The boardwalk eagles at Magee Marsh...

I had heard there was an American Bald Eagle's nest along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh, but I didn't know where it was, and with all the excitement of nonstop warblers flitting all around, I forgot about it until I saw an adult eagle fly overhead with a fish in its talons...exciting! I started walking in the direction the eagle had flown and soon heard someone say, "the baby has popped up!" I followed their gaze and was amazed at how close the nest was to the boardwalk...

American Bald Eagle and eaglet at Magee Marsh (view from the parking lot).

Adult American Bald Eagle preening.

The view of the eagle's nest from the boardwalk. I was told this was the second year for the "boardwalk" eagles. This shot lets you see how large the aerie already has become. 

A severed gull's wing hanging in a tree was evidence of the nearby eagle's nest. The gull wing became a landmark of sorts, and I heard once or twice, "a Cape May Warbler is at the gull's wing," or  "possible golden-winged warbler at the gull's wing."

I photographed the eagle and eaglet during The Biggest Week in American Birding.

I'll get busy with warbler posts soon!

...people love to paint birds!

Matty and I had a blast today teaching bird lovers how to draw and paint birds at the Little Miami Scenic River and Trail Center. I had no idea there were so many people who wanted to learn how to paint birds! We were swamped with artists of all ages all afternoon. I really enjoyed watching everyone's interpretations come to life on paper. Here are just a few of the artists and their creations...

...this dad had no idea he could paint. It was his first time to pick up a paintbrush!
I love this painting...a very cool rendering of a female Northern Cardinal. 

...focus and concentration...this little girl knew exactly how to bring her eagle to life.

...using the "two circles and a triangle" method made it easy to draw birds! 

...love these deep, rich colors. This little girl had a sharp eye for design.

...a software developer checked his analytical self at the door and got his art on. He opted for the "circle and triangle" bird drawing method and created his own design of a black-capped chickadee (this was his first time to paint and draw!). 

...and a mechanical engineer created this gorgeous Blue Jay by sketching out her own design too. Circles and triangles go a long way with birds. I love all of the shading and dimension.

These girls really worked hard and created beautiful paintings...while laughing and having fun too!

...diligently mixing paint to get the exact color. This young artist really enjoyed creating custom colors. She totally nailed the olive green that shows on a Hooded Warbler.

...sweet, sweet paintings. I love the way these sisters created their paintings of a White-breasted Nuthatch and a female Northern Cardinal. Beautiful!!!

All of these bird-loving artists took part in the free bird painting workshop Matty and I hosted at the Little Miami Scenic River and Trail Center on Sunday. Click here for yesterday's post to find out what it was all about and to learn more about Little Miami, Inc. (LMI) and the Little Miami Scenic River and Trail Center. I'm going to put another post together soon showing all of the cool stuff in the center and explain more of how LMI protects the Little Miami River...and some of the people behind the organization. More to come...

A free bird painting workshop along the Little Miami River...

If you are in downtown Loveland, OH this Sunday, July 28, stop by the Little Miami Scenic River and Trail Center and paint a few birds with me! Matty and I are volunteering this weekend to teach kids and adults how to paint birds...and it's free...

Paint brushes, acrylic paints, pallets, and water buckets all add up to fun in the park! 
(Matty and I went crazy buying all the supplies. There's plenty to go around!)

Because not everyone likes to draw, I've created a lot of coloring book style bird templates and patterns you can trace or copy and then paint. In other words, you don't have to be an artist to have fun painting!    Here are just a few of the bird patterns you can use...

                            Coloring book pattern of a Blue Jay

                        Coloring book pattern of an Eastern Bluebird

                  Coloring book pattern of a male Northern Cardinal 

                  Coloring book pattern of an American Bald Eagle 

I'll also show you a few tricks to draw birds quickly and easily...

