Singing Song Sparrow – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
One of the birds I had in my viewfinder at Farmington Bay WMA two days ago was a singing Song Sparrow on old farm equipment. I know that some people don’t get excited about sparrows. I do and I’m happy that the sight or sound of them always thrills me.
When I heard this Song Sparrow singing I stopped my Jeep on the far side of the road. I wanted to listen to it sing and take photos of the songster. Song Sparrows are year-round residents in northern Utah, which means I get to hear them throughout all four seasons.
The setting, including the farm equipment, probably isn’t appealing to everyone’s tastes, but I take photos of birds where I find them. Sometimes that means my images include human-made items.
On the negative side…
As I look at this photo, I am disturbed by what I see in the background. Or maybe what I don’t see in the background that I find the most upsetting. If I had taken this photo a few years ago, there would have been trees in the distance behind the sparrow. It should be noted that now the background is a row of newly built, white, houses. Those ugly houses are shoved so close together that you can probably hear your neighbor sneeze.
Where those houses are now used to be bird habitat, grasses, trees, and fields, and hundreds of birds. It was their home.
When I first moved to Utah in 2009, it felt like Farmington Bay WMA was out in the country even though I-15 was just a few minutes drive away. Growth, including the construction of the West Davis Corridor and hundreds of new nearby homes, have destroyed that feeling. It has also taken away acres and acres of prime habitat for birds and wildlife.
That is more than a little tragic and alarming.
I wonder how long it will take for the pumpkin farm to be sold and houses to be built on the land it now occupies.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Song Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
So nice to pay close attention to a small bird we often ignore!
I am always really, really sorry to see wildlife habitat consumed by our ‘little boxes’. And love the sparrow.
Yes, I grew up there roaming those fields and dikes. Often when I go out now I get nauseated, really ill feeling. Centerville and Farmington are no longer where I grew up. It is foreign to me. Everything I loved is gone. Even the smell. My parents yard has gone through huge transformations these last 4 years. Centerville city placed a well for city drinking water to meet the needs of the growing population on the property across the street and now the ground water is gone on their property. In the past my parents could not dig a hole in the ground deeper than 2 feet or the hole filled up with the ground water. Everything on their acre is drying up and dying. Big 150 year old trees and having to be removed as they die.
Beautiful shot, Mia, but I share your concern for Farmington Bay WMA. The road work and developments get closer every year.
It is so disheartening to see so many wildlife habitats which I enjoyed visiting now paved over or turned into housing developments. Even the only public park in my old Florida neighborhood scrapped plans for a lakeside “nature path” in favor of a concert venue.
Ken, that is so sad. I’ve seen many of your photos from your old Florida neighborhood and it was beautiful, great habitat, and so birdy!