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
Just As The Light Passed Away It was deep in the terminus of a clement day. The sun had retired from the haze-filled horizon but its faltering remains still dwelt in the landscape. We moved without hurry. Our hope was for a glimpse at “something” in the dwindling crepuscular light. That “something” almost always seemed to appear just as aspirations waned. As the path meandered this way and that, a stark visual presentation materialized against the monochromatic sky. Silently, a Great Horned Owl sat stoically in the barren branches of a tree…a perfect effigy of a predator in waiting. It was both a thrill and a fortunate moment, just as the light passed away. ~ Anecdote and Great Horned Owl image, Just As The Light Passed Away © 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
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
I caught this Coyote hunting early one morning and it gave me a quick look … A Predator’s Look While my nose points the way to the vermin at bay My ears will be found to hear every sound Yet my eyes cannot hide my true feelings inside So a predator’s look should not be mistook ~ Poem and Coyote capture, A Predator’s Look © 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