Puma – Its Prey Had Arrived 

Puma

Its Prey Had Arrived The cat rested serenely on a steep hillside outcrop. Though its view was stunningly commanding, the Puma periodically closed its feline orbs and “cat-napped”. Then, without any provocation, it all at once rose up and steadily stared into the deep distance. Its prey had arrived … hell was about to break loose.  ~ Anecdote and Puma capture, Its Prey Had Arrived © Jerry L. Ferrara 

Light Geese – Below A Silent Crescent Moon

Light Geese

Below A Silent Crescent Moon The icy morning temperature loitered near twenty degrees Fahrenheit as soft calls and gentle murmurings from the Snow Geese drifted languidly across the marsh. Waiting patiently to depart their evening roost, the geese idly “talked” … and then came their cue. Light, from the eastern horizon, brightened as our nearest star began to paint the pre-dawn sky. A pregnant pause in “goose speak” stilled the air waves. The silence, however, was short-lived. What ensued was a spectacular tumult as a storm of wings-by-the-thousands thrashed the air amidst the keyed up cries of the departing geese. As rafts of boisterous birds blew up from the wetland, they passed below a silent crescent moon. ~ Anecdote and Light Geese capture, Below A Silent Crescent Moon © Jerry L. Ferrara

Sandhill Cranes – Dignity and Grace

Sandhill Cranes

Dignity and Grace They stride across the painted marsh with dignity and grace
when eve’s dark vigil passes,
and morning takes its place
The calls and cries of “feathered kind”trumpet through the air as cranes and all the waterfowl chant bliss without a care. ~ Poem and Sandhill Crane capture, Dignity and Grace © Jerry L. Ferrara 

Gray Wolf – To Gorge

Gray Wolf

To Gorge The elk’s moment of mortality had arrived and death hovered close by. Time and age had worked their unrelenting influences on flesh and blood and bone and muscle. Worn was the noble beast.  Each step taken by the arthritis-riddled cervid was a painful endeavor. It could no longer maintain pace with the herd and so the crippled creature lagged behind, its fate sealed by senescence. Down by the river it lingered alone waiting for quietus and that final moment of release. For sure the elk would struggle, but the effort would be futile … and so it was. When the wolves arrived they mercilessly assailed the wapiti with vicious, rending fangs. Relentlessly they targeted haunch, throat and mouth. Tissue tore and crimson fluid spewed the air. The brutal deed was committed with a ferocious savagery, yet the act maintained a sense of pure poetic beauty. The elk’s spirit slipped away. In so doing it left behind a gift in the form of sustenance. What remained were days worth of fare, on which to gorge.  ~ Anecdote and Gray Wolf image To Gorge © Jerry L. Ferrara 

Mule Deer – Ladies of the Evening

Mule Deer

Ladies of the Evening Along the Missouri Breaks, a trio of Mule Deer doe leisurely strolled the rugged ridgeline at sundown. They were Ladies of the Evening set against a painted sky. ~ Anecdote and Mule Deer capture, Ladies of the Evening © Jerry L. Ferrara

Belted Kingfisher – Two Belts

Belted Kingfisher

Two Belts For this Belted Kingfisher, two belts [one rust-brown, one blue-gray] mean the creature is a female. The male counterpart has but one blue-gray belt. This female happened to be making the rounds early one morning when I caught her perched atop a bush. Suddenly she opened her stiletto-style beak and gave out the species’ raucous, clattery call. The hushed morning air was rocked!  ~ Anecdote and Belted Kingfisher capture, Two Belts © Jerry L. Ferrara

Cape Gannet – A Cacophony on Steroids

Cape Gannet

A Cacophony on Steroids The din was disquieting in the Cape Gannet rookery as thousands of these strikingly handsome sea birds quarreled for real estate from which to breed and rear their young — a cacophony on steroids.  ~ Anecdote and Cape Gannet capture, A Cacophony on Steroids © Jerry L. Ferrara. Lambert’s Bay, South Africa  

Black-tailed Prairie Dog – Using Your Head

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Using Your Head In Montana, this Black-tailed Prairie Dog was in the process of playing architect and to accomplish the task, the phrase ”using your head” became quite appropriate. A powerful storm had just passed over and the soaker had drenched the earth. The prairie dog took this opportunity to move the moistened, loosened soil to build up the mound around its burrow. Of course this was facilitated by pushing the dirt into position and then tamping it with its nose and forehead. So … using your head to do the job, in this case, was literally accurate. ~ Anecdote and Black-tailed Prairie Dog capture, Using Your Head © Jerry L. Ferrara

Great Blue Heron – Rejected

Great Blue Heron

Rejected In the rich light of early morning a drama takes place. In a heron rookery, inhabitants know the rulesDo not encroach another’s space or surely be the foolSo give a sign that you belong, lest risk to be inspectedAnd if you aren’t convincing, you’ll surely be rejected ~ Poem and Great Blue Heron capture, Rejected © Jerry L. Ferrara

White-tailed Deer – Running

White-tailed Deer

Running It was very late in the day. Harsh shadows had retired and a coolness permeated the air. It was time to play. That’s exactly what a White-tailed Deer fawn was doing as it enthusiastically dashed before my camera and lens, seemingly running for the pure pleasure of running.  The caper was caught quickly as the youthful creature bolted by. ~ Anecdote and White-tailed Deer capture, Running © Jerry L. Ferrara