The Whoopers Are Back
After a 2,500 mile plus trip from Canada’s Northwest Territories and Alberta, mainly Wood Buffalo National Park, the Whooping Cranes, the tallest North American bird, have returned to their Texas winter home, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, north of Rockport, Texas.
I had the opportunity to photograph these Whooping Cranes while driving around on the Lamar Peninsula near Goose Island State Park which is across Saint Charles Bay from the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge located on Matagorda Island.
The photographs are of adult Whoopers and one juvenile. The adults are white with black wing tips and legs; the juvenile is reddish brown and white also with black wing tips and legs.
Call upon your imagination and pretend you are watching these graceful birds gently glide above and softly touch down.
Click on the photograph to enlarge.
Michael, I cannot believe how you got these shots. I need to try that “fast clicking” on my camera – if I can find it. And they are certainly “gently gliding” before “softly” touching down.
Beautiful! I hope to get to see them in person, you and Carol too!
What magnificence! Absolutely beautiful creatures. Thank you. Thank you for the terrific photos.
Oh, I love their majestic elegance!!! And the parents have to get credit for teaching their child so well!!! He looks exactly as they do in all flight modes…? How tall are they?
Truly wonderful, Mike. Wow. They look like they are dancing in a couple of these. Happy New Year, dear friends.
These pictures are fantastic. Would love to see them.
Outstanding pictures, as usual! I love the nickname “Whoopers!”
very lovely area, aransas, and very beautiful birds, whoopers. i bet they are tired after their flight down south.