ways is to improve your observational skills. How long could you keep me engaged in a conversation relating what you know about a Great Blue Heron GBH)? I could probably talk to you for a couple of hours non-stop and still not communicate all I have seen regarding this bird. It has come, however, at
the expense of long hours of observing them in their natural environment. What does their posture say about their mood? How will that bird hunting along the shoreline react to another getting ready to land a hundred yards down the shore? What does it mean when a GBH croaks? Why is that bird flying with it's feet down instead of tucked up under it's tail? These and countless other questions are only answered by observation. And, as you learn more and more about a particular species, you learn to anticipate what they will do. In other words, you go from being reactive to being proactive in your picture taking.
I saw a bald eagle fly out to the middle of the river one day and catch a fish. If you had been there with me, you might have thrilled to see such a sight (and it is cool), but I have seen it many times. The astounding point about the event to me was that I knew the eagle had been sitting on a branch of a tree a quarter mile away. The eagle had spotted the fish from that distance. That is how good their eyesight is!
Another instance; same scenario. An eagle sitting on a branch on one side of the river flies across and about ten feet into the tall marsh grass on the opposite side and drops down out of sight. A few second later, it reappears with a clump of marsh grass and a small rodent in it's talons as it returns to the tree in which it had been sitting. It illustrates that this species has amazingly acute vision. But, how did I find that out? Through personal experience and observation. I can tell you about it, but you have to see it to believe it (pun intended).
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