A shutter speed of 1/10th of a second allowed me to create an artistic impression of a group of Sandhill Cranes as they take to flight.
Beautiful and elegant seasonal residents, American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) nest in the wetlands of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana.
Question: How do Pelicans keep their feathers healthy and waterproof? Answer: By cleaning and distributing oil from their uropygial gland to their feathers in a behavior known as preening. The uropygial gland is located on their dorsum (back) above the tail; pelicans contort their necks as they reach for the gland with their beaks; the oil is then transferred from the gland to the beak and subsequently distributed to all the feathers via a relentless ritual of rubbing, biting, and stroking their feathers. The oil maintains the health and water resistance of the feathers.
