Submersible

I can’t believe the calendar 🗓️ year is almost over! It seems like just the other day, I overheard some Purple Martins playing a ridiculous joke on a friend. The group told the friend that if she flew really close to her reflection, it would speak 🗣️ to her. It was hard to believe, but she realized she had never paid attention to her reflection before. Flying over the water wasn’t dangerous, so she decided to call their bluff to prove them as liars.

The wind was light, subtly moving the waters but providing enough lift to ease her flight. Facing the wind, she descended quickly using speed and the slightest movements to control her flight. 🛬 Meeting her reflection, she witnessed the obvious. It was just her reflection, the same it’s been her whole life. She was happy with the results and ready to pull away, but the slightest movement in her reflection caught her eye.

Slowing her speed, she descended closer to get a better look at what she thought she saw. She peered intensely at her reflection, studying her beak where she believed she saw movement. But the gentle breeze that was helping her fly was also rippling the water 🌊 and distorting her reflection. Determined to prove them wrong, she flew closer than ever with her feathers nearly skimming the surface. It was too late when she realized her mistake. 😲 This was the setup all along. She was so close to the surface that she couldn’t flap her wings hard enough to keep her in the air. She lost control and splashed into the water.

Dripping wet, she returned to her perch with confidence and said, “My reflection was a little shy, but believe it or not, the fish said come say hello.” 👋🐟

-Written by Donte Hunter

Purple Martin

7.4.25

Colonial Heights, VA

Sony A1 w/ 600f4

ISO5000, f4.5, 1/1250 (both images)

#sonyalpha #birdphotography #storytelling #birding #wildlifephotography