Black-billed Magpie – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Nesting time for Black-billed Magpies

By Mia McPherson|March 5th, 2013|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Davis County, Utah|Tags: adult, Black-billed Magpie, cold wind, flight, flying, lift off, lifting off, magpie, magpies, mobile blind, nest building, nesting, nesting material, nesting season, nesting time, Pica hudsonia, twig|

There was a sharp, cold wind blowing from the north yesterday and before I was finished photographing these Black-billed Magpies my hands had gone numb.

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High Key winter Geese, Swans and a Black-billed Magpie

By Mia McPherson|February 16th, 2013|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Canada Geese, Davis County, Tundra Swans, Utah|Tags: Black-billed Magpie, Branta canadensis, Canada Geese, Canada Goose, Cygnus columbianus, fog, geese, goose, high key, magpie, magpies, Pica hudsonia, snow, snowstorm, snowy, swan, swans, Tundra Swan, winter|

Some people might not find high key photos to their tastes but I find that I enjoy them because of their simplicity and how the high key background allows my eyes to focus clearly on my subject's form and beauty.

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Black-billed Magpie stretching

By Mia McPherson|December 10th, 2012|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Utah|Tags: adult, Black-billed Magpie, branches, Davis County, magpie, magpies, Pica hudsonia, sky, stretching, tree, wildlife photography, wing lift|

There was a bit of sun yesterday between snow falls and we headed out to Antelope Island hoping there would be light and birds. There was light and a few birds, this Black-billed Magpie was one of them.

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The Osprey VS the Black-billed Magpie

By Mia McPherson|September 19th, 2012|Categories: Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Ospreys, Utah|Tags: Antelope Flat, bird photography, Black-billed Magpie, fish, magpie, magpies, Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, Pica hudsonia, pole, power pole, swipe|

In May of this year I camped at Antelope Flat in the Flaming Gorge National recreation Area and near the boat ramp there was an Osprey nest.

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Wild and Wonderful – Antelope Island State Park – The Birds

By Mia McPherson|January 25th, 2012|Categories: American Barn Owls, American Kestrels, American White Pelicans, Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Brewer's Blackbirds, Burrowing Owls, California Gulls, Chukars, Common Ravens, Davis County, Great Horned Owls, Green-winged Teals, Horned Larks, Killdeer, Long-billed Curlews, Northern Harriers, Northern Shovelers, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Rough-legged Hawks, Sage Thrashers, Utah, Western Meadowlarks, Willets|Tags: American Barn Owl, American Kestrel, American White Pelican, bird photography, birding, Birds of Antelope Island State Park, Black-billed Magpie, Brewer's Blackbird, Burrowing Owl, California Gull, Chukar, Common Raven, Gray Ghost, Great Horned Owl, Green-winged Teal, Horned Lark, Killdeer, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Harrier, Northern Shoveler, Peregrine Falcon, Prairie Falcons, Rough-legged Hawk, Sage Thrasher, Western Meadowlark, Willet|

This is the third post in my series about Wild and Wonderful Antelope Island State Park, I've saved the best (and longest) for last. The Birds! Okay, maybe they aren't the best thing about Antelope Island State Park, but I am a bird photographer and they are what I am most passionate about!

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One Willet’s defense of its young

By Mia McPherson|July 16th, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Davis County, Utah, Willets|Tags: adult, aerial defense, alarmed, Bird behavior, Black-billed Magpie, calling, chicks, defense, defensive, flight, flying, grasses, Great Salt Lake, juveniles, magpie, magpies, perched, Pica hudsonia, prairie grasses, predators, response, sandpipers, shorebirds, threat, Tringa semipalmata, Tringa semipalmata inornata, wildlife, Willet, willets, young|

Yesterday I observed an adult Willet defending its young from a group of Black-billed Magpies that were near the Willet's chicks.

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Black-billed Magpie juveniles

By Mia McPherson|June 13th, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Black-billed Magpies, Davis County, Utah|Tags: begging, Black-billed Magpie, calling, close up, immature, juveniles, magpie, magpies, perched, Pica hudsonia, portrait, sagebrush, young|

Adults have black eyes, the Black-billed Magpie juveniles have blue, gray or even violet eyes.

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Black-billed Magpie building a nest after a snow

By Mia McPherson|March 9th, 2011|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Davis County, Utah|Tags: Black-billed Magpie, Davis County, magpie, magpies, mud, nest, nest building, nesting, nesting season, nests, Pica hudsonia, snow, twigs|

I felt that I had a real treat being able to photograph this Black-billed Magpie building a nest after a snow.

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Nesting Black-billed Magpies

By Mia McPherson|November 22nd, 2010|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Davis County, Nesting Birds, Utah, Wildlife Ethics|Tags: adult, behavior, Black-billed Magpie, ethics, Greasewood, magpie, magpies, nest building, nesting, nesting behavior, nesting habits, nesting material, Pica hudsonia|

If I had not been paying attention to the first magpie's activity and behavior I would have missed the opportunity to photograph these birds and their nesting habits over the next several weeks.

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Four Eyes For Bird Photography

By Mia McPherson|October 4th, 2010|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Birds, Black-billed Magpies, Davis County, European Starlings, Loggerhead Shrikes, Utah, Wildlife Ethics & Etiquette|Tags: bird photography, Black-billed Magpie, ethics, European Starling, Lanius ludovicianus, Loggerhead Shrike, magpie, magpies, nesting, nesting ethics, nesting material, perched, Pica hudsonia, shrike, shrikes, starling, starlings, Sturnus vulgaris|

One photographer might have better vision and be able to spot birds that the other person may not have seen. Four eyes are better than two.

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