![\"Adult](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-male-on-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-6557.jpg\" "\\"Adult")
Adult Mountain Plover male<\/span><\/p>\nLast year when I announced that I had written five years of daily posts<\/span><\/a> we were a couple of months into the Covid-19 pandemic with seemingly no end in sight.<\/p>\n Due to poor leadership on the state and federal level we lost hundreds of thousands of lives to the coronavirus across the country. Life felt uncertain. It was uncertain.<\/p>\n Today thanks to scientists in the U.S. and around the world we have over 100 million people vaccinated in this country and life feels a bit more certain and stable. I know that when I hit my fully vaccinated date of April 12th I felt relieved and safer to continue doing what I love doing the most.<\/p>\n That means heading out to find and photograph birds but now I’m not so concerned about the “what ifs” like I was last year.<\/p>\n When I wrote about having posted every day for five years I mentioned that I wondered if it was time for a change for me. Throughout the past twelve months I continued writing my daily posts and I have decided that I will stay the course and write as I have since the inception of my blog here at On The Wing Photography.<\/p>\n I don’t feel a desire to change how and what I share here for now. If I am going to make changes those changes will happen to other parts of my life’s journey.<\/p>\n From my first post I wanted to tell the authentic stories behind my images. In addition to that I also wanted them to be honest and informative.<\/p>\n There are hundreds of bird and bird photography blogs where I can find the same information shared over and over again. I wanted my site to be unique and my experiences in the field certainly are.<\/p>\n Since 2010 I have written about what I know about the subjects I photograph, given credit for what I found out while researching my subjects<\/span><\/a> and have acknowledged the people who have helped me when I wasn’t 100% sure of an identification<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Why?<\/p>\n For me that is a matter of personal integrity plus I don’t want to appear to be more of an expert than I actually am<\/em> or take<\/em> credit for something that I didn’t find<\/em> or do<\/em>.<\/p>\n For all of my 3,625 published posts I have been guided by and have used those thoughts and principles.<\/p>\n Writing my daily blog posts is also a way of mentoring. I can’t tell you how many times I have been thanked for helping a person with bird, animal, or plant identification or by explaining a behavior that I saw in the field that answered an unasked question by someone reading my blog.<\/p>\n In the field I am often asked “what is that?” and I get emails and messages asking for identifications too. Mentoring is my way of giving.<\/p>\n I have also mentored young birders for the past five years but mentioning that somehow sounds like it is about “me” wanting or needing praise or approval when it is all<\/em> about the the young birders. I believe that they are the future of birding, bird photography, and through them, bird conservation.<\/p>\n I get asked “How do you know that” frequently. It is because I have been a student of nature for as long as I can remember.<\/p>\n My thirst for knowledge about the natural world has made my collection of books about birds, plants, insects, and animals fill my bookshelves. My phone is filled with apps about the same subjects.<\/p>\n My thirst doesn’t stop there though. I make it a habit to learn the songs of birds, to know their preferred habitats, their behaviors, what they eat, and what they look like in all kinds of light. I also learn to identify them even when they are buried behind leaves.<\/p>\n That knowledge extends to plants, insects, and animals because everything in nature is connected. By knowing my subjects I can find my subjects. As I have written before it isn’t all<\/em> about having keen eyesight. It helps, for sure, but it isn’t everything. Paying attention is ultimately just as important.<\/p>\n I love what I do.<\/p>\n Thank you all for sharing my journey. I sincerely appreciate all of your comments and support.<\/p>\n Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n Mia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today I am celebrating six years of daily posts without missing a day here at On The Wing Photography. That is two thousand one hundred and ninety-two days of nonstop publication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":139515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_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":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[511,27,1022,5921,12082,4594,2188,10365,26,2258,773],"tags":[2190,6605,4897,7298,6667,6566,10302,10366,11577,7602,2189,10367,5841,275,2657,7297,274,855,4195,2658,3888,3889],"class_list":["post-86582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-east-canyon","category-milestone","category-morgan-county","category-mountain-plovers","category-nashville-warblers","category-utah","category-vesper-sparrows","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-anarhynchus-montanus","tag-berries","tag-branch","tag-crataegus-rivularis","tag-fruit","tag-hawthorn","tag-hawthorns","tag-leiothlypis-ruficapilla","tag-mentoring","tag-milestone","tag-mountain-plover","tag-nashville-warbler","tag-plover","tag-plovers","tag-poocetes-gramineus","tag-river-hawthorn","tag-shorebirds-2","tag-sparrow","tag-sparrows","tag-vesper-sparrow","tag-warbler","tag-warblers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-male-on-antelope-island-mia-mcpherson-6557.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-mwu","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":102082,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/05\/02\/seven-years-of-daily-posts-at-on-the-wing-photography\/","url_meta":{"origin":86582,"position":0},"title":"Seven Years Of Daily Posts At On The Wing Photography","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Today marks seven years of daily posts for me here at On The Wing Photography. Another year has gone by and another milestone has been reached.