Targhee National Forest American Robin, Clark County, IdahoTarghee National Forest American Robin – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/200, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I don’t photograph American Robins enough. They are common in my yard and they are probably singing outside my window as I type this. Truth is that I don’t normally photograph birds at home, I am usually too busy culling or processing the images that I have taken at other locations.

I do remember that as a child, teenager and young woman that I would get excited to see American Robins each time I would come back to the U.S. after living overseas for several years because I hadn’t seen them for so long.

American Robins are numerous here at times and begin singing in the spring long before the sun comes up, some times I even curse them on those rare mornings when I sleep in past 04:00. But they are the early bird and I am but a featherless, flightless photographer who should enjoy them more.

It does seem easier for me to appreciate them away from urban areas and I really can’t put a finger on why I feel that way. Maybe it is because they seem more “wild” away from the groomed grasses in city yards?  Or maybe it is because their songs combined with the sounds of a forest are a far more pleasing to my ears than the background sounds of a city and that being in a forest draws my attention to the robins more.

I really should pay more attention to American Robins.

I was trying to photograph flickers, wrens and sapsuckers in the Targhee National Forest of Idaho earlier this month when the American Robin in the photo above appeared close to me and softly called.

I paid attention.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my American Robin photos plus facts and information about this species.