5/14/2004 7:54:03 PM

Nice capture, Kathleen! I can't even catch them still!!

5/14/2004 8:02:34 PM

A super job. How did you get the shot? I would like to get a great in-air shot, but I end up getting too close and the bird fly away. Do you have any pointers?

5/14/2004 11:08:48 PM

Thanks. This was a lucky shot, but not difficult as far as getting close to these tree swallows. Every spring they "set up housekeeping" at a local marsh. There is a boardwalk over this marsh, and I was just standing on that, about 15 feet away from the tree they had their eye on. They were so preoccupied that they didn't pay any attention to me or the other photographers taking their photo. I just kept snapping away, and this was 1 out of about 20 photos I took of them (only 2 were keepers). I used a Tamron 70-300 lens set at around 200 to 250 mm. I guess my pointer would be to be patient. If they have their eye on a tree for a possible home or are already nesting there, they will keep on coming back every few minutes. Set up your camera and wait, and eventually they will return and won't pay much attention to you. Also, wear neutral or toned-down colors (not white). Hope this helps.

5/15/2004 2:41:05 AM

I'm new to the BetterPhoto family, and I just thought I'd check out the pictures of some other PZ-1p owners. I really like your pictures. This one caught my eye because of the title. It made me chuckle. Great job!

6/24/2004 10:15:40 PM

Thanks, Stephen, for commenting on my tree swallow photo. It's good to hear from a fellow PZ-1p owner. Welcome to BetterPhoto. I've been a member since 2001 and really enjoy it.

6/25/2004 3:29:31 AM

This is a great photo. I love how birds have so much personality, and this photo captures it so well. I have a thistle feeder in my yard, and I have seen gold finches act just like this so many times.

8/2/2004 11:58:11 AM