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fluffy Vesper Sparrow near a ranch pond, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/vesper-sparrow-lichen-covered-rock-mia-mcpherson-9994.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/vesper-sparrow-lichen-covered-rock-mia-mcpherson-9994.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/vesper-sparrow-lichen-covered-rock-mia-mcpherson-9994.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/vesper-sparrow-lichen-covered-rock-mia-mcpherson-9994.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57665,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/07\/vesper-sparrow-up-close-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":86582,"position":1},"title":"Vesper Sparrow Up Close In The Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"To my surprise when the Vesper Sparrow lifted off it flew onto the top of another sagebrush that was even closer to me which was nearly perfect for taking portraits of the sparrow and I took full advantage of the opportunity.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Vesper Sparrow close up, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/vesper-sparrow-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/vesper-sparrow-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/vesper-sparrow-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/vesper-sparrow-close-up-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8081,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/04\/11\/more-mountain-plover-images\/","url_meta":{"origin":86582,"position":2},"title":"More Mountain Plover Images","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I wanted to share a few more of the Mountain Plover images I took which are a lifer bird for me as well as being rare in Utah.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Mountain Plover in a field on Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-5959.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-5959.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-5959.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-5959.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15456,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/07\/25\/posts-from-the-past-shorebirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":86582,"position":3},"title":"Posts from the Past – Shorebirds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 25, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I am focusing on older posts that have shorebirds in them starting with Black-bellied Plovers.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black-bellied Plover on a grassy dune at Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bellied-plover-habitat-mia-mcpherson-2585.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bellied-plover-habitat-mia-mcpherson-2585.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bellied-plover-habitat-mia-mcpherson-2585.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/black-bellied-plover-habitat-mia-mcpherson-2585.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8072,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/04\/10\/mountain-plovers-a-dream-come-true\/","url_meta":{"origin":86582,"position":4},"title":"Mountain Plovers – A Dream Come True","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"What I saw through my lens was a Mountain Plover, a bird I have long dreamed of seeing. A rarity here in Utah.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Alert Mountain Plover male, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-6534.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-6534.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-6534.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mountain-plover-mia-mcpherson-6534.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49644,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/12\/02\/juvenile-vesper-sparrow-in-southwest-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":86582,"position":5},"title":"Juvenile Vesper Sparrow in Southwest Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I have seen very few juvenile Vesper Sparrows and I have just a handful of images of them so when I spot one in good light I certainly want to do my best to photograph it.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Perched juvenile Vesper Sparrow, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/vesper-sparrow-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2374.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/vesper-sparrow-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2374.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/vesper-sparrow-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2374.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/vesper-sparrow-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2374.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\/86582","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=86582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The beginning<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Adult](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/nashville-warbler-on-willow-mia-mcpherson-5531.jpg\" "\\"Adult")
Adult male Nashville Warbler on a willow branch<\/span><\/p>\nMentoring<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"River](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/hawthorn-berries-mia-mcpherson-6418.jpg\" "\\"River")
River Hawthorn branch with berries<\/span><\/p>\nFinding my subjects by knowing my subjects<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Vesper](\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/vesper-sparrow-hiding-in-a-hawthorn-mia-mcpherson-9732.jpg\" "\\"Vesper")
Vesper Sparrow hiding in a hawthorn, Wasatch Mountains, East Canyon, Morgan County, Utah<\/span><\/p>\n