A LESSON IN ECOLOGICAL EVOLUTION

D3s, 200-400 4,0 / 200 mm, f4,0, 1/400, +0,33, ISO 1600

Photographers that do nest photography on "shyer birds" have a huge responsibility for the wellbeing of the birds documented. I am not a fan of this approach myself and normally it is not included in my "workflow". I`m not saying that I don`t do it, but if I do I consider the risk of possible damage seriously, and as well : I would normally not flash / blog these shots afterwards. However, with my friend Erkka in Finland I was given the possibility study family life of the common buzzard (musvåk / Buteo buteo), and after a serious consideration of the situation, I decided to accept the chance given. The drama exposed to me on the second day in the hide was a serious lesson in ecological evolution, so : my intention of showing you these shots is not primarily to start a discussion on nest photography in general, but the documentation of the drama is interesting and has rarely been documented like this before.

It is a well known fact among chickens of raptors and owls that there is a considerable difference in age & size in the nest and that the bigger ones often kill the smaller to ensure their own survival. I sat in 3 days in a small box-hide 7-8 m above ground. There was seemingly an abundance of food brought to the nest by the parents dayly (I saw mice, bird chicks & frogs). There was 2 buzzard chicks i the nest (Erkka said originally 3, but the smallest one had "disappeared"), and on my second day I witnessed how this happens : 

Suddenly the bigger chick attacks the smaller, grabbing it by the neck and then picking towards "Little Brothers" head. With serious and continuous dedication it kept going for 2 full hours. In the battle"Little Brother" had his head all covered in blood and as well an eye picked out, until it was finally finished. When Mama comes along with more food, she steps over the dying chick that has been pushed to the edge of the nest (I could see it was still breathing), and feeds and warms the bigger. 

Next day "Little brother" was gone, it was not under the tree, I do not think that the adult birds had taken it away, so : probably eaten. Nothing is lost in a buzzards menu. In ecological evolution 2 things matter more than anything else : 

First survival, then reproduction. 

It`s jungle out there !!!     

The first attack : the bigger chick grabbing the smaller by the neck 

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/250, +0,33, ISO 1600

The picking kept on continuously .....without stop

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/500, +0,33, ISO 1600

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/500, ISO 1600

The bigger chick standing over the smaller and the first blood appears on the beak

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/1000, ISO 1600

The smaller tries to protect itself by laying the back & using the claws. The bigger tries to eat whatever it can take out of the smaller

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/400, ISO 800 

The blood is now covering most of the smaller chicks head

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/320, ISO 800

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/400, ISO 800

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/400, ISO 1000

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/400,ISO 1000

The adult bird bringing more food. The dead chicken can be seen to the left.

D3s, 600 4,0, f6,3, 1/320, ISO 1000

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/400, +0,33, ISO 1000

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/400, +0,33, ISO 1000

This prey seems to be a black grouse chicken (orrfuglkylling)

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/400, +0,33, ISO 1000 

The adult bird warms the surviving chick

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, 1/320, +0,33, ISO 1000

On my third day in the hide I had a sudden and powerful thunderstorm. The blast was tremendous !! Not "deep and far away", but sharp & extremely loud !! The flash and the blast at the very same moment. My tree was shaking and I could smell the electric burn !! I have never been afraid of thunder before, but here I found myself 7 - 8 meters up in a tree, inside a metal frame, on top of a metal ladder .... I realized I could fry like a slice of bread in an electric toaster !!! My first reaction was to climb down immediately, but by doing so I knew I would ruin my chances with the buzzards. 

A new blast, just like the first one ..... I was still raw.....  I closed my eyes and said to myself : 

"You have always been a lucky guy .... it will pass !!"

...and it did. 

The "electric toaster" !!

D3s, 24-70 2,8 / 24 mm, f8,0, 1/320, +1,33, ISO 1000

The surviving chick after the thunderstorm

D3s, 600 4,0, f5,6, +0,33, ISO 2000