Unexpected Companions – Birds on a Cow at Dry Creek Park

Why I Took the Photo

This was captured during an S3 photo walk led by Cooksey last Saturday at Dry Creek Regional Park in Union City. We started at 1:30 p.m., and the strong midday sun made it difficult to photograph landscapes. While walking, I noticed birds landing on several black cows, but they blended in too much.

On our way back, I spotted two black birds perched on a brown-and-white cow. The contrast made the birds pop visually. I raised my Canon R5 Mark II with the EF 70–200mm and captured this quiet interaction — one bird near the cow’s nose, the other above its eye.

I wonder how the cow and birds feel in that moment. Do they feel safe? Curious? Are they simply used to each other, coexisting without question?

What I Want to Show

This image is about quiet coexistence — a cow at rest, birds feeding or observing, a shared moment of peace. It’s humorous, yet natural. These brief interactions often go unnoticed, but they reveal how interdependent and surprisingly tolerant nature can be.

Such scenes are more than just visual curiosities: they are examples of commensalism, a type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected. Birds like starlings or egrets often perch on grazing mammals such as cows to feed on insects or ticks — gaining nutrition while the larger animal is generally undisturbed. For a deeper dive into these relationships, see additional reading from Lost River Cave.

Scientific studies, like those summarized in this ornithology paper, confirm that birds benefit from grazing mammals by feeding on ectoparasites and sometimes gaining safety from predators.

The Story Behind the Scene

I first saw birds on black cows, but they were visually hard to separate. I almost gave up. But right before we left, the brown-white cow came into view — and so did the perfect moment. I cropped in during editing using ON1 Photo RAW’s Brilliant AI for color and noise adjustments. The birds and cow remained tack sharp.

My Approach to Composition

• Used Canon R5 Mark II and EF 70–200mm lens to zoom in while keeping a respectful distance.
• Placed the cow’s head in the left third of the frame to draw attention to the birds.
• Let the golden grasses create a natural background with minimal distraction.
• Used ON1 Brilliant AI for color enhancement and denoising, then cropped for composition strength.

For more wildlife photography tips on gear, composition, and ethics, check out The Ultimate Wildlife Photography Guide.