Singing Northern Mockingbird – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It was nice to photograph this Northern Mockingbird singing in between the clouds and rain yesterday on Antelope Island State Park. I can hear far more Mockingbirds on the island than I did last year and certainly far more than when I first moved here in 2009. It seems that birds are migrating further north than they had before and in higher numbers and personally I believe that is because our climate is changing and changing fast.
I love to hear the Mockingbirds sing and try to pick out which birds they are mimicking.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Northern Mockingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Indeed Mia, the counts are up: Northern Mockingbird populations declined by about 20 percent from 1966 to 2010, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 32 million with 83 percent in the U.S., 16 percent in Mexico, and 6 percent in Canada. They rate an 8 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score and are not on the 2012 Watch List.
Such an elegant bird. Muted, monochromatic magic.
Wonderful shot of a champion, non-stop singer….who would win THE VOICE in a heartbeat. Mockingbirds supposedly moved north here in the east following the spread of the “living fence” rose bushes after WW II which provided rose hips for them and the climate warming, a fact denied by some of our not too bright, not too observant citizens..