Birds on a Wire

In the old days of exploration and colonization, so called 'naturalists' used a shotgun or a rifle to capture (kill) specimens for museum collection (and their own funding.)  At times, killing off the last bird of a species was a prize.  Extinction didn't matter.  Funding and fame did.

As I continue my hunt for Pinon Jays with a camera, I wish that these folks had put down their guns and done the same.  While I do not claim ethical superiority to these naturalists, many of whom changed our understanding of the natural world, I do wish that they had cameras instead of guns.

My desire to photograph Pinon Jays have continued to be fruitless.  To no avail, I've added Mountain Blue Birds.  I seem to be in my 'blue period'.

Still, I have captured pixels of these common (yet wonderful) birds...

Like this this broad winged hawk:

this junco:

and this pigeon:

Granted, they are 'common' birds.  In the past, Dodos, Passenger Pigeons, Carolina Parakeets and Imperial Woodpeckers were also common.

While I'm not willing to accept the birds that are gone, I am happy to have the birds that are left.

And someday, I'll bag a Pinon Jay with my Nikon.