Typically you simply must see the video. Take the profitable clip within the 2024 Audubon Photography Awards, which reveals two Purple Gallinules aggressively keeping off an intruder with their spindly yellow ft. Certain, a photograph might have dutifully captured the second, however that’s a scene you need to watch. And but, as this 12 months’s runner-up video of American Avocets retreating in opposition to an ocean dawn reminds us, a peaceable scene also can enthrall us.
Whereas the movies included right here didn’t take the highest awards, additionally they impressed our judges and required simply as a lot planning and care by the videographers. From a pair of cuddly condors to an excellent slow-mo Resplendent Quetzal, they seize a few of our most charismatic species in a variety of behaviors. Two clips even invite you to crank up the amount—and also you’ll be glad you probably did.
So sit again, benefit from the present, and be sure you learn the story behind every scene. For folk already recording video, perhaps these clips will encourage you to enter subsequent 12 months’s contest, beginning in January. And for these who’ve but to dabble in digital video recording, try our helpful beginner’s guide for shooting quality bird videos in your digital digital camera. As with something, now’s the proper time to get began.
American Bittern by Cameron Hunter
Location: Scots Lake, Alberta, Canada
Technical particulars: Nikon Z6 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500 f/5.6 lens and a Deity V-mic D3 Professional Microphone; 1/250 sec at f/7.1; ISO 400
Behind the Shot: We’d been birding within the smoky haze, navigating backroads shrouded in thick wildfire smoke. As we pulled as much as Scots Lake, we heard an uncommon however welcome sound—the distinct, low- frequency pump-er-lunk name of the American Bittern. This was my first time listening to their vocalization within the wild, and the smoky situations lent the decision an eerie high quality. Scanning the dense vegetation, we heard it once more, this time coming from the opposite facet of the jetty we have been standing on. Two American Bitterns have been calling, and shortly we noticed a female and male chasing one another across the marsh. A short time later, a 3rd bittern emerged from the dense vegetation and elevated itself on a grassy mound. It started shaking its head and inflating its neck; what got here after was the sound—a spectacular show of their name.
Burrowing Owls by Loren Merrill
Location: Cape Coral, Florida
Technical Particulars: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens and a Canon Extender EF 2X III; 1/1000 sec at f/10; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot: In March 2022, I visited Cape Coral, Florida to see the resident Burrowing Owls. These small owls desire open habitats, together with small patches of grass and sand throughout the suburban matrix of coastal Florida. I arrived at a leisure complicated that had a small group of owls simply after dawn. The earlier night I had discovered a pair that was gearing up for the breeding season (I even witnessed them copulating) and centered my consideration on their burrow. I had my digital camera on a tripod as low to the bottom as doable to be eye-level with the birds. There was quite a lot of human exercise within the space, and I continuously wanted to remind myself to not get distracted. I’m drawn to this video clip as a result of it captures an attention-grabbing conduct (the burrow cleanup) coupled with the humor of the male getting pelted by the sand. I believe folks can relate to a state of affairs like this, and my hope is that if the general public can join with these animals, they may need to assist defend them.
Resplendent Quetzal by Rajesh Mohan
Location: San Gerardo de Dota province, close to Parc Nacional Los Quetzales, Costa Rica
Technical Particulars: Chronos 2.1-HD with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens at 400mm and an adaptor between the Chronos and Canon; 1/2400 sec at F/11; ISO 2000
Behind the Shot: The know-how behind this video is a specialised digital camera that captures 1,000 frames per second. With this, a scene may be slowed by 40 instances with utmost readability. The digital camera, a Chronos 2.1 HD, shouldn’t be straightforward to make use of in an unpredictable setting in pure gentle. It took a lot trial and error to seize high-quality movies within the subject. The remaining is simply anticipating motion and utilizing pre-focus and depth of subject to get sharp movies. An motion that lasts the blink of a watch can now be watched over a number of seconds, opening an entire new manner of experiencing nature. I had already visualized the flight of a Resplendent Quetzal in super-slow movement. I solely wanted to time my journey to Costa Rica in the course of the nesting season. A information set me up on this recognized nesting location. I by no means imagined that the fowl can be so fast—the precise time for this flight is three-quarters of a second. It took me two days to seize the scene I had imagined.
Black Skimmer by Steven Chu
Location: Nickerson Seaside, New York
Technical Particulars: Nikon Z9 with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens; 1/320 sec at f/6.3; ISO
Behind the Shot: My good friend despatched me a message that the seashore the place we frequent had developed ponds, which generally occurs the place there’s a storm out at sea. I like when this occurs as a result of it provides me a possibility to see Black Skimmers skimming alongside the water instantly on the seashore, permitting me to place myself the place I can get good lighting and search for the video. With nice anticipation, I received my gear collectively and made the trek to the seashore. On today, the wind was low, serving to to point out the small print of the water path being created from skimming, and permitting for a pleasant reflection. I sat low on the sand, positioning myself the place I might get the skimmer going by however sitting excessive sufficient to catch the reflection. This was a juvenile skimmer, and I maneuvered myself to get one of the best angle.
