Songbirds-A Celebration
Featuring Poetry from
Beth Sleboda and William Preston
with Photography From Paul English
Jealous of Jerry
Jerry the Junco just left the scene. He'd been jostling about in a tall evergreen. He was there on the edge - right on a tip - at ease, in the knowledge that he wouldn't slip. His feet were designed to help him endure the powerful wind. He was secure. His chest feathers fluttered. He was having such fun! Then after an hour, he flew off. He was done. ©2021, Beth Sleboda
Beth Ely Sleboda is an artist who uses words, music, and fiber to express herself, comment on everyday occurrences, and create moments of interactive fun. She plays the mountain dulcimer, guitar, Lakota flute, udu, and a variety of percussion instruments. She is a life-long resident of Livonia, who considers herself to be happily cursed.
Beth is now Livonia’s official Poet Laureate: “By Village Board action, we named Beth Ely Sleboda “Our Poet Laureate”….this resolution was part of our Annual Organization….Beth will be part of every special occasion….” Calvin Lathan, Mayor…Village of Livonia
Mother Nature’s Equalizer
One springtime brought a bobolink quite strong enough to lob a sink, who stayed around throughout the summer and so the season was a bummer. He razed my cornfield in the fall, eating ears and leaves and stalks and all, and then would perch on fallen logs and terrorize the neighbors' dogs. Every day he'd come and go until the snows began to blow, only then to leave me here in queasy peace for another year, in peace, that is, to sob and drink till spring returned that bobolink. ©2021, William Preston
William Preston is a retired medical science writer and current freelance editor who enjoys writing poetry; he especially enjoys experimenting with various poetic forms. He and his wife, Marti, live in Macedon, NY.
About the photos
Dark-eyed Junco 1
This wintering Dark-eyed Junco was behind my house and I caught this beautiful pose as the wind blew its feathers up making for a great shot. Shot taken with Nikon D500 at 1/2500 sec, ISO 100, Lens was a Nikon 200-500 with focal length of 750.
Bobolink 1 and 2
These beautiful Bobolink images were taken in the field right next to my home in Branchport.I spotted him singing on a branch of a Rose bush from my trail in the field and had to get closer for a good image. I was wearing camouflage and I sat down in the tall grass and to observe him with hopes he would come closer. About 15 minutes later he flew up near me singing away! What a thrill when they are close up with their white rump and golden buff nape! They also have a distinctive jingling song! I love observing and photographing this bird! Shots taken with Nikon D500 1/2500 sec. ISO 500 Nikon 200-500 lens f 5.6, Photo Gear Designs Tracker.
Indigo Bunting 1
This beautiful singing Indigo Bunting was taken at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in a field on East Road just above May’s Point. I used a Nikon D850, 2500 sec. f/4.0, 300mm 2.8 lens, and Photo Gear Designs Tracker. When the sunlight hits this bird it is a beautiful blue, in the shadows they almost appear black.
Dark-eyed Junco 2
A posing Dark-eyed Junco, shot taken behind my home with Nikon D850 1/2500 sec. ISO 220. Nikon 500mm PF lens with Photo Gear Designs Big Grip. This Junco is posing for the camera and waiting for his turn at the bird feeder. This branch was cut off with a chain saw after damage from a storm in case you are wondering.
Baltimore Oriole 1 and 2
One of my favorite spring birds is the Baltimore Oriole! When they make an appearance it is always amazing to see them. To photograph them well can be challenging though, and to get these shots I used a jelly feeder below this old stump which made for a perfect setup. They land up higher on the stump and then when the coast is clear they fly down onto the feeder. Good light, concealment in a blind and patience are all required to get these images. Shot taken with a Nikon D500 1/2000 sec. f/5.6 ISO 640. Lens was a Nikon 500 PF and Photo Gear Designs Big Grip and PGD Tracker.
Paul’s passion for photography led him, in partnership with another passionate photographer, Paul Yarnall, to found Photo Gear Designs—which designed and produces the PGD Tracker and the PGD Big Grip (and they now have both in stock!)
The PGD Tracker Kit offers a different way for wildlife, sports and motor sports photographers to track subjects that are hard to follow at high focal lengths and to preposition long telephotos on hard to locate distant subjects (like birds!).
The Big Grip (Photo Gear Design’s newest product for photographers) is, as the name implies, a big grip lens shoe for holding telephoto lenses. It is available for the Nikon 500 PF, the Canon 100-400 IS L USM II, the Sony 100-400 G, the Sony 200-600 G OSS, the Sony FE 600MM F4, and the Sony FE 400MM 2.8. It will also allow your camera and lens to sit on a flat surface. The adjustable design is manufactured from aviation grade aluminum with an ergonomic carbon reinforced nylon grip and is secured to the lens collar with a stainless steel bolt and two stainless steel clamping screws for a tight lock (no risk of dropping your lens from inadvertently flipping the release button on the OEM shoe).
You can learn more about Photo Gear Design products (and about the two Pauls) on Instagram and Facebook@photogeardesigns.