Whenever I am teaching nature photography, one of the things I really emphasize is that, in order to be a better photographer, it really helps to be a better naturalist. The more you know about your subject, the more likely you are to be able to predict its whereabouts and actions.
Related: Anticipate the action for exciting wildlife shots
The images you see here prove that statement as true.
Photographing Prairie Warblers
Earlier this spring, I was out photographing when I heard a bird calling that was not immediately familiar to me. Stopping to listen more, I decided that it might be a Prairie Warbler.
Prairie Warblers are only occasionally seen in Michigan, usually during migration.
I decided to spend some time searching for the bird, and ended up getting to spend the entire morning with this bird, a species that I had never had the opportunity to photograph before. All because I knew its song!
I was told by a couple of birders (who driven four hours just to see this bird) that this was the only Prairie Warbler that had been seen in Michigan this year!