Pic of the Day

Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea:  Moraine Valley; RMNP, Colorado

Pic of the Day

Pygmy Nuthatch: Sitta pygmaea,

Moraine Valley, Rocky Mountain National Park

     Four years ago I found the nest of a Pygmy Nuthatch in a broken Ponderosa Pine snag near the entrance to the Moraine Valley campground at Rocky Mountain NP.  The nest is still active and I had the opportunity to photograph the birds again on June 11.  As in the past, these little birds objected to my presence, but once I sat down on a nearby rock they seemed to forget about me and carried on with daily feeding activity.  Both the male and female were busily bringing morsels of insects and larvae to the nestlings.  Like all nuthatches they were bundles of energy exploring every nook and cranny in their territory.  Many times, they alighted on this perch near me.  I had positioned myself so the meadow grasses in the background would be out of focus to form a clean, aesthetic background. 

I am constantly amazed at the joy that birds bring to my life.   I am never any happier, than when I am looking through my camera photographing birds.  

On second thought, I’m pretty happy when I’m holding my grandkids also.

Photo by Whitney Robison

Pygmy Nuthatch:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/800 second @ f/10

Pic of the Day

Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

      It was my second visit to Rocky Mountain National Park that I overnighted at the Moraine Park Campground.  During the night a fierce storm raged through the campground, a driving rain poured in such torrents that I began to wonder if my van was going to float away.  Not having weather information available I wasn’t sure if I would see a sunrise the next morning or not, but by dawn the storm had passed and the clouds began to breakup shortly after dawn.  

     On my way out of the campground that morning I noticed some small birds flying between pine trees near the campground entrance.  By the jizz of the birds I suspected them to be Pygmy Nuthatches, and as soon as I got my bins on the birds, my suspicions were confirmed.  I quickly pulled off the road, grabbed my camera and headed toward the birds.  No sooner had I reached the nuthatches I discovered that the birds had a nest in an old pine snag.   The birds were busy feeding and among the pinecones and making trips to and from the nest cavity.  I took this shot as one of the birds poked its head from the cavity and stopped briefly before launching itself into the air.  By the look on its face, it doesn’t appear too happy to have its picture taken. 

This picture appeared on the back cover of the Autumn, 2013 issue of Living Bird Magazine.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/200 second @ f/6.3

Recently Published Work

     The latest issue of Creation Illustrated is out.  My column, "A Lens on Creation," is about the wildlife in the Morane Valley of Rocky Mountain National Park.   To learn more about Creation Illustrated magazine or to subscribe, go to:  http://www.creationillustrated.com.

Pic of the Day

Pygmy Nuthatch 

Pygmy Nuthatch 

Pygmy Nuthatch  

Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado:

     At only 4 ¼ inches long the pygmy nuthatch is the smallest of the nuthatch clan and a bird I was hoping to photograph while in Rocky Mountain National Park this spring.  One of the locations I had seen the bird in the past, was along the drive to the Moraine Valley campground.  This year I returned to Moraine Valley and spent some time looking for the nuthatches.  

     It only took about five minutes to find a nuthatch after scoping the surrounding ponderosa pines.  The bird I saw through my binoculars had a grub in its beak and flew to a dead ponderosa pine snag.  In a flash I was heading up the hill toward the nest tree.  When I arrived I found the nest only fifteen feet off the ground.  With camera at the ready I sat on a nearby rock and let the birds get accustomed to my presence.  Upset with my presence at first, both the male and female continued to bring grubs to their young.  After watching the birds for a while I was able to determine their favorite perches, this allowed me to approach the birds and get the images I wanted.

     Pygmy nuthatches are social birds and often a nesting pair has helpers; offspring from previous nesting seasons help raise the young.  At this nest I saw only the two adults.  If there were helpers, for the pair I was photographing, they did not show themselves that morning.   Pygmy nuthatches also roost in groups.  There are records of up to 100 nuthatches roosting in a single cavity.  No records exist of pygmy nuthatches roosting alone.

     Pygmy nuthatches eat insects and seeds.  The pair I saw was busily gleaning insects from the trunks of pines, and pine needle clusters at the end of the branches.  While foraging the birds seldom stood still.  The photos I took were of birds constantly on the move.  They were always hopping and climbing from limb to limb, and it was difficult to keep the nuthatches in my camera frame.  Photographing pygmy nuthatches was a real challenge, but one I enjoyed immensely!

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4