This is a great time of year for baby birds, geese, and ducks, and they can be everywhere. This family of Canada Geese is living behind a restaurant not far from my home.
Sometimes luck is with us, and that was certainly the case with this shot. The parents were leading the babies along a gravel walkway toward fresh grass just perfect for munching. I was able to work my way around and behind them, keeping enough distance to not present a threat. Had I gotten too close, the family might have quickly moved out of range, or one of the parents might have gone into protective mode and noisily moved toward me.
Either way, not only would I not have gotten this shot, but the disturbance to this young family would have created stress and interfered with their need to feed. It is vitally important when photographing any form of wildlife not to disturb their normal behavior or interfere with their feeding, breeding, etc. We are fortunate observers and should not do anything to upset Mother Nature.
This family was moving quite quickly and I only have a few seconds to get the shot before their positions changed when they reached the grass. The babies obliged by keeping some distance between them so that each head is fully visible. What a stroke of luck!
Lens choice is what helps to make this shot work. It was shot with a telephoto zoom lens, which compressed the distance between the geese, and provided a nice tight shot of their waddling rear ends.
TECHNICAL DATA
Shutter Speed 1/160 sec. Aperture f/7.1. ISO 800. Lens: Canon 100-400mm f/4.5/5.6L IS II. Camera: Canon 7D Mark II. Handheld.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you feel the urge, don't be afraid to go on a wild goose chase. What do you think wild geese are for anyway?" --Will Rogers
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