My Backyard

Exotic explorations at home

By Jeff Amberg

Photography by Jeff Amberg

The Red-eyed Vireo often sings nonstop throughout the day; listen for repetitive musical phrases. It winters in South America and is larger and thicker-billed than Warblers.

Birds. Winged creatures. These uniquely beautiful beings have been a fascination to me as far back as I can remember. I have a distant memory from my adolescent years, watching from my bedroom window, when my mother held out her hand and waited for a sparrow to light, choose a seed or two, and fly off, only to return a few moments later. That memory steeped, waiting to resurface as 50 years passed, 40 of those practicing photography as a photojournalist and then as a commercial and advertising photographer.

The Chipping Sparrow is usually found in open woodlands and scrubby areas, and it is widespread throughout most of North America.
The Chipping Sparrow is usually found in open woodlands and scrubby areas, and it is widespread throughout most of North America.

The pandemic changed everything for most everyone, and much of my client work went into a holding pattern. Now, our backyard, which has always been a haven for reflection and solitude, became more, as the beautiful little flying creatures began speaking to me.

As a former photojournalist, capturing defining moments was the very fabric of my holding a camera. Both people and sports were filled with moments of peak emotion or action, so I was familiar with that way of thinking and making photographs. Prepared? Well, kind of ... These little beauties are small and fast, and getting close to them is nearly impossible. We don’t have feeders to attract them, so they are all residents of the trees and shrubs and what nature has to offer.

The good news is that I discovered that they are creatures of habit. From sunrise to midmorning, they are busy and their calls and songs are beautiful music as they go on surviving. By midday, the action has settled down. Then, as the sun begins making its path to the western horizon, the activity picks up again as day ends. The cardinals are the early risers and are late to settle in for the night.

The Cardinal is probably one of the more recognized of the North American birds. They are the first ones at the feeders in the morning and the last ones to leave in the evening.
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo (pronounced koo-koo) is another visitor from South America. This one is more often heard than seen. The large white spots on the underside of the tail and its yellow bill are the common identifiers. Listen for its hoarse cooing song and knocking calls.
Cedar Waxwings are fairly common in open woodlands, orchards, and shrubby areas throughout most of North America and often migrate as far south as Panama.
The White-throated Sparrow breeds in coniferous or mixed forests, often near clearings. Its whistled song often sounds like “Old Sam Peabody” or “Oh Sweet Canada.”
The White-throated Sparrow breeds in coniferous or mixed forests, often near clearings. Its whistled song often sounds like “Old Sam Peabody” or “Oh Sweet Canada.”
This female Baltimore Oriole is common in North America and likes to visit feeders with nectar and fruits. They winter in northern South America.
This female Ruby-throated Hummingbird is often found as far north as Canada, mostly along the eastern side of the continent, and they winter as far south as Panama.
Yellow-shafted Northern Flickers are found mostly in the eastern and northern parts of North America. This one migrates as far south as Oaxaca, Mexico.

Friends have asked me if I spend hours at a time waiting and watching. That is a bit of a luxury for me, so I go out during the busy times and hope for the best. I go out when the spirit moves me or I hear a song or a call and allow that moment to guide me to where it takes me. That is not all that far since our backyard is about half an acre. It also helps that adjacent to our backyard is a 10-acre nature preserve.

Surprisingly, the most satisfying aspect of this journey is the intense awareness of my surroundings and the newly learned ability to see tiny movements in a panorama of trees and shrubs. Spotting is only the half of it; finding that action with a camera lens with a very narrow field of view is the challenge. It is a great exercise for the mind and reflexes. I liken it to hunting with a camera.

Bluebirds frequently can be found perching on wires and fence posts. They nest in cavities and have a soft chortling call.
Bluebirds frequently can be found perching on wires and fence posts. They nest in cavities and have a soft chortling call.
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny, hyperactive songbird that shows its crown when it’s irritated.
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny, hyperactive songbird that shows its crown when it’s irritated.
Young bluebirds will sit on a branch, nearly out of sight, and wait for the mother to return with seeds or small invertebrates.
Young bluebirds will sit on a branch, nearly out of sight, and wait for the mother to return with seeds or small invertebrates.
A bit larger than a Blue Jay and smaller than an American Crow, the Common Grackle has natural oils on its feathers that can reflect light in different colors depending on the surroundings and the angle for the reflection.
A bit larger than a Blue Jay and smaller than an American Crow, the Common Grackle has natural oils on its feathers that can reflect light in different colors depending on the surroundings and the angle for the reflection.

All told, over the course of 18 months, I have successfully photographed 40-plus different bird species in or near my backyard. They are there for us to see and marvel; just take some time and a good set of binoculars.

Many thanks to Jay Keck of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, who with his incredibly deep knowledge, cultivated my spirit of bird watching; Gills Creek Watershed Association for their ongoing efforts to protect the watershed as a thriving natural wildlife habitat; and the W. Gordon Belser Arboretum for nurturing an extraordinary natural jewel in the middle of the capital city.

Hooded Warblers are somewhat rare in these parts. They prefer the understory of the forest, here on a cypress limb near the forest floor.
Hooded Warblers are somewhat rare in these parts. They prefer the understory of the forest, here on a cypress limb near the forest floor.

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