Steps to draw a Black-capped Chickadee

Two steps to draw a simple bird shape

Class time and description
The workshop runs from 1:00 - 3:00, but it is not a structured class. We're going to follow a drop-in format...drop in any time, paint a few birds, and leave when you feel like it. You don't have to be there for the duration of the workshop, because we're just painting birds for fun.  No experience is necessary...kids and adults are welcome! 

The Little Miami Scenic River and Trail Center is located in downtown Loveland next to Nisbet Park along the bike trail. It is part of Little Miami, Inc. (LMI). LMI was founded in 1967 and has been the driving force behind protecting and restoring the Little Miami River. LMI owns over 100 nature preserves along the Little Miami and several of its tributaries. You can become a volunteer if you want to help protect the Little Miami River, or you can donate to the cause. Click here for more information on LMI. 

Little Miami Scenic River and Trail (LMI) Center

211 Railroad Avenue

Loveland, OH 45140

Hope to see you there!
Kelly Riccetti

An American Bald Eagle on a nest along the Little Miami River...

Last October, Matty and I spent some time up at the Spring Valley Wildlife Area photographing what we thought might be an eagle's nest (click here for that post). Today Rick and I drove up to see if it was...and it was!

Okay...squint, step back and look carefully. Yes, it's there...a white head and a dark body. Finally, I've seen an American Bald Eagle on the Little Miami River. The quality of the photo is poor, but I was over 500 yards away shooting from the bike trail, and then I cropped the image to an inch of its life to try to make out the eagle. 

View of the eagle's nest from the bike trail. The nest is bigger now than it was this October, and there's no mistaking an eagle is in residence. When you look through binocs or the spotting scope, you can clearly see the bird, but through a 400mm lens, the eagle is nothing more than a bump on a blob!

This huge sycamore hugs the Little Miami River. Canoeists floating down the river are in for a treat if they look up! From the bike trail, it's a different story. However, just hang out at Spring Valley for a while, and you'll see the adults flying overhead or even grabbing a fish from the water. Rick and I spoke with a fisherman at the lake, and he said he's seen an eagle several times swooping down to catch a fish. What a sight!

The eagle's nest at Spring Valley Wildlife Area...

Sunday Matty and I drove up to the Spring Valley Wildlife Area, a beautiful wetland just past Waynesville, OH (about 35 minutes from our house). We wanted to hike out through the corn fields and windbreaks that border the wetland to check out what we hope is an eagle's nest. Before we set out on that hike, though, we took some time to study the marsh and look for birds on the lake. I went to the east and photographed some asters, and when I came back to the car, I found Matty writing in his journal...

Matty writing down a few of his observations in his field journal (south parking lot, Spring Valley Wildlife Area).

...nothing is sacred when you have a mom with a camera.

Journal entry from August 8, 2012 (by Matty Riccetti)
Spring Valley Wildlife Area 

"It is an interesting day at Spring Valley marsh. The trees are beginning to blush red and orange in the cool air of the approaching winter, and the birds are finding nests (roosts/places) among the leaves to barricade themselves from the autumn frosts; however, the marsh looks the same. The lily pads still polka dot the surface, and frogs still hop in the water as I draw closer. The marsh refuses to alter its appearance for the coming season; the landscape thus is both picturesque and confusing. Although the marsh still clings to its summer ways, it is still indescribably beautiful the way it picks up the autumn hues from the trees. Seasons change, but the beauty and depth of the marsh does not."

...birders from all over our area head to Spring Valley to see marsh species and wonderful displays of ducks. It's one of the best marshes in southwest Ohio. This summer I saw Marsh Wrens around the boardwalk, and I've seen Sora and Virginia Rails there many times. 

...another reason I love Spring Valley--it's on the Little Miami bike trail! After viewing the lake and marsh, we walked to the bike trail. The eagle's nest is located about a mile south of the south parking lot. Hop on the trail at the parking lot and go left. When you see the cornfields, follow the windbreaks down to the river. The nest is visible from the trail in a huge sycamore. It's on the other side of the river. We saw it from the trail this summer, and now that the leaves have fallen a bit, it stands out even more. 

