Yesterday morning, at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I took a short video of Canada Geese in the road while I was on the north side of the auto tour loop.
Unfortunately, the geese and ducks at the refuge are still very skittish. I couldn’t get close to any of them to take high-quality images of the waterfowl out on the auto tour loop. After I took this video, the geese lifted off before I could get back into my Jeep.
I wish there were a way for me to communicate with the geese, ducks, and swans. I’d love to let them know I mean them no harm, that I only want to take photos of them.
It is disheartening when the ducks and geese I’d like to photograph take off when they are just tiny specks in the distance.
Canada Geese on the river
Canada Geese floating by on the Bear River – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Fortunately for me, on my drive east after leaving the auto tour loop, I did photograph some geese. At a bend in the Bear River, I was able to pull over to the side of the road and take images of a trio of Canada Geese.
There were actually four Canada Geese on that bend of the river. My problem was that I could only fit these three in my viewfinder as they passed a driftwood log lodged into the riverbank.
Trio of Canada Geese on the Bear River – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The geese on the river weren’t anywhere near as skittish as the ones I saw on the auto tour loop of the refuge. Because they weren’t nervous, photographing them felt wonderful to me. I took quite a few images of these geese, thanked them, and headed towards home.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Canada Geese photos plus facts and information about this species.
I sure did like hearing them though and the scenery is beautiful!