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Wildpiczohio Thank you for followng me on my quest to become a professional wildlife photographer! Content focused on Wildlife in the state of Ohio and beyond when possible.

Internationally published

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm

Apollo was watching Athena move sticks around when he tried to grab a stick above the nest. It didn't break off so Athen...
10/23/2026

Apollo was watching Athena move sticks around when he tried to grab a stick above the nest. It didn't break off so Athena and him changed positions. Athena ripped bark off and dropped it into the nest.

10-22-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

What a treat it was yesterday morning getting to watch Apollo and Athena working hard on nestorations! It even seemed li...
10/23/2026

What a treat it was yesterday morning getting to watch Apollo and Athena working hard on nestorations! It even seemed like they were bickering back and forth on who's getting the next stick and where that stick would go in the nest. lol It's been easier to tell them apart as Apollo seems to have a raised feather where his beak meets his face. I edited 278 photos from yesterday, but don't worry, I won't be uploading ALL of them.... yet.

The first series of photos are my favorite, I think. Athena had her eye on the prize but missed her crash and grab. After the miss she continued down river and was successful with her next attempt returning to the nest with a big stick.

10-22-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

After seeing nothing but Mallards this summer, I am definitely ready for our winter ducks to show up! "Winter ducks begi...
10/22/2026

After seeing nothing but Mallards this summer, I am definitely ready for our winter ducks to show up!

"Winter ducks begin arriving in Ohio starting in October, with peak numbers moving in during November and December as northern waterways freeze over. Because Ohio serves as a wintering ground ("south for the winter") for many northern species, the arrival timeline spans several waves:

Arrival Timeline by Duck Type

• Early Fall (September – October): Early migrants like blue-winged and green-winged teal arrive first in September, followed by dabbling ducks (such as mallards, American wigeons, gadwalls, and northern shovelers) picking up steadily through October.
• Peak Migration (November): Waterfowl numbers peak across the state in November as large flocks of diving ducks (such as greater and lesser scaup, canvasbacks, and ring-necked ducks) and tundra swans arrive from Canada and the Great Lakes.
• Deep Winter (December – January): Diving ducks and cold-hardy species (like common goldeneyes, buffleheads, and mergansers) settle into open-water reservoirs, Lake Erie, and artificially aerated urban park lakes as surrounding ponds freeze."

10-17-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

When I showed up to the lot yesterday morning, both eagles were home. Apollo was perched on the rim of the nest on the r...
10/18/2026

When I showed up to the lot yesterday morning, both eagles were home. Apollo was perched on the rim of the nest on the right side while Athena was down river trying to get a stick. She failed but returned to the nest anyway. Apollo took off a short time later and would remain gone until I left. It was very windy and cold as the sun stayed hidden behind the clouds.

10-17-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

While at Scioto Audubon Metro Park looking for warblers with my Jacob, he mentioned that young Black Crowned Night Heron...
10/17/2026

While at Scioto Audubon Metro Park looking for warblers with my Jacob, he mentioned that young Black Crowned Night Heron had been seen in the area. We were walking down the path kind of looking for it but not expecting to see it when all of the sudden I noticed the young Black Crowned Night heron sitting on a branch overlooking the water. Honestly, with how well it blended in with its surroundings, I am surprised I spotted it. The orange eye is what ultimately caught my attention, and I am happy it did! The young heron was in horrible lighting, but I still managed to get a shot before it took off.

"Black-crowned Night Herons are state-threatened birds in Ohio, and seeing one in Central Ohio (such as around Columbus) is an uncommon or rare treat.

Status in Ohio:

• Conservation Status: Listed as state-threatened and eliminated as a mainland nester in Ohio.
• Main Colonies: Breeding populations are mostly restricted to the Lake Erie Islands (such as West Sister Island NWR, Turning Point Island, and Green Island).
• Central Ohio Sightings: While rare, they have historically been spotted passing through or occasionally wintering locally—such as near the Ohio State University campus or local waterways."

9-25-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

Nature's Garbage Disposal:While on my way to Ohio Wildlife Center last month to drop off the donation, I noticed a bunch...
10/16/2026

Nature's Garbage Disposal:

While on my way to Ohio Wildlife Center last month to drop off the donation, I noticed a bunch of Black Vultures hanging out on and around the bridge on Glick Rd. Even though it was slightly raining, I had to stop to get some pics.

"Black vultures (Coragyps atratus) act as nature’s vital garbage disposal system by rapidly consuming dead and decaying animal carcasses across the landscape.

Key Ecological Roles

• Disease Prevention: Their extremely acidic stomach juice (with a pH lower than 1) destroys dangerous pathogens, toxins, and bacteria like anthrax, rabies, and botulism, stopping disease from spreading to other wildlife or humans.
• Carcass Cleanup: They clear away rotting flesh from fields, forests, and highways, which reduces pest populations like rats, coyotes, and feral dogs that thrive on decaying waste.
• Ecosystem Health: As detailed in reports from groups like the World Wildlife Fund, cleaning up remains reflects and supports overall environmental balance."

9-21-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

A New Chapter Begins for the Olentangy Bald Eagle Nest....On Monday, my wife and I were down by the Olentangy river look...
10/14/2026

A New Chapter Begins for the Olentangy Bald Eagle Nest....

On Monday, my wife and I were down by the Olentangy river looking for deer when a bald eagle flew over us carrying a stick towards the direction of the nest. The sun was already set, so it was difficult to see if it was Clint or another eagle. However, after editing the photo, it appears that the 4-year-old I saw in the nest back in July, has earned the right to be Clint's new partner. The dark spots on her head and tail seem to match the eagle that I saw before. I will be spending some time down there today to see if there's any action, but it appears the next chapter is ready to be written in the story of the Olentangy bald eagle nest.

Side note: I love this time of year because there's so much action in the raptor communities. We should start seeing owls again as well.

10-12-2025- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

A visibly soaked Apollo was perched with his wings out by the nest yesterday when I arrived late in the morning. He pree...
10/13/2026

A visibly soaked Apollo was perched with his wings out by the nest yesterday when I arrived late in the morning. He preened for a while then moved to another perch where he continued the drying out process. After not seeing Apollo and Athena for 2 months, it's awesome that they are consistently around the nest area again!

"Bald eagles dry out by perching in an open area and holding their wings out wide to catch the sun and wind

The Drying and Maintenance Process

• The Wing-Spread Pose: After bathing or getting soaked in the rain, an eagle finds a quiet branch, stump, or shoreline perch and spreads its wings wide (a behavior known as "sunning").
• Weight and Flight: Wet feathers are heavy and waterlogged, which makes flying difficult and inefficient. Air drying restores their light weight.
• Preening and Oils: Eagles use their beaks to spread natural waterproofing oils from a specialized uropygial gland (preen gland) located near the base of their tailbone. This oil helps bead water and protect the inner feathers.
• Rousing and Shaking: Eagles shake and rouse their roughly 7,000 feathers to help them settle back into proper alignment as they dry.
• Cooling Down: On hot days, holding their wings out also lets excess body heat escape, helping the bird cool down since they cannot sweat."

10-12-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

Canada Geese photos rarely get any love, but that won't stop me from posting them. 😆9-29-2026- Franklin County, Ohio Can...
10/11/2026

Canada Geese photos rarely get any love, but that won't stop me from posting them. 😆

9-29-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

Stopped at Sharon Woods Metro Park the other morning and was greeted with this Blackburnian Warbler in its fall plumage ...
10/11/2026

Stopped at Sharon Woods Metro Park the other morning and was greeted with this Blackburnian Warbler in its fall plumage and lots of Bluebirds.

10-7-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

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