Captured At Last!

Day 115: Today marks the accomplishment of a goal it has taken me DECADES to achieve: I have finally gotten a "field-guide" shot of a Black-Capped Chickadee! Everybody else in the world has chickadees which feed out of their hands. Any I have encountered were more elusive than warblers! Dee-dee (just one!) has been coming to my feeders for at least a month now, gradually gaining the confidence to stay in the contorted filbert when I've gone out to add new seed. Sometimes, he'd let me walk past on my way to the mailbox, letting me know that he was there with a "dee-dee-dee" call. I'd speak to him as a way of assuring him that I wasn't a predator: "Oh, hi, Dee-dee! Did you see the peanut-butter suet I put out for you?" When I first saw him today, he was face-on toward me with a twig in the way of his lower body, but he allowed me to edge around until I was within ten feet of his perch, although he didn't voice his call as I got closer. I'd say we've come to an understanding, and I do hope he spreads the word.

Field ID Fail

Day 169: When I'm tutoring people in how to do "field-guide" photography, I often use birds as an example. The same method can be applied to Meadow Rovers who are trying to educate Park visitors with respect to being able to identify those little LBJs (Little Brown Jobs) they always ask about. This is the second of a series of illustrations I'll be using in a Rover training session this June.

When observing any species of bird or plant or anything else, it is important to capture as much information as possible, whether by eye or with a camera. A bird viewed head-on supplies very little in the way of distinguishing features. You might be able to see an eye ring or breast markings, but that's often insufficient to make a solid ID. Were there bars on the wings? Was the body colouration uniform? What did the silhouette look like? Was it short and squat, or did it have a sleek outline? What shape was the beak? The famous "Angry Bluebird" is certainly a cute photo, but as far as being helpful in making an ID, it is a classic fail. A square-on side view of a bird is much more informative! Likewise, wildflower IDs often require being able to observe the leaf as well as the flower. If you can't get both in one shot, take two! That way, the ranger at the information desk will be much more likely to be able to help you.

The Photographer's Bane

Day 100: I have spent a large portion of my photographic energies on trying to capture a "field guide" shot of a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus). I tease my east-coast friends about getting excited over Bald Eagles because here they are common, but those same east-coasters have Chickadees at their feeders daily, almost hand-tame, and I'd gladly trade half a dozen Eagles for just one tiny 'dee who would hold still long enough for a portrait. This, dear readers, is as close as it gets for me. You can see the field markings, but the pose is far from classic. Poor little guy must have dropped the bud!

Black-capped Chickadees frequently hang out with Ruby-crowned or Golden-crowned Kinglets (or maybe it's the other way around). The Kinglets are usually what catches my attention, "popcorning" among alder and cottonwood branches faster than my eye can follow. Trying to zoom in on them is a hopeless task. They are usually at a distance which makes it hard for me to identify a branch, let alone focus on it. Likewise, the Chickadees pop off just as soon as I spot their perches, and the whole congenial flock, Kinglets and Chickadees alike, seldom populate a site longer than five minutes. That said, I still hope to get that classic shot some day.

Doubly Adorable

Day 321: Once again, this image falls into the category of "not a field guide shot" photos because only one of the subjects is in focus, but the "cuteness factor" inclined me to keep it. I had gone to this site specifically to check on the status of the pool and the vegetation surrounding it. for reasons entirely unrelated to its potential for frogginess, and discovered it to be populated with dozens of thumbnail-sized froglets whose species I could not determine without disruption. Many still carried stubs of polliwog-tails and had not taken on full adult colouration. Surprisingly, many of these froglets survive the winter by burrowing into the mud up to twelve inches where they hibernate until spring thaw. Frogs aside, the information I obtained regarding the area only served to add another layer of opacity to a greater mystery. Such is the way of science, whether in the lab or in the field.

