Naturescapes Image of the Week winner

I was absolutely thrilled when my image of a Sora, a highly-secretive bird that is more often heard than seen, was selected by Naturescapes as the Image of the Week in October. :) (Click on the image at the left to see a larger version of the winning image.)

The Sora is a species of rail that can be found in freshwater marshes across much of North America. Sora tend to remain hidden within vegetation, and often the only clue that they are present is their unique descending call.

This image, like most of my images, is the result of a lot of patient waiting. I was crouched down in knee-high grass next to a pond at a local water reclamation facility shooting sandpipers and dowitchers when friend and fellow photographer Rich Ditch cried out that a Sora was on the move. We watched incredulously as the normally reclusive Sora walked about 150 yards away from us across the open shallow pond! Hoping that the Sora would return, I stayed crouched and hidden in the grass, and sure enough, after about an hour of waiting, the Sora came back. He only made one quick pass close to my position, so I had to make the most of the opportunity. The pond is very muddy, but I was able to make this image when the Sora was in a very small patch of clean water between two large patches of mud.

There are a couple of lessons that can be learned from this image:

• Stay low - Birds that are normally reclusive may be less wary if you stay low to the ground. A low perspective also creates an intimate and pleasing image of a bird on the ground or water.
• Be patient - In bird photography, being patient and quiet can result in close encounters with birds that are generally skittish.
• Know your equipment - When the Sora finally came, I only had about three to four seconds of potential shooting time as he ran quickly by my position, and less than a second of time when the Sora was in the most pleasing position. Knowing your equipment well and being able to make split-second decisions on the fly regarding composition, exposure and focus allows you to make the most of every opportunity.
• Know your subject - If you want to photograph birds in the wild, it is imperative that you learn everything you can about your subjects. Knowing how rare it was for a Sora to be out in the open, I didn't mind a bit waiting an hour to see if he would return. Knowledge of your subjects deeply enhances the joy of capturing the lives of birds on camera.

If you would like to see more images of the elusive Sora, please visit http://www.pbase.com/jamesjerome/sora.