It is now the first weeks of April, and nature is gearing up for spring. Spring may be here on the calendar, but the weather isn’t cooperating. The signs of spring seem to be in slow motion this year. That’s this photographer’s opinion, and I don’t think I’m imagining it. I have only seen one flock of geese heading northward this spring. Usually, the sky is full of large flocks of Canada and snow geese at this time of year.

As I write this, snow is in the forecast, with dull and dreary days ahead. Don’t put away the snow shovel just yet.
Spring is definitely the best time of the year for budding nature photographers. Wildlife is gearing up to have and raise their young, either birds or mammals. The forest will soon be alive with beautiful wild flowers that can only be found in early parts of spring.

Take a walk in the woods on a nice sunny morning, camera in hand, to maybe see and photograph some interesting wildlife. The weather will eventually improve, and the photographic opportunities will soon be everywhere, including your own backyard.
With my new goals in photography, every spring brings on new excitement. After spending part of the winter looking through some of my past projects, I have discovered a great way of keeping my nature photography new and exciting.

Checking back on previous years of spring photography, that little lightbulb made its appearance in my head.” Improve on what you have done in the past”. My thoughts are this. Say I have a great bird picture. This year my goal will be a greater bird picture. Improvement will be my new goal, which I can focus on (pardon the pun) each and every year.

The fun and excitement of nature photography will never grow old. The great thing about this plan is the fact I can share it with everybody. Win, win!
Photo opportunities will soon be everywhere, with hopefully, the warmer weather arriving soon. If you are serious about nature photography, here are some springtime ideas for some great photography. The most exciting period for bird photography is certainly spring. Catch those spring arrivals before they get into their nesting rituals.

The end of April/May is the best time to catch these birds as they arrive for summer. Once the leaves get on the trees, many birds retreat to the higher canopies, where it is very difficult to photograph. Before the leaves get full, usually the end of April, I make my way to Western Ohio for the “Biggest week in American Birding”, at Magee Marsh, Ohio.

Located on the Ottawa National Wildlife Preserve near Sandusky, this swampland, off Interstate 80 on the shore of Lake Erie, is a bird photographer’s dream destination. Virtually every songbird imaginable can be found in this stretch of swampland. Not only songbirds, but shorebirds, ducks, eagles, hawks, and owls, will be found there on any given day.

For a fantastic photo adventure, think about a trip to this unbelievable birding location. Crowds can get large, but the birding community (bird watchers), will be very helpful in your quest for that fantastic bird photo.
Around the first part of May, the colorful songbirds begin their arrival in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Find a location with low thick cover, and you might just find a great birding spot. I have found several of these locations around the Allegheny Reservoir.

Remember, at first glance, a bird swishing by you may look like a little sparrow, but get that second look. It might be a very colorful warbler. Watching a small bird foraging one morning near the reservoir, I had almost given up trying to photograph it, when it hopped into the bright sunlight. It was a beautiful hooded warbler (Get out your bird books).

You never know when you might get that unexpected bird, or mammal shot. Move slowly in the woods, stop and do a long look in every direction, no sudden movements, and the woods will soon come alive. The Kinzua Bridge State Park, Jamestown Audubon, Kinzua Dam area, to name a few, are great birding areas. Have fun, be careful, and you may get some of your best spring portraits ever.

Remember, birds are not the only creatures in our wonderful forest that make great photography. Eyes open. Until my next adventure…
Questions, or wildlife sightings, email me at rocky.holland1@verizon.net