Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Place: Bosque del Apache NWR, NM, USA
Date: December 2003
Equipment: Nikon N90S, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (= 600/5.6), tripod window
Film: Fuji Sensia 100
Exposure: Aperture priority matrix metered, natural light
Scan: Minolta Dimage, 70% of frame

Commentary: A widespread species in the western US, and an uncommon winter bird in the eastern states. This is an immature bird, with a mostly brownish crown. Only adults have the white crown stripes.

This was taken in front of the Visitor Center at Bosque del Apache. They've got a great setup, with a brush pile, shrubs, and a tiny pool. There's an outside microphone connected to an inside speaker so you can here all the birds just outside the large viewing window.

The only problems: the place is backlit when viewed from inside, and the always dirty glass picks up the sunlight and makes for a rather murky view at times. In spite of that, I decided to try some photos from inside.