I recently had a fun experience photographing wildlife while camping at Mount Magazine State Park here in Arkansas. In September of 2010, I was camping there and the people in the next campsite had just dumped some leftover ice on the ground. Shortly after, I noticed an American Crow fly down and land right by the ice. To my surprise, it picked up one of the ice cubes in its beak and began eating it!
An Icy Treat for an American Crow
I quickly grabbed my camera, as I don’t often get shots of wildlife interacting with human food or scraps. Crows are highly intelligent birds, so I’m sure this one realized the ice would be a refreshing treat on a hot day. It was captivating to watch it hold the ice cube and chip away at it with its beak. The crow seemed totally focused on its icy snack, allowing me to snap some great close-up shots of it in action.
Getting to observe and photograph this spontaneous wildlife encounter was a real treat for me as a nature photographer. I love when I happen to be in the right place at the right time to catch an interesting animal behavior like this. It was a serendipitous moment that gave me a new appreciation for the intelligence and adaptability of American Crows. I’m thrilled to have captured the images to be able to share this special scene. Just another day of exploring and experiencing amazing wildlife!
Steve Creek, Wildlife Photographer
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 500 mm f/4L IS USM
Technical:
- Location: Mount Magazine State Park (Arkansas)
- Date and Time Taken: September 26, 2010 (10:03:21 A.M.)
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture: f4.5
- Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec. (as determined by the camera)
- ISO: 800
- Exposure Bias: 0 EV
- Focal Length: 500 mm
