Monarch Watch SHU 214

"Monarch Watch SHU 214" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

Meet Monarch butterfly SHU 214.  Recently, at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Monarch butterflies were given a special tag on their wings to help track the butterflies during their migration to Mexico.  Much data can be retrieved from tracking the butterflies such as their survival rate, weather influences on their migration, and the pathways they take during migration.  The tag contains three letters and three numbers and is printed with waterproof ink on polypropylene sheets.  A special 3M adhesive is used to adhere the tag on the butterfly’s wing.

Click here for more information on tagging Monarch butterflies. 

Click for my here for my story on Guidepost.org about Monarch butterflies and their migration to Mexico. 

Location: Athens, Georgia

Bliss

"Bliss" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I enjoy looking at and photographing water lily flowers. They are beautiful! The added bonus of photographing them is the reflection of the flower on the water.  

Location:  The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

Mesmerized

'Mesmerized"  

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

As I was editing this photo, I was mesmerized as I looked into this orangutan's eyes. Our eyes met that day, but I was not touched then like I am now. What was the orangutan thinking? Was he happy or sad?

I can't really describe in words the effect of his stare.  

Location: Atlanta, Georgia at Zoo Atlanta

Hummingbird Magnet

"Hummingbird Magnet"

The hummingbirds at Callaway Gardens and The State Botanical Garden of Georgia love the purple and blue salvia/sage. When I was at Callaway Gardens, the hummingbirds went crazy for this flower.

If you are looking to plant a flower to attract hummingbirds, you can't go wrong with this hummingbird magnet!  

Location: Pine Mountain, Georgia

Perfect Placement

"Perfect Placement"  

Judy Royal Glenn Photography  

Butterflies are difficult for me at times to photograph.  I want everything to look perfect.  Of course the subject must be just right with nice looking wing placement, but I also like a clear view of the butterflies' head.  A lot of times they have their head down into the flower feeding.

  A clear non-cluttered background is also very important to me.  I love when I can single out the butterfly on one flower.  This rarely happens for me though.  So, I am pleased with this perfect placement. 

Location: Athens, Georgia, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Plump

"Plump" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography  

I usually don't post many videos taken on my cell phone, but I could not resist posting this one as my blog post today. 

Monday, I was sitting in my very small pop up chair waiting to photograph the hummingbirds.  One hummingbird was active feeding very close to my chair, so I got out my cell phone.  One got about 12 inches away to feed.  It made my day:)

Notice how plump this little guy is.   The hummingbirds go on a feeding frenzy called hyperphagia and may double their body weight to prepare for their long trip to Central America and Mexico.  

This video was taken at marker #5 on the Hummingbird Trail at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

Sorry, I wish Blogger would not compress the video so much so the video would be more clear.  Here is a link to my Google + where the video is not compressed: click here.

Location:  Athens, Georgia

A Glance

"A Glance" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

The hummingbirds are familiar with my presence and become very trusting of me. I photographed this one today about seven feet away. This hummer is sitting on the Yucca plant at marker #5 on the Hummingbird Trail at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

A hummingbird fed about 12 inches from me today!  The count down has begun....only about two weeks left before they leave The State Botanical Garden of Georgia.  

Location: Athens, Georgia

Close Encounter

"Close Encounter" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I am not a mathematician when it come to figuring out how close I was to my subject compared to the subject in the frame.  This was shot at 400mm and is only about 10 percent cropped.  What I can remember after the fact.......I was TOO CLOSE!  

Location: Daniel Island, South Carolina

Prickly Lunch

"Prickly Lunch" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography  

A friend of mine told me the hummingbirds were feeding on the thistle near the power line at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, so I went out this morning to try to photograph them.  

Location: Athens, Georgia

Sunrise Shrimp Boat

"Sunrise Shrimp Boat" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I rarely photograph before the sun rises, but this particular morning, I went to Jekyll Island, Georgia to photograph at Driftwood Beach.  As I was shooting, a shrimp boat caught my eye. 

I love the silhouette of the captain and his mate as they are too out early to work.

Signature Line

"Signature Line" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I love this Black & Yellow Argiope's spiderweb because if it's signature zig-zag line in the web.  

Location:  The State Botanical Garden of Georgia 

Constant Presence

"Constant Presence" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

The hummingbirds were active on the Hummingbird Trail at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia today.  This photograph was taken at marker #17.  Two hummingbirds consistently fought for a long time defending their territory and food. 

I love how trustworthy the hummingbirds are of me.  They are used to my consistent presence.  They tolerate my camera, tripod, and gear in their living room.  I get pretty close to them, and they don't mind me much as long as I don't move too quickly.

Location: The Hummingbird Trail at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens, Georgia   

Blue-bellied Roller

"Blue-bellied Roller" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography  

Back on my "African Safari" but this time I am at Zoo Atlanta where I found this Blue-bellied Roller.  It is a beautiful bird and interesting enough, it nests in a hole in a cavity of a tree. 

 Location:  Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia