In the Field

Cedar Waxwing on Snag. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 9, 2007.

I was watching this Cedar Waxwing through my camera's viewfinder when it cocked its head in an almost quizzical manner. I think it was actually eye-balling an insect on the ground but for a second I almost thought the bird was going to ask me a question!

While the image isn't what I'd call a "powerful" one, I love the soft tones of the background and the smooth gradation in hues in the breast and belly of the bird.

Behind the Camera

Cedar Waxwing on Snag. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 9, 2007.

Digital Capture; Uncompressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 200.

Nikon D2Xs with with Nikon 200-400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR lens @ 400 mm paired with 1.4X Nikon TC-14E II teleconverter (825 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) supported on Gitzo 1348 carbon fibre tripod with Wimberley head. VR turned to "On" and in "Normal" mode.

1/100s @ f8; no compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

Cedar Waxwing on Snag. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 9, 2007.

RAW Conversion to 16 bit TIFF, including first-pass sharpening, exposure compensation, and tone curve adjustment, using Phase One's C1 Pro.

Further digital correction on 16-bit TIFF file using Adobe's Photoshop CS3 and LightZone 3. Minor tonal adjustments performed in LightZone (using the ToneMapper/Relight tool). Photoshop adjustments included selective saturation enhancement, and selective sharpening for web output.

Conservation

Cedar Waxwing on Snag. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 9, 2007.

Ten percent of the revenue generated by this image will be donated to Wildsight.

Species Status in Canada*: This species is not designated as at risk.

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a neotropical migrant that is named for the red wax-like tips of their secondary flight feathers. These highly gregarious birds can be found in very large flocks in the non-breeding season, and during the breedings season they may even nest in loose colonies. Cedar Waxwings vary from common to uncommon in their preferred habitat, which includes woodland, forest edge and farmlands with fruit trees.

This Cedar Waxwing was photographed in the Columbia Valley of the East Kootenays. Many ecosystems within the Columbia Valley face development pressure, including pressure from logging operations. While Cedar Waxwings are not directly threatened in the Columbia Valley, they do, of course, need appropriate habitat in order to continue to thrive. Wildsight is an effective conservation organization that protects biodiversity and promotes sustainable communities in Canada's Columbia and Rocky Mountains. Support for Wildsight, through donation or becoming a member, will help ensure that they remain effective in their efforts to conserve threatened or endangered species and ecosystems.

*as determined by COSEWIC: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada