It’s time to depart again…to gather along the Platte river in central Nebraska…and enjoy a reunion with the Sandhill cranes. There is nothing else like this phenomenon on the North American continent…an ancient ritual of spring where hundreds of thousands of cranes gather to rest and recharge in preparation for their final push north to … Read more
In my humble opinion, there aren’t many things that look better than a passing eagle in a full wing spread…you can see virtually every flight and tail feather on the bird. Over the years I’ve caught a few good ones…but they never get old…and frankly, I could never have enough. It’s later in March now, … Read more
A young eagle makes a final pass over Cone’s marsh before sunset. In the distance I can hear the call of Sandhill Cranes, White-fronted Geese, and a family of Trumpeter Swans. The vibrant array of life is indicative of the habitat…a lovely mixture of wetlands and prairie grasses…a natural Iowa landscape that has never fallen … Read more
“High horns, low horns, silence, and finally a pandemonium of trumpets, rattles, croaks, and cries that almost shakes the bog with its nearness … A new day has begun on the crane marsh. A sense of time lies thick and heavy on such a place.” ~ Aldo Leopold
Suffice it to say it’s a bit of a problem when the birding action gets a bit too close for the lens you’re using. Such was the case here, and I was lucky to get one whole bird completely in the shot. Both of these youngsters are honing in on the same thing…and that was … Read more
