June 10, 2025
The Bird_Fan TikTok blew past 700 followers and viewers seem to enjoy the long-lens videos, which are tricky to shoot because they require a combination of birds, weather, and a quick snap-focus before the bird flies away! While taking a print break after the release of Birds: A Photographic Expedition Volume 1 – Western Pennsylvania, I decided to take a day and check out a new park.
I snapped a picture of the gray catbird above at Deer Lakes Park just north of Pittsburgh and shot a few videos that you can now see on the @Bird_Fan TikTok (99+)Listen to the Gray Catbird 🐱🦅 #bird #birds #birder #birding #birdsof… | TikTok
Personally, I like the little “documentary-style” clips that show not just the bird, but also play the bird’s song and capture some of the ambient sound. That’s something I’m looking to expand on in future videos. It’s a little strange to me that people enjoy watching 2-second videos of things, but if that’s the way it is, then so be it. It changes how I have to think about recording. I love its “meow meow” call.
The day was kind of a wash as far as birding goes because in the summer, when it’s hot, and it’s the middle of the day, most of the birds are deep in the woods and out of sight. I saw a Great Blue Heron fly right in front of me but I didn’t have my camera ready, and those fast-moving Vireos continue to evade my camera lens.
After Deer Lakes, I drove over to Harrison Hills Park in Natrona Heights and photographed a Tree Swallow, which is print-worthy. They’re beautiful birds. Then I finished my day at RiverTrail park where I got nothing but another two miles of walking 🙂
More bird blogging inbound!
Mark – Bird Fantastic