{"id":32836,"date":"2015-11-17T05:50:45","date_gmt":"2015-11-17T12:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=32836"},"modified":"2024-02-08T07:18:05","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T14:18:05","slug":"flocks-of-birds-and-american-bison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/11\/17\/flocks-of-birds-and-american-bison\/","title":{"rendered":"Flocks of Birds and American Bison"},"content":{"rendered":"

November and December seem to be good months to see flocks of birds and American Bison together on Antelope Island State Park<\/span><\/a>. Last year in early December<\/span><\/a> I photographed this American Bison while a flock of European Starlings flew in to settle on its back, there was a small herd of bison at the top of a hill with a stormy looking sky behind it to the north and I couldn’t resist the dramatic setting.<\/p>\n

\"FlockFlock of European Starlings landing on an American Bison’s back – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The birds land on the bison’s back for warmth on cold days and they can peck insects off of the bison’s fur too. Mostly the bison ignore the birds.<\/p>\n

\"FlockA flock of birds and American Bison – Nikon D810, f10, 1\/1000, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this month I was out on Antelope Island again looking for birds and on the south end of the island I came across a herd of bison with large flocks of birds, European Starlings and a few Red-winged Blackbirds, flying past the bison or landing on them for a few brief seconds before they flew away again. The light wasn’t as dramatic that day as it was in the top picture but I always find flocks birds and bison appealing so I had to stop my Jeep and take some photos. I wasn’t the only one, there were about four other vehicles stopped to watch the birds and American Bison.<\/p>\n

When I lived in Florida about the only place I could photograph American Bison was in a zoo and I dreamed of taking images like these from afar. I didn’t know then that I would move to Utah and that I would be able to photograph American Bison in the wild nearly any day of the week.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my American Bison photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

November and December seem to be good months to see flocks of birds and American Bison together on Antelope Island State Park. 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