It’s Lucky to be “Brushed By A Feather”
©Bert Gildart: Before naturalists at Arizona’s Sonoran Desert Museum begin their Raptor Free Flight Program, they warn you about “Space.” The bird’s space – and your space.
“Keep children off your shoulders and your hands below your head,” they warn. “Your space is from the top of your head to the soles of your shoes. Everything else belongs to these raptors.”
About to be "brushed by a feather."
The warning is necessary, for birds, as explained in my last posting, zip from one side of the viewing path to the other side. Because their speed and exact direction of flight is so unpredictable, it is a challenge to photograph them, despite the level of trust these birds place in their handlers.
Mini-seconds later -- "Brushed by a Feather."
To make this picture I had to make some special camera adjustments. I upped the ISO and set the camera’s shutter so I could make quick-fire exposures. Then I tried to pre-focus on a spot where I thought this Gray Hawk’s flight might take it. It’s a technique I tried to perfect while covering the World Eskimo Indian Olympics in Fairbanks several years ago for Native Peoples Magazine, so I’d had some experience.
I got my shot and then recalled another of our narrator’s comments. “If you get brushed by a feather, you will have good luck for the next 50 years!”
Because of this image I believe I was lucky, but so, it seems were several other spectators, for surely they got brushed by a feather, perhaps even several.
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AIRSTREAM TRAVELS TWO YEARS AGO:
*Burrowing Owls and the Bizarre Nests Needed to Survive
4th ed. Autographed by the Authors
Hiking Shenandoah National Park
Hiking Shenandoah National Park is the 4th edition of a favorite guide book, created by Bert & Janie, a professional husband-wife journalism team. Lots of updates including more waterfall trails, updated descriptions of confusing trail junctions, and new color photographs. New text describes more of the park’s compelling natural history. Often the descriptions are personal as the Gildarts have hiked virtually every single park trail, sometimes repeatedly.
Big Sky Country is beautiful
Montana Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Treasure State
Montana Icons is a book for lovers of the western vista. Features photographs of fifty famous landmarks from what many call the “Last Best Place.” The book will make you feel homesick for Montana even if you already live here. Bert Gildart’s varied careers in Montana (Bus driver on an Indian reservation, a teacher, backcountry ranger, as well as a newspaper reporter, and photographer) have given him a special view of Montana, which he shares in this book. Share the view; click here.
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
What makes Glacier, Glacier?
Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent
Glacier Icons: What makes Glacier Park so special? In this book you can discover the story behind fifty of this park’s most amazing features. With this entertaining collection of photos, anecdotes and little known facts, Bert Gildart will be your backcountry guide. A former Glacier backcountry ranger turned writer/photographer, his hundreds of stories and images have appeared in literally dozens of periodicals including Time/Life, Smithsonian, and Field & Stream. Take a look at Glacier Icons
$16.95 + Autographed Copy
