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John Payne

@wildpiczohio

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-Freelance photo/content creator for businesses and custom bike builders
-Amateur at wildlife 📸
-Central Ohio (614)
-Canon EOS R3 #teamcanon
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Happy Halloween from @wildpiczohio 👻🎃💀 🦅

#happyhalloween #wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #baldeagle #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

Great Blue Heron is curing his hunger below Griggs Dam in Columbus, Ohio.

“A great blue heron typically eats up to 13 ounces of food each day. When feeding their young, they may need to consume twice as much.”

9-29-2026 - Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #greatblueheron #canonphotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

I don’t know why, but I just thought this song is a good fit with these photos of a great blue heron shaking out its feathers below Griggs Dam.

9-29-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #greatblueheron #canonphotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

I’m so happy to report that Athena and Apollo have made their return to Grandview! They definitely had us a little worried after spending so much time away from the nest since the passing of their offspring, Artemis. The nest was overgrown and resembled other abandoned nests that get swallowed up by the tree it’s in. I was hoping they didn’t move the nest as that happens sometimes when tragedy strikes, but all that worry was for nothing as they’re back and getting ready for the 2027 mating season. Now I’m just hoping for a successful meeting season and fledge!

9/27/26

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #baldeagle #canonphotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

*Photos taken of owl in captivity

Blendon Woods Metro Park has a beautiful new resident Barn Owl that has been named, Athena. From what I understand, she belonged to a falconer before she came to Blendon Woods and therefore cannot be released due to imprinting on humans. Blendon Woods is currently doing meet and greets on Fridays at 4pm through the month of August. I am not sure how long the meet and greet program will go on, but you can also view Athena in her enclosure outside the nature center at the park. Visit the Blendon Woods website and social media for more information.

“When a barn owl imprints on humans, it permanently misidentifies people as its own species. This irreversible psychological change ruins its chances of a wildlife, turning the bird into a dependent creature that often displays dangerous or confused behaviors.

Loss of Survival and Social Skills:
-No fear of people: The owl does not see humans as dangerous, meaning it will approach people or roads instead of fleeing.
-Inability to mix with owls: It cannot communicate, court, or mate with other barn owls because it does not recognize them as its own kind.
-Unreleasable status: Wildlife centers cannot release an imprinted bird into the wild because it lacks hunting instincts and survival skills.”

8-21-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon EF 70-200mm

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #barnowl #canonphotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

If you want more hummingbirds in your yard, consider planting Rose of Sharon and place one of your feeders close by. The hummingbirds around our area really seem to love it!

“Top Flowers for Hummingbirds:
-Salvia (Sage): Features long spikes of tubular blooms that provide a steady supply of nectar all season long.
-Bee Balm (Monarda): Produces bright, shaggy red or pink flowers that act like a magnet for local pollinators.
-Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Shows off striking, deep red spikes that are a favorite food source for migrating birds.
-Trumpet Honeysuckle: Grows as a hardy vine with colorful, long-lasting tubular blossoms.
-Columbine: Blooms in early spring with unique red, pink, or yellow bell-shaped flowers.
-Penstemon (Beardtongue): Offers tall, elegant stalks with bell-like tubular flowers in various pastel and bright colors.
-Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) effectively attracts hummingbirds by providing a rich source of nectar during late summer when other garden flowers begin to fade.”

8-23-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #rubythroatedhummingbird #canonphotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

New visitor to the Olentangy nest area and I’m not sure if this will be Clint’s new partner or not. The juvenile didn’t quit know what to do when it landed in the nest so it started chirping with its wings spread…

7/30/26 - Franklin County, Ohio

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #baldeagle #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

Taking off and soaring with confidence!

“It takes a juvenile bald eagle about 4 to 6 weeks after their first flight to build real confidence and skill in the air. They usually take their very first clumsy flight at 10 to 14 weeks of age, and by 17 to 23 weeks old, they are strong flyers ready to leave their home area.

Flight Growth Steps:
-Branching (Weeks 8–10): Young birds jump from branch to branch and flap hard to build arm power.
-First Flight / Fledging (Weeks 10–14): The birds take off for the first time, landing in nearby trees with bumpy results.
-Practice Time (Weeks 12–16): The young eagles spend a month or more flying around the nest tree, building strength, and learning to catch food with help from mom and dad.
-Leaving Home (Weeks 17–23): Strong and confident in the air, the young eagles finally fly away on their own.”

7/14/2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

#wildpiczohio #baldeagle #ohiowildlife #canonphotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

This Little Blue Heron is very hungry

7/18/26 - Griggs Dam - Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #littleblueheron #wildlifephotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

I had a good time hanging out with the Little Blue Heron along the Scioto River below Griggs Dam yesterday morning! The highlight was when it was looking for breakfast and caught a huge crayfish right in front of me!

it’s so cool that central Ohio provides opportunities to capture wildlife that aren’t from the state! We really do live in a unique ecosystem.

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 Teleconverter

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #wildĺifephotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio

I am happy and blessed to say that I got published in the #1 Bird and garden magazine in North America, @birdsblooms 🙏🏻 this photo is one of my all time favorites that I’ve ever shot, so to see it in print makes it all that more special!

Thank you Birds & Blooms Magazine for publishing my photo!

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #teamcanon #rubythroatedhummingbird by @wildpiczohio

Great news! One of the juvenile bald eagle from the Olentangy has fledged! I’m so happy to see this and I’m hoping its sibling will be joining the skies soon!

7/12/26 - Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm

#wildpiczohio #ohiowildlife #baldeagle #wildlifephotography #teamcanon by @wildpiczohio