01 Dec Too Close | Dec 2015

Too Close

Brown Pelican

Was I Too Close?

Here’s the story.

It was a perfect day for taking photos at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, CA. The afternoon sky was clear, casting a warm bright light across the water. Brown Pelicans were catching fish near the foot bridge. And I was able to set up in a good spot with the light behind me.

Usually, Brown Pelicans will work far from the shore. Since a Brown Pelican has a 6.5-ft (2-m) wingspan, I need to be about 200 feet (70-m) away to fit the entire bird in a photo.

Today however, this bird spent most of its time close to the shore.

As a result – – Nuts! – – most of my flight photos caught only part of the bird.

Since I’d rather show the entire bird, I usually discard such photos.

But I decided to keep this one.

So what do you think? Is this bird too close?

Or is it just right?

By the way, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is a small remnant of the coastal wetlands that once defined the California Coast. It is one of the few areas left where we can see shore birds.

The Bolsa Chica Conservancy is working to preserve this area. I invite you to visit their site to learn more about what they’re doing.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Did You Know?

The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.

Here are three organizations that excel at doing this.

1) American Bird Conservancy

2) The Nature Conservancy

3) The Trust for Public Land

Please visit their web sites to learn about the work they do.

Here’s an excellent book: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation

You can help – Please share this blog with others.

Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.

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