Ten below zero this morning….and that is a perfect time to photograph puffy birds. What are puffy birds? One thing we teach in our online bird photography class is understanding a little about bird behavior, and how that can improve your wildlife photography. Birds trap air in their feathers to stay warm. If it is hot out, they don’t do this at all. But as it gets colder, they trap more air in their feathers. And when it gets below zero, they trap as much air as possible to stay warm. Our bushtits even huddle in the backyard to share body heat.
Right now we are getting some of the coldest weather of winter, and it is a terrific time to be out photographing. Cree and I just spent sunrise at a local lake photographing goldeneye and redhead ducks in the mist.
At our backyard bird blinds, it is almost comical to watch the birds right now. They look like flying golf balls. These tiny songbirds are doing everything they can to stay warm, and trapping as much air as they can in their feathers. They are just small puffy birds everywhere in our yard.
If you haven’t ever thought about bird photography, you might want to give it a try. You can set up a few feeders in your backyard, and spend hours photographing at home watching the birds. And when the cold arrives, get ready for some interesting behavior. Puffy birds will be all perched all over your backyard.