Why photograph the same bird species again and again?

Savannah sparrow I photographed on May 7, 2026.  Inset - August 31, 2022.

Why do I photograph the same species of bird over and over again?  Well, I do, and I don't.  Common birds such as crows, robins, and house sparrows rarely merit my interest.  Other birds that I see less commonly garner my interest, especially ones that I have never seen before.  But why photograph a bird I already have half a dozen images of?  What's the point?

There are several reasons, the most alluring is that I may get a better image than I already have.  Examine the photos above; they were taken almost four years apart, one in Vernon and the other in Maple Ridge (inset).  The one I shot more recently is more complete as there are no foreground distractions.  Also, I used a teleconverter on the 500 mm lens, and so I had a bit more reach.  The newer one is just a better photo.

Then there is equipment.  My much older photos were taken with what I was using at the time, a D7000 or a D300 with an 80-400 zoom or perhaps a 70-200 with a 2x TC.  Different resolutions, different lenses, different outcomes.  Below, there are numerous photos of savannah sparrows I have taken over a span of time with different equipment.  Better equipment, more experience, better shots.  Of course, that's not always true - I have many a photo I have taken from 20+ years ago that I may never be able to improve on.

Photos of savannah sparrows I have taken over time.

Another big one is creating an account or documenting what I have seen on a trip.  I often will send an email with images taken at a sanctuary or preserve to an interested party.  They often appreciate knowing what was seen, where, and when for their own records.  Sometimes my stuff gets used in their literature or websites.  "Here's a great shot of a savannah sparrow I took yesterday at your park,"  versus, "Here's a photo of a savannah sparrow I saw somewhere else - it looks like one I saw at your park."  It may be the same species, but it is a significantly different photo to the person.

And then there is the "Just because I can" reason.  I like taking photos, it gives me such a trip to get a nice shot, especially if there is some interesting behaviour going on.  It's fun.  It improves my collection and experience, and I may be able to help someone down the road.

So, go ahead - keep shooting.  Even if you already have a photo.  Just because you can.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com


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