky was clear and the sun felt warm. I found a cooperative Chukar on the rocks not too far from the one I photographed recently on a lichen covered tintic quartzite boulder and took some images of it before it hopped down off of the rock to take chase after a few nearby Chukars. The blue at the top of the image is the Great Salt Lake below the slope and the tan color is mudflats. The water level of the lake is very low and getting lower.
The Chukars are singing from the rocks in the morning and if I am lucky I might be able to photograph them fighting over the hens again like I did three years ago.
I remember how tickled I was to photograph Chukars the first time I visited Antelope Island, I certainly didn’t see them in Florida! After living here in Utah for over 5 years I have a large collection of images that I have taken of these striking upland game birds.
Life is good.
Mia
I never knew there were Chukars living on the island until I saw your post. We had a Chukar in our neighborhood last winter and the winter before. He would hang out in our yard and come right up to our back door looking for bird seed. And he was always chasing off the ravens that hang out here. One late afternoon we were in our front yard watching him walk around and as he crossed the road I told my husband to chase him off the road as a car was coming. The next thing we hear is a hawk’s screech. We watched helplessly as he chased the chukar off to the pastures and trees behind our home. I felt a conflict of emotions but I have to say it was thrilling just the same. We did not see the chukar for 2 months; he started coming around again in the spring. When there was no sign of him this winter, I was hoping he would make it back to the island with the other colonies. Funny thing, our Karelian Bear dog gets very antsy when there are birds in the yard, especially the Magpies and Blue jays who taunt him, and chases them off, but he never bothered the Chukar.
Did I post this comment before?
Lovely photo, Mia! The colours of the Chukar are so pretty.
One of these days…..
Such an amazing little critter … I love the stripes … makes them look so formal, lol!!! As always, beautiful photography … tweeted!
That bird looks as if it’s dancing…
I always thought that a chukar was the end of a game played with horses. :-} Nice photo!
I can’t get enough of your photos of chukars. They are so beautiful. Thank you.