Native Birds Feeding on Dandelion Seeds

Image Series

Lately, I've noticed several species of native sparrows feeding on the dandelion seed heads at Ruth Macintyre Conservation area. While I advocate strongly for planting native plants for wildlife and not encouraging nonnative dandelions, which are an inferior food source for bees, they are still more beneficial than turf grass and they have something to offer birds, so I do not advocate the use of herbicides on dandelions if it can be avoided.

Field Sparrow scavenging for dandelion seeds

Camera Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec | Aperture: f/6.3 | ISO: 4000 | Focal Length: 600mm | Shot Date: May 3, 2021, 8:43 a.m. | Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | Lens: 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015
©2021 Vonda Zwick

Lincoln sparrow scavenging for dandelion seeds

Camera Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec | Aperture: f/7.1 | ISO: 5000 | Focal Length: 600mm | Shot Date: May 3, 2021, 8:46 a.m. | Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | Lens: 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015
©2021 Vonda Zwick

Song sparrow scavenging for dandelion seeds

Camera Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec | Aperture: f/8 | ISO: 4000 | Focal Length: 600mm | Shot Date: May 3, 2021, 8:26 a.m. | Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | Lens: 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015
©2021 Vonda Zwick

White-throated sparrow scavenging for dandelion seeds

Camera Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec | Aperture: f/9 | ISO: 5000 | Focal Length: 600mm | Shot Date: May 6, 2021, 10:11 a.m. | Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | Lens: 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015
©2021 Vonda Zwick

House finch scavenging for dandelion seeds

Camera Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec | Aperture: f/6.3 | ISO: 400 | Focal Length: 600mm | Shot Date: May 9, 2021, 10:56 a.m. | Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | Lens: 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015
©2021 Vonda Zwick

Red-winged blackbird scavenging for dandelion seeds

Camera Settings: Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec | Aperture: f/6.3 | ISO: 800 | Focal Length: 600mm | Shot Date: May 9, 2021, 10:57 a.m. | Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | Lens: 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015
©2021 Vonda Zwick