Even if you still have snow on the ground, here's an article to get you thinking about warmer days ahead with some information about how to transform your garden into a Hummingbird Haven. And if you are a Sunbelt birder, you can start planning and planting a hummingbird garden today. But first, we wanted to introduce you to a stunning example of the 363 different species of hummingbirds found in the Americas – a Green-crowned Plovercrest. Endemic to Brazil, Green-crowned Plovercrests are found in the Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil. 

Birders from the United States, Canada, and worldwide contribute eBird reports that list the birds they see. Along with their bird lists, many birders attach photographs that illustrate one or more of the birds they encountered. These photos are filed in the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and to date more than 30,000 birders have contributed images through their eBird checklists. In fact, birders have contributed more than 82 million photographs to the Macaulay Library archive, and among these images are some very impressive photos indeed.

Each year, thousands of people gather on ridges, coasts, and other lookouts at raptor concentration points across North America and around the world to watch migrating hawks, eagles, falcons, and kites as they pass by during spring and fall. The awe-inspiring spectacles spark a curiosity and provide a fun and accessible point of entry to birding and in-flight identification to the public, while also helping us all better understand raptor movements, migration dynamics, and population trends. All this with the Hawk Migration Association at the forefront of providing daily count information, research reports, and conservation insights within an open, united group.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service has provided the results of their National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Survey that 20,361 refuge visitors voluntarily responded to during 2025. The 4 top activities most enjoyed by refuge visitors included Birding (46%), Wildlife Observation (59%), Photography (39%), and Hiking or Walking (56%). Of course, birding includes all 4 of these activities, so it's clear that birders make up a very significant percent of all refuge visitors who participated in the survey. Overall, 97 percent of responders were extremely satisfied, very satisfied, or moderately satisfied with their overall experience when visiting refuges. 

Before starting my drive east to Minnesota lakes country, I decided to choose a Pileated Woodpecker for the top of my wish list of birds to encounter. That's a bit of a far-fetched wish for any day, but it's been done before in the Pelican Lake-Cormorant Lake area. Photo? Don't even think 'bout it. But as rare as it would be to see a Pileated Woodpecker, after observing 3 species of woodpeckers a black crow-looking bird flew ahead of me – but it was no crow – it was a Pileated Woodpecker! I tried to get a second look at it by turning onto a muddy side road, but without luck. Even so, the luck was in crossing paths with the most noble woodpecker of the region.

Among the new generation of Leica Binoculars, the Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 10x42 Binoculars stand out by providing exceptional light transmission that creates the sharpest views of birds, created by internal prisms that are made from specially formulated Schott glass. A total of 12 precise Schott HT glass lenses provide impressively sharp details, natural colors, and increased brightness matched with the improved geometry of lens surfaces for never before achieved edge-to-edge image sharpness. 

Monitor bluebirds or other cavity nesting birds by providing the well-designed Nature's Way Cedar Bluebird House with a Viewing Window. This sturdy nest box is built with cedar panels and perfectly designed with bluebirds in mind. Available at BestNest, this classic bluebird nest box has a 1½-inch diameter entrance hole, which makes it possible for a few other species to use it, including Tree Swallows, Carolina Wrens, Bewick's Wrens, and White-breasted Nuthatches. One side panel of this nest box can be lifted to expose the clear plastic window, which enables you to occasionally monitor the birds with a minimum disturbance.

An excellent reference book for all birders simply explains the step-by-step process of building birdhouses and nest boxes using the best possible plans – plus so much more. Making Bird-Friendly Birdhouses is well-illustrated with photographs and simple "how-to directions," There are 3 major sections to the book: 1) Providing information about a variety of cavity nesting bird species, which includes colorful photos, detailed range maps, nesting facts, and a glossary; 2) Woodworking checklists, photo-illustrated lists of the tools and materials to use with safety tips; and 3) The birdhouse section provides photo-illustrated woodworking plans with clear instructions, patterns, and suggested types of wood to use.

Action photographs are almost always the most attractive photos to view and they are always encouraged in this weekly feature, for their added interest and sometimes for insightful behavior that’s revealed. But the chance to take an action photo is often fleeting and can take extra time in the company of a trusting bird, waiting with the hope for an activity to begin. When you do have the opportunity it’s best to take a series of photographs, and in the excitement of the moment you are most likely to do just that. Sometimes it will be a single bird, sometimes it will include interactions between birds, but we never know what birds will do next. 

After taking a number of photos you can pick out 1 spectacular photo, 2 associated action photos, or a series of 3 or more photographs. That’s when the process becomes part of the photo review – usually on the full screen of a computer after the photo session. That’s when the creative process begins as you judge how the photos tie together, how they should be cropped, and whether to emphasize each photo individually or tie them together as an interesting series. 

While selecting plover and sandpiper and oystercatcher photos for last week’s Coastal Shorebirds photo feature, I ran across a favorite series of action photos I took with my brother Jim at a little lagoon on the edge of a favorite beach in south St. Petersburg, Florida (in Fort De Soto Park). I was caught up in my first chance to photograph a pair of American Oystercatchers, and when Jim circled back to my position, he took a few more images too. As we stood within a few feet of one another, we were aware of a Snowy Egret working its way ever-closer while becoming ever-more active in its search for small fish in the tranquil shallows. 

Suddenly, the Snowy’s unexpected and increasing actions in the form of spreading its wings and prancing through the water attracted our immediate attention as we simultaneously pressed our cameras quickly into action. The lighting was beautiful, a bit subdued with the glassy blue-gray color of the water providing a perfect background that emphasized the white egret in action. Even the shadows were subdued, which enhanced the beauty of the bird as it danced and ran and spinned, then lifted up on pure white wings to drag its yellow toes along the surface of the water to chase small fish before it.

This was definitely the most action I’ve seen among the many, many Snowy Egrets I’ve observed over the years, so it was creating a memorable photo op with an equally rare chance to share a photo session with my brother Jim. It all happened pretty quickly, and between the two of us the sound of our dueling camera shutters was testament to the attraction of this egret’s unexpected behavior. The action was reminiscent of a Reddish Egret, but frankly, the Snowy showed more elegance and agility, thereby providing a series of primo photos.

The action photos that illustrate this feature were all taken within a minute of time, which underlines the importance of being alert, reacting to the birds around you (even if they aren’t your current photo subject) and to follow the action with anticipation for the next move, even while reacting to the current movements. As usual, I had my camera’s Al-Servo (Drive Mode) set at “Continuous,” so I could take a rapid series of photos at a rate of up to 7 per second (tops with my camera model). Using this setting, I could take a single photo, or take 2 or more at a time when I held the shutter button down during a flurry of action. I tried to anticipate the egret’s next move, or movements – a split-second endeavor and oh what fun it was to have such an animated, graceful, beautiful bird actively creating its own avian ballet before us.

It’s automatic for me to hold my breath whenever I press the shutter button and I held the camera and lens as steady as possible while following the egret’s enthusiastic activity. My zoom lens does have a Vibration Control technology that permits hand-holding the lens that was zoomed to 500mm, which permitted me to follow the egret’s movement free style. I was already in position with the sun behind me and the egret in front of me for the best possible lighting. I was also trying to be aware of the shadows on the bird, sometimes created by its own wings, but the action was so quick that it was impossible to make any adjustments. 

I can’t recall how the egret ballet ended, but I remember how excited Jim and I were in the moment, as we quickly checked our camera screens to review a few photos to verify they were as good as we hoped. I share my best ballet images with you here, and hope you find trusting birds to photograph during March, even if they don’t dance for you in the process – Good Luck!   

                       Article and Photographs by Paul Konrad

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