Margaret Larkin Wins Photo of the Month for Impressive Photo of North America’s Tiniest Bird
Photo Details:
Shot on a Sony ILCE-7M3
Lens: EF 200 - 600 mm at 600mm | Exposure: 1/4000 of a second at f/5.6 | ISO 1000
Margaret Larkin won the Photograph of the Month in July for her shots of a Calliope Hummingbird that she shot during a recent trip to the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Margaret has won the honor three times with her husband Don.
This was one of the few times the winning photo was shot outside Washington State.
Margaret was thrilled to see the Calliope, the smallest native bird in North America. The tiny hummingbird typically measures about 3.25 inches long and usually weighs about one-tenth of an ounce.
“I was fortunate to witness a male Calliope Hummingbird doing a dive display to attract the female hummingbirds in the area,” Margaret says. “He would fly way up into the sky, then dive straight down at a high rate of speed and then pull up again in a big J curve. In between dives, he would rest on a tree branch.”
The Calliope is rarely seen in Western Washington. However, the Anna’s and the Rufous hummingbirds are commonly found. “Even though they are present in Eastern Washington, I have not been able to photograph or even get a good look at a male Calliope,” she adds. “It was a thrill to see one on vacation.”
Here he is perched on the tip of a branch, looking a bit grumpy as the female hummingbirds that he was trying to attract were busy feeding and were steadfastly ignoring him.
Photo Details:
Shot on a Sony ILCE-7M3
Lens: EF 200-600 mm at 594 mm | Exposure: 1/4000 of a second at f/5.6 | ISO x00
A female Calliope Hummingbird (photograph by Don Larkin) was feeding on the yellow flowers of Bracted Honeysuckle, Lonicera involurata. The flowers of this native shrub are an important source of nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. The berries are a food source for wildlife.
Photo Details:
Shot on a Canon 5D Mark IV
Lens: EF 100-400 at 400 mm | Exposure: 1/2000 of a second at f/5.6 | ISO x00
About the Eastside Audubon Photograph of the Month Award
The Photo of the Month award was instituted to recognize the work of the Photo Group Members. The group members meet monthly to show their latest photos and videos as well as share their knowledge of photography and wildlife. To attend the meetings, please join the group’s announcement list.