An eagle's nest on the Little Miami river at Spring Valley! 

Earlier this summer, we saw this nest from a distance. It was much bigger than any Red-tailed Hawk's nest we had ever seen, and it was located where a park attendant said an eagle couple had nested this spring, so I'm 90% sure it's an eagle's nest. I can't wait to check it out this coming February or March to confirm. The nest looked big from a distance, but up close, it was huge! It's actually located on the other side of the Little Miami river from the trail, so you're still not that close, which is good, because the eagles can remain undisturbed. It looked a lot like the eagle's nest I saw up close in Florida (click here and here for those photos.)

Matty sketching out the eagle's nest (or at least what we think is an eagle's nest) across the river...

After viewing the eagle's nest, Matty and I headed back up the trail to the old beaver's pond. We were looking for the Red-headed Woodpeckers that liver there. Red-headed Woodpeckers are rare in our neck of the woods, but there is a population at Spring Valley, and we were hoping one or two would be about. We saw male and female Downy Woodpeckers, a few Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and we heard a Pileated, but no Red-headed Woodpeckers. It was getting late and the temp was dropping quickly, so we took the cut-off back to the lake, and when we emerged from the woods we heard something....and to our left, a Red-headed Woodpecker flew up from the ground and over the trees. His tell-tale white back feathers were flashing in the low light. Pretty cool...

A female Downy Woodpecker peaks from a hole in a dead tree at the beaver pond. She was in and out of the hole several times. We were hoping for close-ups of a Red-headed Woodpecker, but this little Downy was so sweet, we were just as happy. A male Downy was two dead trees down. He was fluffed up against the chill...and just as sweet.

Christmas Bird Count—Cincinnati, Western Hamilton County

I went on the Cincinnati Western Hamilton County Christmas Bird count today. Although it was the first time for me, the Western Hamilton County CBC is in its 46th year. I'm so glad I went. I had a lot of fun and met several new birding friends! I was also introduced to west-side cuisine at the Sunshine Cafe during our lunch break--yum, I loved it! Highlights for me were Rusty Blackbirds, a Northern Harrier, and right at the end, in the glowing light of the fading sun, an immature American Bald Eagle...yeah!

A flock of about 20 Rusty Blackbirds was in the woods along the Great Miami River off 128 near the soccer fields.

I dig those rusty heads and bright eyes! I've never seen Rusties on the Little Miami river close to where I live. I'm going to have to look a little harder. They are really cool birds...

I was on the team with Paul, Joe and Judy. Paul just emailed me that the final tally was 87 species, 1 short of the record of 88. I had to leave before the tally to watch Rick and Matty play in a hockey tourney. Next year I'm staying for the tally. It sounds fun!

Two American Black Ducks flying past, their blue wing patches flashing brightly. (If you think the quality of this photo is bad, wait until you see what's coming...)

...a most excellent shot of a Northern Harrier. You can SORT-OF see his owlish face...and just a hint of his white rump feathers.

...and an even better shot of an immature American Bald Eagle (in the golden light of evening no less)! If you squint and think happy eagle thoughts, he will come to life right before your eyes.

...finally, a quick pencil sketch I did at home of the Brown Creeper we saw and heard by the river.

Thanks Paul, Joe and Judy for taking me along with you! I had a wonderful time! Next year I'm going to learn how to digiscope for these long-distance shots...

Close-up photos of an American Bald Eagle...great references for artists

If you're a bird artist, you're probably always looking for ways to study birds up close, but it's hard to sneak up on an American Bald Eagle in the wild, so if you're an artist looking for close-up reference images of an American Bald Eagle, feel free to use these.

This American Bald Eagle was part of an education program from Back to the Wild, a volunteer, non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and nature education center located in northwest Ohio. I was at the Midwest Birding Symposium in Lakeside, Ohio when I saw their tent set up in the vendor area. Just like RAPTOR, Inc. (from my previous posts), Back to the Wild's primary mission is to rehabilitate and release injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife back to the wild...

