After a bit of study I've learned this female Whooping crane (#3305) has been flying with a group of Sandhills for weeks. She's been spotted a number of times during the early stages of her migration south - a trip she'll make every fall for the next 20 years if she lives to 24 (the average lifespan of Whooping cranes). The 7.5 foot wingspan, snowy white color and jet black primary feathers on her wing tips make it pretty easy to distinguish the Whooping crane from the Sandhills.
I wish the sun had been shining so I could have taken a better quality picture, but hey, what'cha gonna do? It's the best I could get. Enjoy.
Colossians 3:22b - Don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best.
Man I'm jealous! She's beautiful.
Posted by: skoutz | December 03, 2009 at 11:54 PM
That's right Mark. It was the best you could get. I look at it like this, at least you got the picture and I noticed the bird within seconds. Very nice picture!
Photography is a hobby of mine as well. Any ideas where I could go to get pics of deer or other wildlife? How early do I need to be in the woods and how long do I need to 'Be Still'?
Wishing you and all your family a great weekend! :-)
Elaine Fairres
Posted by: Elaine Fairres | December 05, 2009 at 07:35 AM
Mark,
My daughter, Natalie Shoemaker, sent me your Whooping Crane picture. She remembered that we had seen a single Whooping Crane with Sandhill Cranes in Steuben County 5 times in October and early November(see blueheronministries.blogspot.com). Could this be the same bird? I did not have powerful enough glasses to see the number.
Nate Simons
Executive Director
Blue Heron Ministries
Posted by: Nathan Simons | December 07, 2009 at 07:37 AM