Rocky Mountain Elk – The Victor and The Vanquished 

Rocky Mountain Elk

The Victor and The Vanquished  They came together in the meadow on a cool and brisk Fall morn A bony lattice each displayed atop their heads adorned Locking weapons the beasts engaged, as calm was torn asunder The battle raged across the ‘scape evocative of thunder
In the moment of defeat the Vanquished turned away
The Victor boldly spoke triumph, giving no leeway ~ Poem and Rocky Mountain Elk capture, The Victor and The Vanquished © Jerry L. Ferrara 

Short-eared Owl – The Gentle Zephyr 

Short-eared Owl

Prelude: On gossamer wings a foraging Short-eared Owl silently swept the slough.  The Gentle Zephyr  The gentle zephyr quietly whispered secrets to the marsh, and the flora within the fen rhythmically rustled its acknowledgment by sensuously swaying to and fro.  Deep in the tangled depths of the wetland’s sedges, furry beasts of diminutive stature tunneled and scurried about in ways only voles understand and know how to do. Their secretiveness was practiced by design, for danger of immense magnitude ominously lurked overhead.  The menace from above came suddenly. It arrived without warning and was calmly delivered along with whispered secrets carried by the gentle zephyr. ~ Anecdote and Short-eared Owl capture, The Gentle Zephyr © Jerry L. Ferrara 

Chestnut-backed Chickadee – Raindrops and Tears

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Raindrops and Tears The air expressed a gentle essence and was shower-bestrewnThe wind was truant and so the moisture plummeted unswervinglyCreatures in the midst of the storm waited with the raindrops and tears ~ Anecdote and Chestnut-backed Chickadee capture, Raindrops and Tears © Jerry L. Ferrara

Northern Flicker – Waiting Out The Storm

Northern Flicker

Waiting Out The Storm Sporting a suave and striking red moustache, a male Northern Flicker waits out a snow storm. The debonair-looking avian is a member of the woodpecker clan [Picidae family]. ~ Anecdote and Northern Flicker capture, Waiting Out The Storm © Jerry L. Ferrara

Polar Bear – Along a Rocky Polar Shore

Polar Bear

Along a Rocky Polar Shore Along a rocky polar shorestrides a beast the shade of hoar.Each day the bruin must face a testof what appears a ceaseless quest.Its massive frame requires much fare,in constant search be the Polar Bear.Along a rocky polar shorestrides a beast the shade of hoar. ~ Poem and Polar Bear capture, Along a Rocky Polar Shore © Jerry L. Ferrara, the Ormholet Channel, Svalbard Arctic Archipelago

Red-breasted Nuthatch – Hoarders, Losers and Winners

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Hoarders, Losers and Winners For years now, we’ve been watching the bird feeders from our back porch. The energy displayed by the participants has been and is huge, especially demonstrated by the chickadees and nuthatches. They’re here at a feeder one moment grabbing an offering and gone in an instant only to return way too soon to have feasted. Perhaps they are storing for a ‘rainy day’? But where? Mystery solved. I finally caught one of the little stinkers [Red-breasted Nuthatch] in the act of pilfering and storing a peanut in the fungal folds of a lichen. Through the brambles and the brushThere always seems to be a rushWith a peanut firm in towOff to store it I will goSome will say I hoard ‘enough’But losers they when times are tough ~ Anecdote, poem and Red-breasted Nuthatch capture, Hoarders, Losers and Winners © Jerry L. Ferrara

American Alligator – Only A Fool

American Alligator

Only A Fool Only a fool will go near the poolwhere there waits a dark, lurking monster.Fourteen feet long, bearing jaws steely strongcould very well end in disaster. ~ Poem and American Alligator capture, Only A Fool © Jerry L. Ferrara

Bald Eagle – From An Alabaster Throne [Wintertide]

Bald Eagle

From An Alabaster Throne [Wintertide] In the wondrous quietude of a tender wintertide storm, a magnificent spirit surveys its serene surroundings from an alabaster throne. While making this image, the thing I recall most is not the visual experience. It was the auditory state that was most compelling, or more accurately, lack thereof. The impact of total silence married to the Eagle’s presence was breathtakingly beautiful. MERRY CHRISTMAS! ~ Anecdote and Bald Eagle capture, From An Alabaster Throne [Wintertide] © Jerry L. Ferrara

Bald Eagle – Perfection’s Never Bought

Bald Eagle

Perfection’s Never Bought To make a score requires morethan aptitude and skill.A master knows, results will showfrom practice and great will.To dance the sky as eagles plyand snare a fish on wing,demonstrates what practice makes:rehearse is everything.Yet when a feat becomes completeand 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