Yellow-winged Blackbird, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Brigham City, UT
Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest in noisy colonies in cattail marshes, freshwater sloughs and marshy lake habitats of the West and Midwest. Males are very territorial and spend much of their time perched on reeds displaying or chasing off intruders during breeding season. Each male may have as many as five mates. Their constant aggressive displays and calls dominate the marshlands, often displacing smaller Red-winged Blackbirds. When not nesting, they gather in flocks in open fields, often with other blackbirds. They mostly forage for seeds from the ground, but feed heavily on insects during the summer.
Places That I Love
For the vast majority of my career, my own photography was an afterthought. Very soon after I started working professionally as a photojournalist, I became a full-time academic and for more than 40 years, my students came first. We traveled the world together, but my role was that of an editor and mentor, not a photographer. Rarely would I have time for my own work. Of course, that was of my choosing and it was a gift, not a burden.
Toward the end of my career, my teaching and advising focus shifted from undergraduate to graduate students, who were allowed to travel without a faculty escort. This allowed me time for some personal projects and assignments, and time to travel with family and friends, something I still do today.
This gallery has no thematic or geographic parameters, it’s just a grouping of photographs from places that I love, places that evoke special memories or moments that I enjoyed experiencing.
