Ferrara Wildlife Photography

Timber Wolf – Stare Down

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

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

Mighty Sprite The Northern Pygmy Owl is one of the smallest owl species on the North American continent being only about six inches in stature. In spite of its elfin size, it is capable of dispatching and carrying off prey that is much larger than itself. It is truly a mighty sprite of the woodlands. I may be small but don’t be fooled for in my tiny frame, I pack a punch compared to some that puts them quite to shame. I roam the woods and forest breaks while constantly in search, and from atop the highest stands I wait upon my perch. So when the mousy beasties dash across the open tract, I rocket off my waiting post and there commit the act. It’s swift and sure and if my prey is larger than am I, I have no doubt that I will take it up when I do fly. ~ Anecdote, poem and Northern Pygmy Owl capture, Mighty Sprite © Jerry L. Ferrara. Selle Valley, Bonner County, Idaho

Perfection’s Never Bought To make a score requires more than aptitude and skill. A master knows, results will show from practice and great will. To dance the sky as eagles ply and snare a fish on wing, demonstrates what practice makes: rehearse is everything. Yet when a feat becomes complete and done without a thought, a master’s guess is not to rest, perfection’s never bought. ~ Poem and Bald Eagle capture, Perfection’s Never Bought © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the book, Wild North Idaho: Season of the Eagle

Calling Card The Bengal Tiger pregnantly paused at the forest’s enigmatic edge, but the stop was only brief. Turning toward the nearest tree, the cat sniffed at the trunk’s bark. The creature’s eyes then rolled back in its head, its nose went up in the air and a silly grin adorned its face. Turning with its hindquarters pointed at the tree, the predator raised its sinewy tail and liberally sprayed. It was merely leaving its “calling card”. ~ Anecdote and Bengal Tiger capture, Calling Card © Jerry L. Ferrara

Melancholy Song There were extended periods when the snowfall was so dense that vision beyond twenty yards was totally obscured. Yet, something existed in that mysterious icy melee … something wraith-like that moved eerily in the manner of a shapeless shadow progressing across an ill-lit window shade. When the cloaking curtain of the flurry lifted, the secret specter emerged in the embodiment of a magnificent Timber Wolf. It was then that the stunningly beautiful creature, with snow-clad coat, pointed its tapered muzzle skyward and gave voice to a deeply stirring melancholy song. As the mournful aria went on, the blinding tempest resumed and once again the blustery snow veiled the view. What lingered within the faceless leaden gloom was a soulful cry that slowly faded into oblivion. ~ Anecdote and Timber Wolf capture, Melancholy Song © 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

Johnny One-Note This is a Nuthatch [sp. Red-breasted]. It was Vicki’s grandmother’s favorite bird. Nanny called it “Johnny One-Note” because of its characteristic, repeated one-note nasally call. Every time we hear the species vocalizing we are reminded of this great lady. ~ Anecdote and Red-breasted Nuthatch capture, Johnny One-Note © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Feathered Fierceness On the marge of an island forest, a predator does wait Its very essence proves malintent, its goal is but to sate And so the ‘feathered fierceness’ does patiently abide Waits it for those who unaware come forth from where they hide ~ Poem and Great Horned Owl capture, The Feathered Fierceness © Jerry L. Ferrara

Uncategorized

Timber Wolf – Stare Down

Osprey – Shedding Water

Puma – Its Prey Had Arrived

Northern Pygmy Owl – Mighty Sprite

Bald Eagle – Perfection’s Never Bought

Bengal Tiger – Calling Card

Timber Wolf – Melancholy Song

Black-tailed Prairie Dog – All’s Well

Red-breasted Nuthatch – Johnny One-Note

Great Horned Owl – The Feathered Fierceness