A winter walk in the woods is magical for me. Whether it’s getting out to explore my yard, a local park or somewhere deep in the forest, the first fluffy blanket of snow always brings a noticeable crispness and quietness to the air.
Visibly, the snow transforms the landscape into the monochromatic palette of winter with shades of whites, grays and browns. Audibly, the quiet is only broken by my footsteps as I hear the snow compress beneath my hiking boots and the songs of birds as they flit about, foraging for seeds and berries left from the fall mast.
One of the most prolific songsters you will hear in Tennessee this time of year is our state bird — the mockingbird. You have undoubtedly heard a mockingbird soliloquy — either beautiful songs of its own or masterful imitations of countless other birds.
On an overcast, cold day, I observed this mockingbird for about 10 minutes as it specifically chose the red berries from this shrub. I loved the simple background and subdued color of the scene with the red accents of the berries. Exposing for the low light, I chose a shutter speed fast enough to capture the bird sharply as it moved, an f-stop that would limit depth of field, thus blurring the background; and an ISO that wouldn’t create too much noise in the image.
As I’m getting older, I’m finding simple things like birdwatching to be pleasant and rewarding pastimes. It’s a perfect hobby for any age.
February brings an opportunity for birders of all ages and levels to participate in the national Great Backyard Bird Count. Organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the count will be held nationally Feb. 14-17.
To experience the great outdoors this winter, bundle up and get outside. To find out how to follow and participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, visit birdcount.org.
