I had been wanting to take pictures of some birds that always come around the house and today I happened to hear some birds singing, when I looked out there were about 4 Shiny Cowbird in the garden looking to feed on the insects and larvae that are regularly found in the roots of the bushes.
Tenía días queriendo tomarle fotos a unos pájaros que siempre llegan alrededor de la casa y hoy casualmente escuché a unos pájaros cantando, cuando me asomé había unos 4 tordos regrenidos en el jardín buscando alimentarse de los insectos y larvas que hay regularmente en raíces de las matas.
I immediately grabbed the camera and went out to capture that moment, it was like a small flock commanded by one of them who I could tell had dominance and leadership over the others. I guessed it was a female, not only because she was bossy hahaha but also because she was less blackish in color than the others, and I have read that this is a characteristic tone of the females of this species. It was impressive to see her in control of everyone, while the others rummaged around looking for food, she just supervised.
De inmediato tomé la cámara y salí a capturar ese momento, era como una pequeña bandada comandada por uno de ellas al que se le notaba que tenía dominio y liderazgo sobre los demás. Yo intuyo que era hembra, no solo por lo mandona jajaja sino porque era de color menos renegrido que los demás, y he leído que ese es tono característico de las hembras de esa especie. Era impresionante verla tener el control de todos, mientras los demás hurgaban por todos lados buscando alimentos, ella solo supervisaba.
I approached her cautiously to take some pictures, unlike what I would have thought, she didn't show much fear of my presence, she continued eating a worm she had trapped between her legs. Meanwhile, the others kept looking for more insects, singing and flying around her.
Me acerqué cautelosamente para tomarle unas fotos, a diferencia de lo que hubiese pensado no mostró tener mucho miedo de mi presencia, continúo comiéndose un gusano que tenía atrapado entre sus patas. Mientras tanto, las demás seguían buscaban más insectos, cantaban y volaban alrededor de ella.
Among all the birds, she had my full attention, she was imposing in front of her flock, and although she was not actively foraging in the undergrowth for food, she was there to alert them of any possible threat that might approach them.
Entre todos los pájaros, ella tenía toda mi atención, se notaba imponente ante su bandada, y aunque no estaba activamente hurgando entre la maleza en busca de alimentos, si lo estaba para alertarles de cualquier posible amenaza que pudiese acercárseles.
I stayed there watching them and taking pictures while they were feeding, sticking their beaks into the roots, scanning everything they could to feed themselves. After a long time of that task I could see that the female was indeed the leader, because it was enough that she took flight while emitting her song for all the others to follow her instantly.
Allí me quedé observándoles y tomándoles fotos mientras se alimentaban, metían sus picos dentro de las raíces, escudriñaban todo lo que podían para lograr alimentarse. Tras un largo rato de aquella faena pude comprobar que efectivamente la hembra si era la líder, porque bastó que alzara el vuelo a la par que emitía su canto para que todos los demás la siguieran al instante.
It is interesting how even the birds show us that to preserve the species a leader is needed to guide and protect them, a leader who is alert to possible threats and who makes decisions that favor all of them at all times.
Es interesante como incluso las aves nos demuestran que para preservar la especie se necesita un líder que las guíe y las proteja, un líder que esté alerta ante posibles amenazas y que tome decisiones que les favorezcan a todos en todo momento.
All photographs in this publication were taken by me with a Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9V camera in automatic and natural light.
Todas las fotografías de esta publicación fueron tomadas por mi con una cámara Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9V en automático y con luz natural.
