Carolyn Copper - Photographer, Copper Range LLC
Connecting you with nature
WELCOME TO THE BLOG! This is a solution-and-success-oriented blog focused on topics that are the foundation of all of my photography work -- wildlife rehabilitation and protection, land conservation, faith and environmental stewardship, and great places or opportunities to photograph wildlife and nature. Share your comments! As of November 2019 some blog posts are now recorded podcasts available on Buzzsprout, https://www.buzzsprout.com/711591.
p.s. Blog rule #1 is to learn something new and get inspired. Blog rule #2 is a little longer and covers what not to do if you comment on the blog. Blog posts will not contain any infringing, threatening, false, misleading, abusive, harassing, libelous, defamatory, obscene, inflammatory, pornographic, bullying, or profane content.
What Goes Up Will Come Down – Know the Facts and Laws About Balloon Releases
May 22, 2021
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There’s a place in Maryland where I sometimes go to photograph. It’s a stunning and large public garden, meticulously cared for, visited, and appreciated by many. Along with its beauty, I regularly see balloons and string caught up in the trees around this picture-perfect place. I was even surprised one day last spring when I witnessed a small grou...
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North American River Otter - Conservation Success Story
March 19, 2021
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They’re cute, entertaining, charming, and smart. Beyond the species conservation mission, another reason many zoos may keep Otters is because they’re fun to watch and people flock to see them. I was very excited to have a few wild Otter encounters in 2020 and 2021 and wanted to know more about these charming, semi-aquatic mammals. For starters, lik...
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A New Brand Of Duck Hunter
February 12, 2021
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In many parts of North America that experience cold winters, the wildlife landscape changes particularly when it comes to birdlife. Many birds migrate to and reside in warmer climates during fall and winter. However, depending on your location, ducks are one kind of bird that may be seen in greater numbers during winter. I live in an area that’s su...
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Our Responsibility to Work Toward A #betternormal - Taming the Monster in Our Closet
January 13, 2021
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The pandemic of 2020 irrevocably changed our country and the world. It’s revealed ways we must change. The pandemic response laid bare the truth that we live in an unsustainable world. If nature was allowed to take its course during the pandemic; without shutdowns, closures, masks and social distancing, individuals, families, and health care system...
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American Robin - Eating Like A Bird
January 08, 2021
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Eating Like A Bird in winter. Robins are one bird you won’t normally see on a seed feeder. In the warmer seasons, they’re primarily eating worms and insects. In the colder seasons, they’re primarily eating berries. Many of us are pretty familiar with Robins because they’re widespread in North America. They frequent urban areas, backyards, as well a...
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Raptors - Eating Like A Bird
January 05, 2021
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It may not be pretty, but it’s ok, its baby food. The three raptors shown here all had young in the nest, or fledglings that just left the nest, and were delivering or feeding food to their young babies. The Eating Like A Bird series, now enters the apex of the bird world -- raptors! Raptors, including owls, hawks, and osprey are birds of prey that...
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Hummingbirds - Eating Like A Bird
January 02, 2021
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A more relaxing approach to getting a meal. There are few birds more captivating than hummingbirds. Their speed, beauty, stamina, and survivability are just so impressive and magical. I also think their tiny feet are incredibly cute. Hummingbirds are the smallest bird species. Ruby-throated hummingbirds, like the one pictured, weigh about the equiv...
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Gray Catbird - Eating Like A Bird
January 02, 2021
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Don’t underestimate Catbirds. Like many migratory bird species, if you have Catbirds in your area, and your habitat is good for them, they may loyally return year after year. Catbirds are seen in large parts of North America and coastal areas of Central America.This Catbird grabbed some insects in the grass from a driveway reflector used as a perch...
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Yellowthroat Warbler - Eating Like A Bird
January 01, 2021
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Yellowthroats are vocal birds, and their often-uninterrupted calls and chirps help reveal their presence. But once you’ve seen them, don’t assume you’ll see them again or you can get your camera to focus on them. These are fast moving small birds that forage in dense vegetation, shrubs, and thickets. This is an immature male yellowthroat that captu...
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Herons - Eating Like A Bird
January 01, 2021
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Herons and Egrets belong to the same family (Ardiedae). These wading birds are common to many of us because they’ve become pretty tolerant of humans. Even in populated areas that have good wetland, pond or lake habitats it’s not unusual to see a great blue heron standing quietly looking for a catch. For wildlife and bird photographers, herons and e...
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Cedar Waxwing - Eating Like A Bird
December 31, 2020
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Eating Like A Bird, in style. The stylish Cedar Waxwing is a beautiful bird with its Zorro-like mask. A lot of people love Waxwings. I count myself in that group. Cedar Waxwings love fruit. They’re primarily frugivores -- they feed mainly on fruits year-round, like this one I photographed feeding on wild berries. Cedar Waxwings eat insects as well,...
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Tufted Titmouse - Eating Like A Bird
December 26, 2020
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One of my bird feeders contains a favorite seed of the Tufted Titmouse and I’m used to seeing them in my yard, energetically moving around the feeders. I also sometimes see them when I’m hiking, like on this recent occasion in South Carolina when I photographed this Tufted Titmouse eating a Katydid. This was a first. I wasn’t out looking to photogr...
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Loggerhead Shrike - Eating Like A Bird
December 25, 2020
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This Loggerhead Shrike, photographed in Florida, captured a small lizard. Loggerhead shrikes average 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) with a wingspan of about 13 inches (33 centimeters). Loggerhead shrikes have a unique habit of impaling small vertebrates, like lizards, on thorns or other sharp objects to kill or immobilize them. This behavior...
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Wandering Tattler - Eating Like A Bird
December 25, 2020
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Although this looks like a common shorebird, it’s not. This Wandering Tattler (also called ‘ Ūlili in Hawaiian) was photographed on a lava rock coast near Punaluu Black Sand Beach in Hawaii (the big island). I have to agree with another writer that this bird should really be called an EPIC bird. During summer, Wandering Tattler’s breed in the Arcti...
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Eating Like A Bird
December 25, 2020
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It’s always a very big deal when I get a (good!) photograph of a wild bird or raptor eating something that it’s caught or gathered in its natural habitat. It’s educational and informative. We can learn a lot about a species based on how and what they hunt. We not only learn what they eat and when, we also learn the behaviors used to gather and hunt...
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