Incoming!

The Wood Stock, also known as Flinthead is a large and at times awkward looking bird that was once near extinction. Hunted for its breeding plumes, it was placed on the Endangered Species list in 1984. Since then their numbers have steadily climbed so now they are about to be delisted. It’s this time of year when they are hard at work increasing their numbers even further. When there is enough water providing habitat for their prey fish they produce eggs. In drought years, they might not nest at all. This is a good year and they are quite busy creating some fun photo opps for the patient photographer!

Patience at the rockery is required as a majority of the time they are either just standing or sitting on the nest. At the same time, being all white and nesting in live tress, you gotta have the right light or you just come back with yuck. Luckily the male spends some time in the evening gathering and delivering sticks to the female for the nest. With this knowledge, you want to set yourself up so you can pan with the incoming male watching for the best background. Then the challenge is not just panning but having a shooting path when the male gets to the nest. That’s because the male you’re panning with might not go to the nest you can see, it might be to one hidden in another part of the tree. It is quite a bit of fun. And if it’s a really good evening the male gets rewarded by the female when it makes its deliver. That birds and the bee thing. Just need an active rockery, great light and that male incoming!