Spring Renovation Home restoration is often a dirty job. Here, an industrious Columbian Ground Squirrel pauses during spring renovation of its burrow, den and mound. The soil on its front paws and heaped on the bridge of its nose and top of its head is telltale of its earth-moving methodology. One quick glance and the high-spirited rodent resumed excavation. ~ Anecdote and Columbian Ground Squirrel capture, Spring Renovation © Jerry L. Ferrara
To Build A Home Those of us who make our home in and around the beauty of North Idaho, and particularly near the watery environs of the awesome Pend Oreille, have the privilege of sharing this magnificent part of the planet with a most interesting, part-time local resident known variously as the Osprey, Fish Hawk or Pandion haliaetus. Globally cosmopolitan, the Fish Hawk is a true international entity for the Osprey nation inhabits all continents but one, that being Antarctica. When they return annually to our locale, generally from parts south, they industriously engage themselves in the duty of nest construction for to build a home is a major investment … the pivotal point from which they create, maintain, and nuture their kind … their future … their destiny. ~ Anecdote and Osprey capture, To Build A Home © Jerry L. Ferrara
Spoils In Talon After diving into the water, the Osprey was having a bit of difficulty releasing itself from the lake’s grasp. Suddenly it popped from the fluid surface and off it labored, clutching its spoils in talon. ~ Anecdote and Osprey capture, Spoils In Talon © Jerry L. Ferrara
Feather Maintenance Preening is an important aspect of feather maintenance. In the capture, a male Tree Swallow [one of our native bird species] runs a flight feather through its beak during the act of feather grooming. By doing so, the swallow is more than likely anointing the plume with oil from its uropygial gland [oil gland] or it may be simply re-conforming the feather’s structure … or both. ~ Anecdote and Tree Swallow capture, Feather Maintenance © Jerry L. Ferrara
Harvest While photographing in North Idaho’s scenic Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, I encountered a flock of Cedar Waxwings along Myrtle Creek. Their distinctive trilling calls from the hedge rows were what first caught my attention and alerted me to their presence. Looking closer revealed they were harvesting the ripening choke cherries. In this capture, a waxwing had just gathered a fruit before gobbling it down. ~ Anecdote and Cedar Waxwing capture, Harvest © Jerry L. Ferrara
Take-out Much of the time the Bald Eagle carries its prey by its talons, but in this case it chose an alternate method and its “take-out” was conveyed by mouth. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, Take-out © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Wind Dancer Handsome and elegant come to mind when I see the Black Tern. Little creatures of freshwater marshes, their distinctive call is a harbinger of late spring. They arrive, breed, rear their young and just as suddenly as they appear, they vanish. Their journey takes them to the wetlands of Mexico and Central America for the winter. When I first tried capturing Black Terns as images, it proved a daunting task. Their flight patterns are anything but linear and predictable. Erratic is more the rule, or maybe an unchoreographed free-style dance would be a more fitting description. I caught this one in mid-ethereal flight as it danced across the wind. ~ Anecdote and Black Tern capture, The Wind Dancer © Jerry L. Ferrara
Wings Aloft Feathers spread with grace divine Wings aloft by Grand Design ~ Poem and Bald Eagle capture, Wings Aloft © Jerry L. Ferrara
Across The Tranquil Marsh On a brisk autumn morning, as the sun burned off the brume, a pair of Moose casually made their way across the tranquil marsh. ~ Anecdote and Moose capture, Across The Tranquil Marsh © Jerry L. Ferrara
Tranquil Did The Predator Wait Gently fell the silken snow and quietude saturated the soft silent surroundings. In the midst of the serene storm sat a steadfast spirit. Tranquil did the predator wait. ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, Tranquil Did The Predator Wait © Jerry L. Ferrara