Fern, Comma

Day 209: Yesterday's walk in Pack Forest served a dual purpose: to do a patrol for invasive plants and to pay a visit to Butterfly Alley. I've made several trips to the Alley over the last two months, but with very little success. I missed the emergence of the Mourning Cloaks, one of the first species to appear in the spring. The Commas follow a month or so later, and are usually quite numerous. Their heavy bodies and ragged wings make them very distinctive, but issues arise when trying to determine whether an individual specimen is Polygonia faunus or Polygonia satyrus.

This problem opens the door for me to explain a little about field-guide photography. When you are taking pictures of specimens for identification purposes, it is important to capture as many markings or features as possible. You should also maintain a good depth of field for your subject; having the entire critter in focus is mandatory. The background can sometimes be helpful in making a positive ID if the habitat gives clues as to what plants may be host species, but it should not be so cluttered that it becomes a lesson in camouflage.

Let's take Mr. Comma as an example of art vs. science. As hard as I tried to sneak up on him from a better angle, I could not get into a position where the view of the lower margin of the hind wing was not obscured by the curled, dry fern. Seen in the dorsal view, Polygonia faunus shows a darker border than Polygonia satyrus. Without that crucial piece of information and lacking a ventral view, I can only say that based on previous observations at this site, I believe (but am not positive) that this is Polygonia faunus.

Field Guide Specimen

Day 360: If you've been dabbling in photography for any length of time, you may have heard of the Rule of Thirds in which the subject is placed at one of the intersections of an imaginary tic-tac-toe grid, a little compositional trick which leads the eye through an image in a spiraling pattern. Let's take a look at a different style. The Rule of Thirds is used extensively in "art" photography, but when it comes to capturing subject matter in a way which is useful to researchers and scientists, the philosophy of visual flow should be laid aside in favour of centering.

Centering the subject and maintaining a good depth of field allows the viewer to see not only the specimen, but also its habitat. Sometimes it is helpful to know if a plant or fungus is growing in hemlock debris rather than fir needles or some other medium, or to know what other plants may be growing nearby. You should always try to shoot from an angle which allows all the physical characteristics (morphology) of the subject to be seen. "Flat" light is preferable to strong highlights and shadows, so take your pictures on an overcast day whenever possible. My personal preference is to put the camera on a tripod and go with a longer exposure in natural light rather than utilizing a flash.

When you're in the field and have the opportunity, take the time to look for other examples of the species. You might get lucky and find a textbook specimen like this Amanita muscaria waiting for your lens!

Out With The Scouts - Pacific Chorus Frog

Day 255: Of all the things I do in the Park, one of the most rewarding and enjoyable is working with youth groups such as Scouts. Today I had the privilege of doing just that: explaining to them the difference between art photography and field-guide photography and then going on a patrol of the Longmire Stewardship Campground to practice. I had some specifics in mind, hoping to infect them with my enthusiasm for rare plants, and indeed that goal was achieved. However, their own finds were the most memorable and exciting: Red-legged and Pacific Chorus Frogs, and a colony of Cone Plants (Hemitomes congestum) numbering at least a dozen in a two-foot diameter circle.

Upon hearing one of the girls shout, "Crow! I found something weird!" I abandoned photographing our little friend here and went to check. I found the troop gathered around the plants, some already on hands and knees taking pictures with cell phones and iPads. As soon as their discovery registered, I let loose a whoop of delight and complimented them on being keen observers. Then I emphasized the rarity of the species and, having already introduced the subject of mycoheterotrophy, listened as they discussed among themselves the specialized conditions required for the plant to grow. It never fails to amaze me when ten-year olds grasp a concept many adults find daunting. As we walked back to their camp, several of the girls regaled me with questions.

At their campsite, I reviewed all the photos they had taken. Some were blurry or badly exposed, some were what you might expect from a ten-year old photographer. However, in each and every camera was at least one good quality photo (and sometimes many) of one particular subject: the Cone Plants. Seven young scientists walked away from this event with solid documentation of a rarity. You can bet they'll remember this camping trip!