Osprey by Steven Chu
Location: New Jersey
Technical Particulars: Nikon Z9 with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens; 1/250 sec at f/6.3; ISO 320
Behind the Shot: I like when spring arrives, as a result of meaning the Ospreys are returning to New Jersey from the south to feast on fish. I used to be anxious to make the two-and-a-half-hour trek to this location to see if I might seize a few of the motion. To get some good videography at this location, I want the proper wind on the proper time. I used to be fortunate on today as a result of I was capable of place myself to get a near-eye-level shot. I discover that the majority days that I come right here, the wind is incorrect or there aren’t any fish. However, on today, the whole lot got here collectively.
Sandhill Cranes by Jeff Buss
Location: Iain Nicolson Audubon Heart at Rowe Sanctuary, Kearney, Nebraska
Technical Particulars: Sony FX3 with a Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens at 600mm; 1/240 sec at F7.1; ISO 12,800
Behind the Shot: My companion and I’ve at all times been enchanted by the placing determine and otherworldly calls of Sandhill Cranes. So within the spring of 2021, we drove to Nebraska to witness them en masse as they migrated alongside the Platte River. We secured a photograph blind at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, hunkering down because the solar step by step receded and scores of birds appeared on the horizon, leisurely gliding throughout the sky. The panorama reverberated with their primordial calls, and ultimately they landed on the sandbars in entrance of us to roost within the river’s shallows for the night time.
Burrowing Owls by Jerry Ling
Location: Vista View Park, Davie, Florida
Technical Particulars: Sony a7 IV with a Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens at 600mm; ISO 800
Behind the Shot: In my expertise, the Burrowing Owl has been a really cooperative topic for each images and videography. On the day this video was taken, my plan was to seize a photograph of the fowl with a dramatic sundown within the background. When I’m not actively taking photos, I prefer to get some video footage. The second I began recording, one owl jumped onto the again of the opposite and began mating. What’s humorous is that I used to be truly on the “incorrect” setting when this occurred. After I document movies of birds, I prefer to shoot in 4k 60p in order that I can gradual them down in submit. On my digital camera, capturing on this mode will even robotically carry out a 1.5x crop. After I received dwelling, I spotted I shot this on 4k 30p. Though I can now not put it in gradual movement, if I had shot within the “appropriate” mode, the framing would’ve been too tight and the clip would’ve been ruined. I’ve gotten many nice pictures by way of cautious planning, however surprises like this one find yourself being a few of my most cherished moments in nature.
California Condors by Andrew Orr
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Technical particulars: Nikon Z9 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens; 1/200 sec at f/7.1; ISO 1000
Behind the Shot: Perched excessive on a cliff above the Colorado River, two condors (#817 and #741) playfully work together. These birds are a part of an ongoing reintroduction program geared toward restoring California Condor populations to their historic ranges within the southwestern United States. The tags (“17” and “P8”) are utilized by raptor biologists to determine and monitor every fowl. These tags correspond to entries in a “stud guide,” a grasp record of each condor because the authentic 22 have been taken from the wild to start a captive breeding program. Right now, there are round 560 California Condors, with roughly 340 free-flying within the wild.
Crested Caracaras by Tim Timmis
Location: Anahuac Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, Anahuac, Texas
Technical Particulars: Canon EOS R3 with a Canon RF 100-500mm F/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens at 700mm and a Canon RF 1.4X Extender; 1/240 sec at F/10
Behind the Shot: Whereas driving round Anahuac Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, I noticed two Crested Caracaras on fenceposts subsequent to the street. I slowly labored my manner nearer in my automotive and ended up proper subsequent to them. I began taking images out my window when unexpectedly one of many birds flung its head again in a mating show. After getting a few images, I rapidly switched to slow-motion video, which ended up being a terrific determination. After extra head tilts, the male stunned me by launching and flying towards the feminine. She bent down barely permitting him to land on prime of her. They started mating, which occurred in a short time. As a result of time restrict for the competition, that is the place this video ends. Nonetheless, the motion continued, and after mating, the male jumped off of her and landed on the fence submit nearer to me.
Waved Albatross by Liron Gertsman
Location: Española Island, Galápagos, Ecuador
Technical Particulars: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 100-500mm F/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens; 1/250 at f/7.1; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot: Española Island within the Galápagos is the first breeding web site for the attractive Waved Albatross. These majestic birds return to the island every spring to seek out their mate and lift the following era. Having dreamed of visiting the Galápagos Islands for many of my life, I particularly timed my journey in the course of the albatross courtship season with the hopes of witnessing their show. Because the sundown gentle illuminated the panorama, I watched in awe as this pair carried out their courtship rituals. Filming in gradual movement, I held my digital camera inches above the bottom to seize an immersive perspective on the scene. Waved Albatross are critically endangered, having undergone inhabitants decline that could be resulting from fishing impacts (together with bycatch), disturbance, and illness.
