Bird photography, for me, is about discovering and sharing the beauty of song birds. This book is an attempt to display the splendor and variety of songbirds in the area of Urbana-Champaign, East Central Illinois, both residents and migrants.



I became aware of the richness of the avian world in Illinois by chance through a digital video camera that I started using a decade ago to film everything – places, people, and nature. Looking back at a year’s worth of tape, I noticed a wealth of footage of birds in our own backyard – over a dozen species which were unknown to me. I compiled the best scenes into a movie, opened books to identify my targets, and thus became a conscientious birdwatcher. The following spring migration was an exhilarating time for me when the number of filmed backyard species grew over eighty. To share the discoveries I made my first web-site “Illinois Bird of the Day” which, before long, became the top hit on Google for “Illinois bird photos”. Three years ago a good friend of mine and wildlife photographer, Jens Birch, showed me the wonders that can be achieved with a modern digital single-lens reflex camera. I acquired a Nikon and embarked on the road of discovery once again. Every species had to be captured anew, with higher quality, in a better setting and light - a never-ending task.



For backyard birding it helps to have an assortment of bird feeders, water, and a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers. A small platform some 6 yards from our living-room window with a couple of river stones and perches is the scene of nearly half of the photos here. I have also had good luck at Buffalo Trace, near Mahomet. Other favorite spots include the South Farms on the University of Illinois Campus, Meadowbrook Park and Busey Woods in Urbana, Allerton Park near Monticello, Starved Rock, and the Danville Heron Park. For birding in nature there are two distinct tactics that have been useful for me. Sometimes I try to cover a large area, mostly chasing the birds that I come across. Some of the pictures from Buffalo trace are made in this fashion. A more sophisticated approach is to try to predict the behavior of birds, take a position that would have good illumination and background, blend with nature, and wait for the birds to come to the chosen spot. The Danville pictures are examples of this approach. I am grateful for the numerous tips from the Champaign Birdnotes Listserve that have allowed me to capture many “first of lifetime” species. Greg Lambeth, in particular, led me to within feet of the Le Conte Sparrow and the Long-Eared Owl.



The biggest thrill is a good picture during a first encounter with a species. One example is the Blue Grosbeak photo thanks to a tip by Charlene Anchor. I strive to capture close-up photographs which reveal detail in feather and color that otherwise are hard to observe in these restless creatures. For example, the female cardinal from afar may look dull, unlike to the bold-red male, while the close-up photo reveals intricate color nuances that make this lady an amazingly pretty bird.



It is a joy to discover and share the beauty of Mother Nature!



Ivan Petrov

http://ivanp.smugmug.com

petrov@illinois.edu

October, 2010