{"id":123681,"date":"2024-03-12T04:31:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T10:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=123681"},"modified":"2025-05-08T06:44:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:44:57","slug":"film-days-carolina-wrens-and-a-northern-cardinal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/12\/film-days-carolina-wrens-and-a-northern-cardinal\/","title":{"rendered":"Film Days: Carolina Wrens And a Northern Cardinal"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was going through old photos taken with film and decided to share this image of Carolina Wrens and a female Northern Cardinal on my suet feeder in Virginia.<\/p>\n

\"CarolinaCarolina Wrens and a female Northern Cardinal on my suet feeder – Canon AE-1
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m not sure of the year this image was taken, but it was likely between 1998 and 2000. Mostly, I used the Canon AE-1<\/span><\/a> to take photos of the flowers in my garden, turtles, butterflies, dragonflies, and scenery.<\/p>\n

I also loved the birds that visited my garden, and I couldn’t resist taking photos of them even though I didn’t have much reach with my lenses.<\/p>\n

This photo may have been taken with a 100-200mm lens. That was the most reach I had at the time. It was also manual focus, so at times, my photos weren’t as sharp as I would have liked.<\/p>\n

Back in those days before digital cameras, I was mostly a birdwatcher. My garden was filled with them, and I had loads of flyovers. I believe my yard list was in the low 90s for bird species.<\/p>\n

My garden in Virginia was a great habitat for birds and wildlife. My trees were native, and I made sure that more than half of the flowers and shrubbery I planted were native as well.<\/p>\n

Even way back then, I preferred wild to manicured landscapes, native plants over cultivars, and birds over water-sucking, sterile lawns.<\/p>\n

Every day in my garden was magical and filled with birds and wildlife. I studied the birds, insects, mammals and reptiles that made my garden their home. I knew them. I tended my garden and knew it too.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

For quite some time, I’ve been asked, “How do you even know that?” The answer is: I pay attention. I’m also still learning every day.<\/p>\n

The photos I took of birds back then with film weren’t going to make it to the covers of books and magazines or the glossy pages of guidebooks. That has never<\/em> been the reason for my photography.<\/p>\n

I’ve always taken photos for myself, whether with film or digital cameras. My photos are reminders of the incredible birds and wildlife I have seen and know so well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Thanks for going back in time with me. Film was a whole lot different than digital is today. As for me, I’ve always been on a quest for more knowledge about the birds I see. My cameras, whether film or digital, have been very helpful in that regard.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good. Being authentic in my life? Even better.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my bird photos in their galleries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was going through old photos taken with film and decided to share this image of Carolina Wrens and a female Northern Cardinal on my suet feeder in Virginia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,14790,10269,7407],"tags":[14796,14199,14197,14200,14792,13981,14795,14198,14791,14794,4427,10660,5802,3822,14793],"class_list":["post-123681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-carolina-wrens","category-northern-cardinals","category-virginia","tag-canon-ae-1","tag-cardinal","tag-cardinalis-cardinalis","tag-cardinals","tag-carolina-wren","tag-feeder","tag-film","tag-northern-cardinal","tag-suet-feeder","tag-thryothorus-ludovicianus","tag-tree","tag-tree-trunk","tag-wren","tag-wrens","tag-yard-birds"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/garden-birds-virginia-winter-mia-mcpherson-film.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-waR","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":135063,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/09\/28\/low-light-carolina-wren-images\/","url_meta":{"origin":123681,"position":0},"title":"Low Light Carolina Wren Images","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I don't always have the best light to photograph birds in\u2014that's simply a fact. But I do like these low-light Carolina Wren images taken this week.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Low light Carolina Wren about to lift off, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/carolina-wren-suet-mia-mcpherson-3288.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/carolina-wren-suet-mia-mcpherson-3288.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/carolina-wren-suet-mia-mcpherson-3288.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/carolina-wren-suet-mia-mcpherson-3288.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":140309,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/02\/19\/winter-carolina-wren-memorable-moment\/","url_meta":{"origin":123681,"position":1},"title":"Winter Carolina Wren Memorable Moment","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"During a mixed ice-and-snow storm yesterday afternoon, I had a memorable moment with a Carolina Wren, one I'll probably think about for the rest of my life.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter Carolina Wren on a rock, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/carolina-wren-winter-adult-mia-mcpherson-1421.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/carolina-wren-winter-adult-mia-mcpherson-1421.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/carolina-wren-winter-adult-mia-mcpherson-1421.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/carolina-wren-winter-adult-mia-mcpherson-1421.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":167175,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2026\/01\/19\/male-northern-cardinal-with-breakfast\/","url_meta":{"origin":123681,"position":2},"title":"Male Northern Cardinal With Breakfast","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this month, I photographed this adult male Northern Cardinal in the yard as he came in to snatch a suet ball for breakfast in front of a River Birch.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult male Northern Cardinal with breakfast, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/northern-cardinal-sequoyah-county-mia-mcpherson-4093.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/northern-cardinal-sequoyah-county-mia-mcpherson-4093.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/northern-cardinal-sequoyah-county-mia-mcpherson-4093.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/northern-cardinal-sequoyah-county-mia-mcpherson-4093.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":138110,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/12\/23\/winter-carolina-wren-celebration\/","url_meta":{"origin":123681,"position":3},"title":"Winter Carolina Wren Celebration","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I am sharing four Carolina Wren photos and a short video as a mini-celebration of this delightful wren species. These bold wrens bring me so much joy.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter Carolina Wren in Arkansas, Sebastian County","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/carolina-wren-winter-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1631.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/carolina-wren-winter-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1631.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/carolina-wren-winter-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1631.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/carolina-wren-winter-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-1631.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":138911,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/01\/21\/carolina-wrens-in-snowy-and-foggy-weather\/","url_meta":{"origin":123681,"position":4},"title":"Carolina Wrens In Snowy And Foggy Weather","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"During the recent snowstorm in Arkansas, I was happy to have Carolina Wrens in my viewfinder, despite the snowy and foggy weather conditions. I was more than delighted.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snowy Carolina Wren in Arkansas, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/carolina-wren-snowy-mia-mcpherson-9094.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/carolina-wren-snowy-mia-mcpherson-9094.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/carolina-wren-snowy-mia-mcpherson-9094.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/carolina-wren-snowy-mia-mcpherson-9094.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":143184,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/04\/28\/when-carolina-wren-chicks-fledge\/","url_meta":{"origin":123681,"position":5},"title":"When Carolina Wren Chicks Fledge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday it was cloudy, so we didn\u2019t head to the refuge, and that turned out great because during the morning, in low light, the Carolina Wren chicks fledged!","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Carolina Wren chick on an old wooden ladder, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/carolina-wren-fledgling-mia-mcpherson-8810.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/carolina-wren-fledgling-mia-mcpherson-8810.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/carolina-wren-fledgling-mia-mcpherson-8810.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/carolina-wren-fledgling-mia-mcpherson-8810.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123681"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123681\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}