flight training

Finally, sunrise!
  
  

An eagle was watching the fog lift.  
  
  

Caitlin was on the phone checking with the ultra-light pilot to make sure the fog wouldn't prevent him from flying this morning. All systems were go & we proceeded to an observation platform.
  
  

After about a half hour the ultra-light passed us on its way to the Whooping Crane pen with juveniles waiting to "follow the leader."
  
  

Within minutes the ultra-light returned with the first group of four Whooping Cranes practicing to follow the knowledgeable "adult."
  
  

Note the white suit disguise on the pilot. It does appear to fool the juvenile Whoopers.
  
  

Next we will meet the pilot & the second group of cranes.

found 'em!

The running joke in our group was when Stan said the van would leave at 5:30, some of us would respond with, "P.M., right?" Wrong!
We were on our way and entered Necedah National Wildlife Refuge well before sunrise. After picking up our guides Caitlin & Jess at the Refuge's headquarters, we were off to find Whooping Cranes in the wild. The mist or fog was extremely heavy. Nevertheless, we encountered our first pair of Whoopers within a short time. In the cool & silent fog they made me think of ghost birds. What do you think?

As we approached sunrise, the fog began to lift.
  
  

And we came upon this second pair.
  
  

I was so excited to see these rare birds in the wild.


Next:  teaching Whooping Crane chicks to migrate

looking for Whooping Cranes in the wild

Upon leaving the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI, we headed to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge where Operation Migration funds research into migration of Whoopers via ultralight aircraft acting as surrogate adult birds.

One of our many stops upon entering the Refuge was this oak savanna which is the home of many, and I mean MANY, Red-headed Woodpeckers. Above, Stan is explaining to us how the Red-heads' behavior is different from most other woodpeckers.


Unfortunately, we didn't have the time to get good closeups of these beautiful birds.

Stan also taught us how to identify vultures by their flight rather than just "looks" when they are far away.
  
  

Eventually, Stan found two Whooping Cranes in the wild. Yes, see the white dot in the above photo which was taken with a 400mm lens + 1.4x converter. Below is a greatly cropped picture.
  
  

Obviously, we wanted to do better than this, but that would have to wait until tomorrow.
  
  

  
  

Whooping Cranes

The best exhibit at the International Crane Foundation is reserved for our North American Whooping Crane. One could spend hours just watching these graceful, magnificent birds. (L 44-51" WS 79-91")

  

  

   
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  

next, we look for Whooping Cranes in the wild   

more cranes

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Depending upon the size of the above photo on your monitor, you might be able to see my reflection -- and -- the chain link fence through which I had to take most of my photos. To minimize the effects of the fence I ended up with a lot of closeups, as you can see.

   

  Now for the main reason I came on this trip:

our own Whooping Crane

  

  
 more to follow

in search of Whooping Cranes

Last weekend I was lucky to get a spot on one of Stan Tekiela's tours. Stan is a prolific author on all things nature and an excellent professional photographer. You can read more about his various ventures on his Nature Smart website and find his books in all book stores. This was an overnight tour to Wisconsin concentrating on Whooping Crane preservation and reintroduction into the wild.

Our group of eleven, including Stan, left Eden Prairie, MN before 5:30 a.m. (Stan believes in little sleep & lots of birding.) The above shot was somewhere in Wisconsin from our van traveling at ??? mph towards the sunrise & cranes. We were due for a tour at the International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI at 10 a.m. and arrived 30 min. early. The Foundation is the home for specimens of each of the 15 crane species in the world, including two from North America -- the Sandhill and Whooping Crane. However, it is not a zoo, but rather a research center dedicated to the preservation of all cranes. Below are photos of some of them; for identification, click on this link. Although I was not able to get shots of each species, below are some examples. I will continue posting others the next day or so.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

more to follow

ferns

  

  

  

Carlos Avery this morning

photography challenge

Want to become a better photographer? Join @tasradawson and the http://tasra365.com challenge! (I joined!)

emerging photographer

the new Canon EOS 7D DSLR

I'm a little late in posting the announcement of this new camera from Canon. To see how it stacks up against other Canons as well as DSLR from other manufacturers, click here.

the turkeys came back this morning

  

  

  

Sandhill Cranes at Carlos Avery

Sandhill Cranes at Carlos Avery WMA this morning

this morning at my window

   

   

     

  

  

Juvenile Wild Turkey with mom

histogram

Use the histogram on your DSLR. Here is one reason why.

more from Lake Superior

 Canon Xti  70mm  f/4  1/4000  ISO: 200  

   

   

Canon Xti  200mm  f/6.3  1/4000  ISO: 200

  

  

  

Canon Xti  400mm  f/8  1/500  ISO: 200

remote control for your DSLR

Think of the possibilities for unusual and great photos if you did not have to hold your camera but could operate it with your iPhone or iTouch and even look through the viewfinder (selected models) from some distance. I have been aware of this program for a while, but the newly released version has me excited. Take a look at Moose Peterson's review here and the developers site here.

Wordless Wednesday on Lake Superior

Canon XTi  200mm  f/8  1/800  ISO: 200

the fear of failure

Those of us who enjoy photography are often timid when it comes to taking pictures. What are we afraid of? Is it failure? You may want to read this commentary by Scott Bourne.

Lake Superior

Photo by Anna  Canon XTi  70mm  f/4  1/400  ISO: 200

Earlier this month we spent a few days at Bob's Cabins on Lake Superior (4 mi. south of Two Harbors, MN). It has been a family tradition for us to take the grandkids there. Even though Anna is a teenager and there are no amenities at Bob's, they still enjoy throwing rocks in the Lake.

  

  

Canon XTi  70mm  f/2.8  1/3200  ISO: 100  

There always seem to be some kayakers staying at Bob's Cabins.

  

  

  Canon XTi  200mm  f/2.8  1/4000  ISO: 200

Mergansers maybe? I saw very few birds (not even gulls) at close range during these few days on the Lake.

  

  

Canon XTi  200mm  f/4  1/500  ISO: 100  

  

  

 Canon XTi  70mm  f/2.8  1/4000  ISO: 200

Perhaps one reason for the few birds near the shore. What's the point of these machines?
  

  

Canon XTi  173mm  f/4  1/640  ISO: 200

Even the crow did not appreciate the jet ski.