Rookery in full swing in TX-

TwilightImaging · 03-05-2008, 12:34 PM

Yesterday in the middle of thick Pines...I followed a pair of Herons carrying sticks a few miles back...they usually don't nest this early and it's usually near Galveston or High, Padre Islands. The closer I got...there were egrets, herons all coming and going...a complete city in the middle of the woods.

They were mating, building nests, fighting...all 80 to 100 feet up. I counted almost 40 nests in a half dozen tall pines. I moved around to get better images, dang branches, after a bit of time they were completely comfortable with me being there. It was incredible.

Getting tree spikes tomorrow for the nesting shots:) There is a perfect tree that I can use and not cause them stress using the 400 with a 2xc. One small problem...I need to get 100 feet up and there's not one branch on the way up...:) If I don't post anymore after Sunday...it was great meeting everyone...keep shooting!

kom526 · 03-05-2008, 12:40 PM

Get yourself a good harness and climb up about 10-15 ft (w/ harness attached) and let go and allow the harness to do its job. This will help give you some peace of mind as you're going up.

Couple of rules for you:
Let someone know where you're going to be.
Trust your equipment.
Never climb higher than you are willing to fall.
The fall isn't going to kill you, it's the sudden stop at the end.

Good Luck!

TwilightImaging · 03-05-2008, 12:48 PM

sudden stop...hehe. Yeah, I plan on tying off every 20 feet or so...hope my harness is still good...or still fits:) I'll secure 100 feet of rope once up there so repelling and ascending is easier in the future.
Thanks Kom, this should be good.

*desertrat* ^(Premo) · 03-05-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwilightImaging

Yesterday in the middle of thick Pines...I followed a pair of Herons carrying sticks a few miles back...they usually don't nest this early and it's usually near Galveston or High, Padre Islands. The closer I got...there were egrets, herons all coming and going...a complete city in the middle of the woods.

They were mating, building nests, fighting...all 80 to 100 feet up. I counted almost 40 nests in a half dozen tall pines. I moved around to get better images, dang branches, after a bit of time they were completely comfortable with me being there. It was incredible.

Getting tree spikes tomorrow for the nesting shots:) There is a perfect tree that I can use and not cause them stress using the 400 with a 2xc. One small problem...I need to get 100 feet up and there's not one branch on the way up...:) If I don't post anymore after Sunday...it was great meeting everyone...keep shooting!

Sounds like a good spot for a climbing tree stand.

*jbr13* ^(Premo) · 03-05-2008, 04:00 PM

This is NOT what we need to see as your next picture posted!!!!

TwilightImaging · 03-05-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbr13

This is NOT what we need to see as your next picture posted!!!!

I just tested the EQ...good to go, had to practice the knots a bit, it's been awhile:) I had to get back on the chair after that image...

Awesome PS J!!
Do you mind if I save that?
Gotta git to a shoot...thanks ever'body...too funny! In that picture Alexis was giving the look, I had told her 9 months prior that I wouldn't race any more after I broke just my R radius...she was a bit peeved, haha.
It'll be good, now I had better get some killer images...bad choice of words huh?
Later all.

*jbr13* ^(Premo) · 03-05-2008, 04:19 PM

Yeah, no problem Mike. Enjoy it.

J

oldman · 03-05-2008, 04:27 PM

A couple years ago, off the Mattawoman I believe, we followed a stream back as far as we could. Heard lots of bird chatter to find that off in a distance was a heron rookery. Some older trees had been destroyed by their droppings but they continue to nest in the same area. The chatter came when the parents would come flying in and the young were anxiously awaiting a meal. One of the neatest things, among many, I've ever seen. Heck, I never knew they nested in trees until then.

*Pete* ^(Premo) · 03-05-2008, 04:52 PM

Bird porn, just when I thought the forums couldn't get more strange.

*MrX* ^(Premo) · 03-05-2008, 05:23 PM

Good luck! Sounds like its gonna be an adventure

03-05-2008, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
TwilightImaging Don't just look...SEE! Member Since: Feb 2008 Location: Soon 2 B Md. Posts: 829	Rookery in full swing in TX- Yesterday in the middle of thick Pines...I followed a pair of Herons carrying sticks a few miles back...they usually don't nest this early and it's usually near Galveston or High, Padre Islands. The closer I got...there were egrets, herons all coming and going...a complete city in the middle of the woods. They were mating, building nests, fighting...all 80 to 100 feet up. I counted almost 40 nests in a half dozen tall pines. I moved around to get better images, dang branches, after a bit of time they were completely comfortable with me being there. It was incredible. Getting tree spikes tomorrow for the nesting shots:) There is a perfect tree that I can use and not cause them stress using the 400 with a 2xc. One small problem...I need to get 100 feet up and there's not one branch on the way up...:) If I don't post anymore after Sunday...it was great meeting everyone...keep shooting! __________________ -Mike Twilight Imaging.net
	[ Reply w/Quote ]

03-05-2008, 12:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
kom526 Exceedingly Average Member Since: Oct 2004 Location: Beyond the OB stakes Posts: 5,616	Get yourself a good harness and climb up about 10-15 ft (w/ harness attached) and let go and allow the harness to do its job. This will help give you some peace of mind as you're going up. Couple of rules for you: Let someone know where you're going to be. Trust your equipment. Never climb higher than you are willing to fall. The fall isn't going to kill you, it's the sudden stop at the end. Good Luck! __________________ Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been. http://www.mikechurch.com/joomla/index.php http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndID=158073647
	[ Reply w/Quote ]

03-05-2008, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
TwilightImaging Don't just look...SEE! Member Since: Feb 2008 Location: Soon 2 B Md. Posts: 829	sudden stop...hehe. Yeah, I plan on tying off every 20 feet or so...hope my harness is still good...or still fits:) I'll secure 100 feet of rope once up there so repelling and ascending is easier in the future. Thanks Kom, this should be good. __________________ -Mike Twilight Imaging.net Last edited by TwilightImaging : 03-05-2008 at 12:50 PM.
	[ Reply w/Quote ]

03-05-2008, 04:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
jbr13 ^(Premo) pıdnʇs sı uʍop ǝpısdn Member Since: Aug 2006 Posts: 414	Yeah, no problem Mike. Enjoy it. J __________________ J "If brains were gasoline, you wouldn’t have enough to power a pi$$ants mini bike around the inside of a pistachio nut!" See my Photography here
	[ Reply w/Quote ]

03-05-2008, 04:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
oldman Waldorfan Member Since: Sep 2004 Location: Waldorf outskirts Posts: 2,012	A couple years ago, off the Mattawoman I believe, we followed a stream back as far as we could. Heard lots of bird chatter to find that off in a distance was a heron rookery. Some older trees had been destroyed by their droppings but they continue to nest in the same area. The chatter came when the parents would come flying in and the young were anxiously awaiting a meal. One of the neatest things, among many, I've ever seen. Heck, I never knew they nested in trees until then.
	[ Reply w/Quote ]


\| Write Us \| Help \| Sponsors \| Classifieds \| Employment \| Forums \| MarketPlace \| Calendar \| Headlines \| Announcements \| Weather \| More... \|

03-05-2008, 05:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
MrX ^(Premo) High Octane Member Since: Dec 2007 Location: Calvert Posts: 3,219	Good luck! Sounds like its gonna be an adventure
	[ Reply w/Quote ]

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode