On Thursday, January 10, 2019, three members of the Dubuque Camera Club gave a presentation about Wild Bird Photography during a meeting of the Dubuque Audubon Society. The meeting was attended by about 40 people. Joe Tollari, president of the local chapter of the Audubon Society, gave some opening remarks about the evening’s presentation. He also encouraged people to attend the Dubuque Bald Eagle Watch this weekend. Three photographers from the club shared their bird photographs. The first photographer, Ken Kiss, gave biographical information for all three presenters:

• Ken Kiss — Owls, Woodpeckers, and Local Birds. Ken played a few owl calls and shared his original photos taken at Mines of Spain, Linwood, Mud Lake and in a few local backyards. Birds pictured included the Great Horned Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Long-eared Owl, Barred Owl,  Red-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Bobolink, Kestral, Woodcock, and many more.

• Kevin McTague — Birds of Southern Texas. Kevin shared a collection of his original bird photography from the Rio Grande Valley. He captured the photos during a stay at Santa Clara Ranch in the southern tip of Texas (near McAllen). Birds included the Long-billed Thrasher, Green Jay, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Painted Bunting, Verdin, Pyrrhuluxia, Road Runner, Black Vulture, and the Crested Caracara. 

• Ron Tigges — The Dance of the Hummingbird.  Ron shared the visual results of a day spent at a private residence near White Pine Hollow doing flash photography of hummingbirds.  Since their wings move so rapidly, unless these birds are perched it is hard to get clear photos. A shutter speed of 1/15000 would be mathematically appropriate; however, the setting is impossible with an ordinary camera. Ron set up an external flash on a tripod near the nectar feeders, using infrared AF assist, shooting past sundown to get some great images of these active little birds.

Thanks, gentlemen, for another terrific photography presentation!