Wildlife - KNOWLEDGE AND LIGHT

Wildlife

American Avocet
An American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) at sunrise, Lake Bowdoin, Montana, May 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 5764 x 3843 pixels.
Pintail Ducks
A breeding pair of Pintail Ducks (Anas acuta) at sunrise on Lake Bowdoin, Montana May 2018 . Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS II, ISO 800, 1/5000 second @ f/5.6, image size 6616 x 4411 pixels.
Canada Geese
Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) at dawn at Lake Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana May 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS II, ISO 400, 1/125 second @ f/8, image size 5119 x 3413 pixels.
Yellow Headed Blackbird
A male Yellow Headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) and Cattails at Shiloh Conservation Area, Billings, Montana May 2018. Xanthocephalus is derived from the Greek words "xanthos" and "cephalus" meaning yellow and head respectively.
Mountain Blue Bird
Male Mountain Blue Bird (Sialia currucoides) near Gardiner Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4 x, ISO 800, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 5033 x 3355 pixels.
Mountain Blue Bird
Female Mountain Blue Bird (Sialia currucoides) near Gardiner Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4 x, ISO 800, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 4317 x 2878 pixels.
American Avocet
An American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) shakes the snow from it's wings during a spring squall in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/500 second @ f/5.6, image size 5919 x 3946 pixels.
Face Off
A pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in a dominance struggle, Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS, RRS TVC 33 tripod, ISO 640, 1/6400 second @ f/5.6, image size 5485 x 3697 pixels.
Sandhill Cranes
Just after sunset from an elevated hide, I was watching the cranes slowly fly in and gather for their nightly roost. A thirty second exposure and mosaic of sunset hues and reflections came together to create an intriguing impression of the roosting cranes. I spent every night of my visit watching and listening to the "fly in" of thousands of cranes engaged in their remarkable ancient cycle of daily life. Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS, ISO 320, 30 seconds @ f/32, image size 6741 x 3124 pixels.
Sandhill Cranes
I observed that Sandhill Crane aggression is more posturing and acrobatics than actual physical contact. I witnessed dozens of ninja-like kick boxing episodes and rarely observed actual physical contact among the combatants. On several occasions I did observe the beak grabbing behavior that is depicted in this image. Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4 x, RRS TVC 33 tripod, ISO 640, 1/4000 second @ f/8.
Heermann's Gull
The magnificent countenance of Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni), La Jolla, California January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm + 1.4x III, ISO 640, 1/800 second @ f/8, image size 5070 x 3380 pixels.
Headthrow
A California Brown Pelican engaged in "head throw" behavior. Pelicans frequently toss their heads backwards, open their beaks, and expand their gular pouch. The maneuver is most likely a means to maintain the health and elasticity of pouch skin, La Jolla, California, February 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/640 second @ F/7.1, image size 4480 x 6082 pixels.
Double Crested Cormorant
Double Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), La Jolla, California February, 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/320 second @ F/8, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
Preening Pelican
A California Brown Pelican (Pelicans occidentals) preening on the cliffs at La Jolla, California February 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/1000 second @ f/5.6. Note that the gular pouch (throat) skin is vibrant red during mating season; the colors in this image have not been enhanced.
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane calling in flight at Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/3200 @ f/5.6, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
Brandt's Cormorant
Bright blue gular pouch skin that matches eyes and lore enhance the magnificent countenance of this animal. Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) La Jolla, California, February, 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/100second @ F/8.
Brandt's Cormorant and Newly Hatched Chick
Newly hatched Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) on the cliffs at La Jolla, California, February 2018 Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/250 second @ F/8, image size 5331 x 3554 pixels.
Gray Ghost
A Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Silhouette Dancer
At sunrise, a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) dances across the water in anticipation to fly. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.
Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
A Hyperphagic Black Bear Pursuing Autumn Hawthorn Berries, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. http://www.knowledgeandlight.com/JOURNAL/Black-Bears-and-Hawthorn-Berries/
Mallard Drake
A Mallard Drake (Anas platyrhynchos) in flight, Yellowstone County, Montana.
Soul Mates
Sandhill Cranes form monogamous pair bonds, they mate for life and remain together year around. This pair of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) silently forage as they wade a "Crane Pool" at sunrise. Sandhill Cranes spend each night roosting in water safe from coyotes and other predators.
Fair Beauty
A magnificent light colored Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Marbled Godwit
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) at Morro Bay, California.
Unchallenged
A Bighorn Sheep Ram's (Ovis canadensis) skull is an engineering marvel; shock absorbing horn design, thick cortical bone, strategically placed trabecular bone, sinus cavities, and a multitude of unfused cranial sutures protect the combatants from brain injuries and death. North Fork Shoshone River, Wyoming.
Dark Beauty
The gene that is responsible for the dark or melanistic phase of a red fox is apparently pleiotropic (responsible for many traits) because melanistic red fox have larger tails, extra hair on the bottom of their paws, and thick curly ventral (chest and abdominal) hair. Although the "cross fox" has a unique appearance and characteristics, they are the same species as the "red fox" (Vulpes vulpes).
Serenity
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), La Jolla, California January 2016. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these delicate beauties were nearly hunted to extinction; their elegant snow white feathers were highly prized for fashionable hat decorations. In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act provided them protection and by the mid 20th century, snowy egret populations were beginning to recover. Today, they inhabit the majority of their original range and snowy egret populations are stable.
Peace and Harmony
Winner 2016 Audubon Photography Contest; my award winning image "Eared Grebes" is presently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. Additionally, it is published in both Audubon (May/June 2016) and Nature's Best Photography Magazine (Fall 2016). The image will be on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History until November 2017. Eared Grebes" was photographed on Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. https://www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2016/the-2016-audubon-photography-awards-winners
Montana Song Dog
Coyote (Canis latrans), Gallatin Mountains, Montana February 2016. The species name "latrans" is Latin and means barker or yapper; anyone familiar with wildlife knows that coyotes are accomplished vocalists. In Montana they are often affectionately referred to as "song dogs". The genus Canis is Latin and means dog; coyotes are members of the dog family Canidae.
Crested Beauty
Bald Eagles and raptors were not the only birds affected by the use of DDT; in fact hundreds of species were adversely affected and during the 1960’s and 70’s, the California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) was facing extinction. DDT disrupts calcium metabolism resulting in defective egg shell development. The thin shelled eggs were either incompatible with life or broken during incubation; in either case the thin shells resulted in reproductive failure. In 1971, the Brown Pelican was listed as an endangered species and in 1972, DDT was banned; because of conservation efforts, the Brown Pelican population is now strong and viable. In 2009, nearly 40 years after Brown Pelicans were listed as endangered, they were removed from the Federal endangered species list. Pelicans remain vulnerable to chemicals, oil spills and nesting disruptions as they will hastily abandon their nest and eggs when disturbed, La Jolla, California. http://www.knowledgeandlight.com/JOURNAL/La-Jolla-California/

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