...a closeup of an American Bald Eagle. Nothing beats that profile...

I had just come out of a lecture and didn't have my big camera with me, so I took these photos with my little Panasonic LUMIX DMC-257. For being such a small camera, it has a nice little zoom. I always regret not taking my Nikon with me wherever I go, but I had no idea these gorgeous birds would be working that day.

...another closeup. It's almost the same shot, but the there is a subtle shift in his head tilt. The down-tilted angle changes the mood captured in the image, creating a more aggressive feel. It all centers around the line of his brow. This photo can help artists see how a tiny shift in the angle of the eye creates a not-so subtle shift in the mood...

A quick bit about the boney ridge above the eagle's eye...

The fierce glare of an eagle is all because of the oversized supraorbital ridge that makes up the eagle's brow. This boney ridge makes the bird look tough, formidable, and no-nonsense, but really the supraorbital ridge is only there to block the sun and eliminate its glare so the bird has an easier time hunting. As humans, we interpret the look as a scowl that denotes power and strength, because in our faces, emotions can be deciphered from a shifting brow—a downward slanted brow indicates concentration, anger, or attack. The eagle can not change the position of the supraorbital ridge, and he doesn't have an eyebrow to move around freely, but as artists, we can shift the position of the head to make the slant of the supraorbital ridge a bit deeper, which then creates mood and emotion for the viewer. (Click here for previous posts on the supraorbital ridge.)

...this angle is more contemplative. We equate this gaze as far reaching and noble. The supraorbital ridge is exactly the same, but we perceive the angle of the brow and chin as a mood shift. It's strange how we can pin human characteristics to a bird to create a mood in art, but it's not surprising...

...it also explains why so many sports teams choose hawks and eagles as their namesakes instead of owls and ospreys. How many times have you heard someone shout, "Go Owls!" The owl is every bit as powerful a hunter and can inflict just as much damage as an eagle or hawk, but because it lacks the oversized supraorbital ridge, it carries a different "expression" on its face. Without the scowl, aggression does not register in the viewer and no fight-or-flight adrenalin is produced either. Owls are considered "wise" and hawks "tough," and the poor ospreys, even though they can rip flesh apart with the best of them, they seem to have a perpetually "surprised" look on their faces. "Go Ospreys!" Intellectually, we know what's what, but artistically, emotion can be produced in a glance, and there's nothing we can do about it...

...a full-bodied shot of an American Bald Eagle. This photo is certainly not going to win any awards. Yuck, it's out of focus and people and cars are in the background, but an artist can use it to spark an idea or refer to it for proportion. When I look at this photo, I see an eagle perched on the edge of a nest looking towards its mate approaching with prey...

...artists can get lost in the beautiful and intricate patterns that show in an eagle's wings. Since the wing feathers are so large and pronounced, the pattern is striking.

I always feel sad when I see birds that have been injured so badly they can't heal well enough to live in the wild, but it's nice to know that most of the birds recovered by Back to the Wild are rehabilitated and released and go on to live out their lives in the wild. I also feel like I'm cheating when I photograph these birds. They are tethered and can't fly away, but I know these close-up photos are a great way for artists to study raptors. (Click here for close-up photos of RAPTOR, Inc.'s birds of prey. Artists can also use these photos as references.)

Electronic Bird Art - ElectroBirds!

...when you have fun with the Glowing Edges filter in Photoshop, our favorite feathered friends take on a new, hip, hot, and electrified image! I can dig it, baby...

Chestnut-sided Warbler made hip with glowing edges.

American Goldfinch--Vegas style!

A juvenile American Bald Eagle leaps to his nest. Truly, though, it's electrifying seeing him even without the glowing edges!

A Red-shouldered Hawk is beautiful in neon...

...the same Red-shouldered Hawk on his return flight is just as striking.

Even a Brown Pelican becomes cool when he's powered on...

...but a sweet little Sanderling seems a little out of place in his hipster garb!