{"id":67388,"date":"2020-05-15T09:33:15","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T13:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/?p=67388"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:46:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:46:52","slug":"sandhill-crane-chicks-one-a-day-images-which-lens-is-best-for-the-tiny-chicks-and-the-one-negative-of-the-sony-100-400mm-gm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birdsasart-blog.com\/baa\/2020\/05\/15\/sandhill-crane-chicks-one-a-day-images-which-lens-is-best-for-the-tiny-chicks-and-the-one-negative-of-the-sony-100-400mm-gm\/","title":{"rendered":"Sandhill Crane Chicks One-a-Day Images. Which Lens is Best for the Tiny Chicks? And the One Negative of the SONY 100-400mm GM …"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s Up?<\/h3>\n

I had planned to be at Fort DeSoto by now for a week or ten days by now, but with the crane chicks that hatched recently, I am not going anywhere. I’ve been living at ILE for nearly two decades and there has never been a crane family with tiny chicks that was 100% accepting of my presence. The opportunity is simply too good and too amazing to drive away from. A nice benefit of the pandemic \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

On my Thursday afternoon walk, I had an ILE first-ever Least Tern fly over the boardwalk. That was followed by the first decent sunset in about ten days. While photographing the chicks every morning and most afternoons, I have learned a ton about crane behavior. Most surprisingly is that they wandered more than 200 yards from the nest just one day after the second chick hatched. And yesterday they expanded that to more than 300 yards and wound up in North Field and then in the marsh north of the pier. The nest is in the marsh about 200 yards south of the pier. My thighs are quite sore again as I spent a good deal of time picking up trash left and right of the pier where the new crane family has been hanging out for the past few days. <\/p>\n

The forecast for this morning — Friday 15 MAY 2020 is for northeast winds with clouds developing early. That is pretty good for bird photography. <\/p>\n

Thanks to the many who continue to order a variety of educational materials and gear & accessories from the BAA Online Store<\/a>. Your patronage is appreciated in these unique times. This blog post took more than three hours to prepare including the time spent on the image optimizations. <\/p>\n

It is a tough call for sure, but do attempt to pick a favorite from among today’s five featured images. And please let us know why you made your pick. Comments on the good and bad of all of the images are welcome.<\/p>\n

Important Note<\/h3>\n

Blog posts — never more than one every other day — that deal with the current situation in the US (and the world), will include the words Alert: Non-photography-related Post<\/em> in the title. If you do not wish to read about or discuss the current issues, simply do not open such blog posts. Nobody is forcing you to read the blog. I have lots more important stuff to share and lots more questions to ask. As for those who are disappointed in me or have lost respect for me that is about them. Only I can disrespect myself. <\/p>\n

Those who wish to paint me as some sort of conspiracy theorist can keep their heads buried in the sand, ignore solid information from many knowledgeable folks (including doctors), obey all government orders, wait for the COVID-19 vaccine (that is never coming), and line up to have their chips implanted. For those who state that they will never again come to the BIRDS AS ART Blog for the free photography instruction that I have provided for I don’t know how many years — 3044 posts before this one — I wish them only the best. <\/p>\n

BIRDS AS ART<\/h3>\n

BIRDS AS ART is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Click on the image to enjoy a larger version.<\/p>\n

The SONY e-Guide by Patrick Sparkman and Arthur Morris<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The Sony Camera e-Guide (PDF) and videos Info<\/h3>\n

Yesterday I prepared the final PDF for the Sony Camera e-Guide. It will not be available in the store until early next week but you can order yours right now. The cost of the SONY e-Guide is $100.00 US and will include one of the four (4) camera set-up videos — we offer one video each for the a7r iii, the a7r iv, the a9, and the a9 ii — and the written guide with the galleries. Additional camera videos are $25.00 each The guide is now done. <\/p>\n

If you would like to order the e-Guide now, please send a Paypal for $100 US to birdsasart@verizon.net<\/a> and be sure to include the words \u201cSONY e-Guide\u201d in the Paypal e-mail along with the name of your camera or cameras so that you can receive the correct video or videos.<\/em><\/strong> Note: please add $25 for each camera video after the first. And please be sure to type your e-mail address into your Paypal order. Then be sure to send a copy of the Paypal transaction to me via e-mail.<\/a> <\/p>\n

SONY 200-600 Update<\/h3>\n

Steve Elkins now has five SONY 200-600s in stock; one of them surely has your name on it. Contact Steve as below to save $50.00. <\/p>\n

Money Saving Reminder<\/h3>\n

If you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H, would enjoy free overnight shipping, and would like a $50 discount on your first purchase over $1000.00, click here<\/a> to order and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If you are looking to strike a deal on Canon or Nikon gear (including the big telephotos) or on a multiple item order, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail<\/a> or on his cell at (479) 381-2592 (Eastern time) and be sure to mention your BIRDSASART coupon code and use it for your online order. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H. Those include the SONY a7r IV, the SONY 200-600, the SONY 600mm f\/4 GM, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is eager to please. <\/p>\n


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Gear Questions and Advice<\/h3>\n

Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN<\/a>, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail<\/a>. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and\/or lens choices and decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This image was created on 10 MAY 2020 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. I used the Induro<\/a> GIT 404L\/FlexShooter Pro<\/a>-mounted Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens<\/a>, the Sony FE 1.4xteleconverter<\/a>, and the 61-MP Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital Camera Body.<\/a> ISO 1000. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear dial: 1\/800 sec. at f\/6.3 in Manual mode. AWB at 12:32am on a (wonderfully) cloudy day. <\/p>\n

Tracking Flexible Spot (M) AF-C was active at the moment of exposure and performed to perfection. <\/p>\n

Image #1: Sandhill Crane one-day old chick standing near adult on the nest\n