A Winter Bird Photography Adventure
Coming Home to Indiana
TRAVELWILDLIFECAMERASLENSES
Tommy Barker
2/23/20263 min read
The Simple Joy of Watching Birds
One of the things I miss most about not having a backyard is the simple pleasure of watching birds. There's something meditative about it, sitting with a cup of coffee and observing these little creatures go about their day. So when I headed home to Indiana for the holidays, bird photography was actually one of my primary goals.
Getting Started: Patience Required
First thing I did when I arrived? I realized nobody had filled the bird feeder in ages. The birds had probably forgotten it even existed. I went out and loaded it up with seed, threw some on the ground for good measure, and then... I waited.
It took several hours for the first birds to show up. They're curious creatures, and once a few brave scouts started investigating, other birds noticed. Before long, I had a whole swarm of activity in the backyard.
The Greedy Squirrels
Of course, before the birds could really get comfortable, the squirrels showed up. Those opportunistic little greedy bastards wasted no time raiding the feeder. But honestly, watching them work for their meal was entertaining in its own right, and I captured some fun shots of their antics.
The Cast of Characters
Even in the dead of winter, Indiana birds have incredible colors and diversity. I was amazed by the variety that showed up:
The Hawk
I managed to catch a hawk swooping through and chased it down to get a few images of it perched majestically in a tree. Those moments always get your heart racing.
The Woodpeckers
These guys have apparently been doing serious damage to houses around the neighborhood. They're surprisingly aggressive little birds, especially toward the smaller species. But they're absolutely stunning to photograph.
Cardinals: Indiana's State Bird
The cardinals were a highlight, as always. The males with their bright red plumage are incredibly dramatic, but the females can have really punchy colors too. They're the state bird of Indiana for good reason.
The Elusive Blue Jay
Blue jays are my unicorn bird. Every time I visit, I'm always catching just the back end of them as they fly off. This trip was no exception, but I did manage a few shots.
The Rare Bluebird
The real surprise was the bluebird. Apparently, they've been rarely seen in recent years, but I managed to capture several amazing images. Those shots are definitely among my favorites from the trip.
The Gear That Made It Possible
For this trip, I brought my Canon R6 OG (a recent purchase) and my R6 Mark II, paired with my brand new 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. That lens made everything possible. The autofocus is lightning fast and incredibly sharp.
I also brought along my 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens which is my workhorse travel lens. It wears multiple hats as a context and portrait lens, with more character than any zoom lens should have, while being sharp enough.
I had planned to bring my 1.4x teleconverter but forgot it at home. Fortunately, Indianapolis is home to one of the most famous camera stores in the country: Used Photo Pro from Roberts Camera. I used some Christmas money to pick up a 2x teleconverter while I was there.
While at Used Photo Pro, I saw in their display case a Voigtländer 20mm Color Skopar lens for EF mount. I've always had a lust for Cosina made lenses, and well, this one started my recent spree with the later electronic versions. 20mm is super wide. It's the widest prime I now own. Though the f/3.5 aperture is a relatively deep depth of field, who needs it when it's that wide anyways.
Shooting Through Challenges
That 2x teleconverter allowed me to capture some really dramatic bird portraits right from the back window. Even shooting through glass with changing weather conditions, I was impressed by the sharpness and detail I could achieve with the 100-400mm lens and teleconverter combo.
The Results
While these might not be my absolute best work, I definitely got some winners. The cardinal portrait, woodpecker portrait, and bluebird portrait are standouts that I'm really proud of.
There's something special about combining the simple pleasure of bird watching with the technical challenge of wildlife photography. This holiday trip reminded me why I love both, and why coming home to Indiana always feels like returning to nature, even if just for a little while.
