Stare Down It was incredible! The female wolf from the Agate pack just kept coming toward me. I literally had to back up to focus as she proceeded into the lens. And then she finally acknowledged my presence, putting her nose down to the snow and staring briefly into my universe. That acknowledgement was from a kindred spirit. No threat or aggression. A simple avowal of recognition. She was beautiful! ~ Anecdote and Gray Wolf capture, Stare Down © Jerry L. Ferrara.
What The Bison Saw What the Bison saw was a universe of grass reckless with abandon wildly undulating while capitulating to the fury of the wind What the Bison saw was fire in the sky raking, arachnid-like arcing bolts that lit the inky night and set the prairie afire What the Bison saw were frozen winter ‘scapes a sea of rimy fur and vast clouds of cottony breath What the Bison saw were packs of Great Plains Wolves that choreographed strategic onslaughts on the fold they took both young and infirm What the Bison saw were indigenous people who drove the panic-stricken herd to death over treacherous cliffs What the Bison saw were iron trails stretching far across the prairie’s face avenues for smoke-belching monsters that spoke of thunder and lead What the Bison saw was a landscape of death tongueless, hideless carcasses scattered liberally to the horizon What the Bison saw was a situation of near extinction yet, from a small group their numbers grew but never like they were … that is what the Bison sees ~ Poem and Bison capture, What The Bison Saw © Jerry L. Ferrara
Sweep the Boreal Aurora Sky While the background for this shot may be reminiscent of those eerie, shadowy curtains of charged particles from the sun [the aurora borealis], it is in reality not the dramatic celestial light show at all but a reflection of the nearby forest on the lake’s glassy surface. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, Sweep the Boreal Aurora Sky © Jerry L. Ferrara
Fire in the Sky It was an incredible, early-evening Nebraskan sky rich with fury as angry storm clouds occluded the earth’s blazing engine. While the sun unhurriedly progressed toward the horizon, the clouds lit up like a raging inferno and it appeared as though there was fire in the sky. At one critical moment, a flock of Sandhill Cranes graced their way through the tempestuous heavens. ~ Anecdote and Sandhill Cranes capture, Fire in the Sky © Jerry L. Ferrara
Stare Down The female Timber Wolf was so incredibly beautiful as she gracefully loped across the sweep parallel to my position. I stood stock still while clicking off image-after-image, but periodically paused just to watch. It wasn’t long before things changed rapidly and the “lupine being” turned directly into my camera and lens. It was breathtaking! In the blink of an eye she had approached to about 16 feet, the closest I could focus with the lens being used. To my chagrin she wouldn’t look directly at me, but constantly surveyed both her sides and toward her back. Without warning the wolf pointed her nose downward and peered in my direction. The stare down was brief, with neither threat nor aggression implied, simply recognition. She then turned and ambled up and over the snow-mantled ridge and melted into the wild realm, like the spirit she was. ~ Anecdote and Timber Wolf capture, Stare Down © Jerry L. Ferrara
Shedding Water During its power dive into the lake, the Osprey missed its target, the fish. Coming up empty, the hawk climbed skyward from the liquid surface. Suddenly it sharply shook its waterlogged body sending a substantial spray of moisture into the atmosphere. It was shedding water. ~ Anecdote and Osprey capture, Shedding Water © Jerry L. Ferrara
All’s Well Furtively, the Black-tailed Prairie Dog exited its underground abode. Sitting soberly on the raised earthen mound surrounding its tunnel entrance, the spunky rodent surveyed the nearby landscape. Then, without foretelling, the prairie ground squirrel launched skyward and gave a “whee-oo” shout … “all’s well”. ~ Anecdote and Black-tailed Prairie Dog capture, All’s Well © Jerry L. Ferrara
Mr. Pugnacious Mr. Pugnacious, You look so audacious with a mask that’s bodacious you give such a scowl. All rodents beware so please do not dare for danger dwells there when he’s on the prowl. Mr. Pugnacious, you are so outrageous. ~ Poem and American Badger capture, Mr. Pugnacious © Jerry L. Ferrara
Briefly Held In Time Along a gently flowing stream in a wild and remote setting on the Alaskan Peninsula, a sow Brown Bear [left] pauses with one of her youngsters [right] to quench their thirsts. The bruins were captured not just by the camera and lens, but were briefly held in time by the aqueous, mirrored surface that idled the untamed domain. ~ Brown Bear capture and anecdote, Briefly Held In Time © Jerry L. Ferrara
Rushing The Western Grebe is a spring and summer visitor to our North Idaho area and one of its most recognized behaviors is the flamboyant courtship performance called “rushing.” The ritual often doesn’t last long but is none-the-less a thrill to view. The mated pair raise themselves up in tandem, arching their backs and cocking their heads atop their beautiful swan-like necks, and with their wings held back, they literally run across the surface of the water. Near the end of the rite the pair slow down and one or both dive below. Here are two Western Grebes I caught in full swing during their “rushing” maneuver. ~ Anecdote and Western Grebes capture, Rushing © Jerry L. Ferrara