Month: April 2016

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Recent Publication – Boxing Jackrabbits In Bay Nature Magazine

A male and female blacktail jackrabbit engage in a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and she wards him off with a leaping and boxing display.
A male and female blacktail jackrabbit engage in a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and she wards him off with a leaping and boxing display.
A male and female blacktail jackrabbit engage in a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and she wards him off with a leaping and boxing display.
A male and female blacktail jackrabbit engage in a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and she wards him off with a leaping and boxing display.
A male and female blacktail jackrabbit engage in a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and she wards him off with a leaping and boxing display.
A male and female blacktail jackrabbit engage in a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and she wards him off with a leaping and boxing display.
A male and female blacktail jackrabbit engage in a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and she wards him off with a leaping and boxing display.

If you live the San Francisco Bay Area, grab the latest issue of Bay Nature Magazine to see an article on boxing jackrabbits featuring my three photos above. The bay is home to many blacktail jackrabbits, and on this occasion I was lucky enough to witness a courtship display of sorts. In this case, one or more males will chase a female, who will in turn ward off her suitor’s advances by rearing up and boxing at him with her front legs. Often, the male will mimic this behavior, giving the appearance of two boxing jackrabbits. The female will continue this behavior until the most aggressive male becomes apparent, at which point she will succumb to his advances.

Gear I used to create the photos in this post:
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African Paradise Flycatcher

An african paradise flycatcher perches on a narrow branch for a few seconds, before flying away, Namibia, Africa
An african paradise flycatcher perches on a narrow branch for a few seconds, before flying away, Namibia, Africa
An african paradise flycatcher perches on a narrow branch for a few seconds, before flying away, Namibia, Africa

I just returned from an 11 day trip through Namibia. It was a wonderful trip full of new sights and sounds, many new species for me, and a lot of fascinating locations. Overall, I traveled nearly 2500 miles, mostly on dirt and gravel roads.

While there is much to come on this blog, I thought I’d start by posting one of the birds I saw during my first morning in country. After 36 hours of travel, I finally made it to Namibia. I woke early the next morning to see which new bird species I could photograph. It wasn’t long before this beautiful paradise flycatcher landed on a nearby branch and gave me magnificent views in warm morning light.

An african paradise flycatcher perches on a narrow branch for a few seconds, before flying away, Namibia, Africa
An african paradise flycatcher perches on a narrow branch for a few seconds, before flying away, Namibia, Africa

The African Paradise Flycatcher is the most comment flycatcher in the continent, as well as the largest. Usually found in ones or twos, this bird lives up to its name by eating passing insects, or flitting about in the branches looking for flies. For one of first new species sightings, I new I was off to a good start of my trip. Stay tuned for lots more, including tons of wildlife (of course!), as well as some dramatic landscape spots.

Gear I used to create the photos in this post:
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Copyright 2017 Hank Christensen