Ferrara Wildlife Photography

African Lions – A Typical Feline Gesture

A Typical Feline Gesture On a crisp morning in Kenya’s East Masai Mara, a pride of African Lions idly basked in the warming rays of a radiant sun. When finished playing with its mother’s wiggling tail tip, a rambunctious youngster proceeded toward the fore-end of the patient parent cat and gently rubbed its chin and malar glands on the lioness’ face … in a typical feline gesture. ~ Anecdote and African Lions capture, A Typical Feline Gesture © Jerry L. Ferrara

Rub-a-dub On the distant marge of Alaska’s interface with the frigid Arctic Ocean, Polar Bears gathered in anticipation of the forming ice pack. In many instances their coats were quite dirty and there was no snow on the ground , yet … not the best of circumstances and settings for photography. Then it snowed. Rub-a-dub, its coat wears mud When come the snows, the bruin knows To make it clean, a roll it seems Is all it takes, and fine it makes ~ Anecdote, poem and Polar Bear capture, Rub-a-dub © Jerry L. Ferrara

Winter Visitor This woodland species, the Ruffed Grouse, has been spending time in our forest. The winter visitor has also been a regular below the seed tray feeder and suet stations, dining on fare scattered by the Northern Flickers, Chickadees and Nuthatches. ~ Anecdote and Ruffed Grouse capture, Winter Visitor © Jerry L. Ferrara

All Together Forty-three years ago this coming Spring, I made this capture of a Burrowing Owl family on Kodachrome 64 film. While one of the adults [far left] took a much-deserved rest, the youngsters paused briefly in a rare moment of catching them all together. ~ Anecdote and Burrowing Owl family capture, All Together © Jerry L. Ferrara

Feathers Employed to keep both warm and dry Bird feathers help some ply the sky A showy garb attracts a mate A drab one shapes a ‘camo’ state Winnow in the heavens above While feathers sing a song of love Important seems to keep them clean So diligent becomes the preen ~ Poem and White Pelican capture, Feathers © Jerry L. Ferrara

A Radiator of Sorts A Toco Toucan pauses briefly on a tree limb in Brazil’s Pantanal. While its bill is a prominent, “showy” item, research indicates the organ may also help regulate the bird’s body temperature acting as a radiator of sorts. ~ Toco Toucan capture, A Radiator of Sorts © Jerry L. Ferrara

A Steely Stare Wary may the Red Fox be Uncertain what its gaze does see So leery while it takes a stance Deducing whether it should chance Investigate or pass on by A measured look from chary eyes Wild and wary it moves with care When caught it gives a steely stare ~ Poem and Red Fox capture, A Steely Stare © Jerry L. Ferrara

Look Who Showed Up Look who showed up this morning [12-25-22]. Great Christmas gift. Merry Christmas!! ~ Anecdote and Moose capture, Look Who Showed Up © Jerry L. Ferrara

Tranquility Tranquility governed the landscape as the Alaskan Brown Bear lumbered along the placid interface of lake and land. A very gentle breeze caused small waves to gently lick the shore. The clouds overhead and in the background were halcyon to the eye while the distant brightening sky, from a sun not quite exposed, boldly announced the coming day. ~ Anecdote and Alaskan Brown Bear capture, Tranquility © Jerry L. Ferrara

SHOT FROM THE FILE

African Lions – A Typical Feline Gesture

Polar Bear – Rub-a-dub

Ruffed Grouse – Winter Visitor

Burrowing Owl – All Together

White Pelican – Feathers

Toco Toucan – A Radiator of Sorts

Red Fox – A Steely Stare

Moose – Look Who Showed Up

Red Fox – Merry Christmas

Alaskan Brown Bear – Tranquility