Whooping Cranes Chicks Will Be Monitored

photo from Lincoln Journal Star
An article in todays Lincoln Journal Star states

...nine whooper chicks now sport high-tech bling thanks to the work of two avian scientists from The Crane Trust, a conservation organization headquartered on the Platte River near Alda.

And the project marks the first time in 22 years whooping cranes have been banded on their breeding grounds in the Northwest Territories.

snip

The global positioning system transmitters will allow biologists to track the endangered birds as they migrate up and down the continent, revealing new information about where whoopers roost, rest and, more importantly, die.

Researchers know little about the causes of premature death for a species that can live 30 years in the wild. About 80 percent of annual crane mortality occurs during the 2,500-mile spring and fall migrations.

Much more in the article

Home, Again

Plans are what you make until you know what you have done. I was supposed to be in Seattle now, and at a family wedding on Saturday. Miz Winnie had a kerfuffle with other dogs in Dickinson, and so I decided not to go to Seattle where she would be exposed to other dogs, and potential other kerfuffles. She was, at some point before I got her from the rescue group traumatized by other dogs. Thought we were at the point were we might be past that, but, well we aren't. Going to try to find some professional help in solving this problem...

Anyway, I was flipping through the photos that I took on our travels and realized that I had not posted this photo from Fort Niobrara NWR.

It's a just out of the nest Eastern phoebe. There was at least one nestling still in the nest that the mother was feeding.


Isn't he/she cute?

Fresh Out of the Camera-A Rainbow

I was sitting at the computer going through todays photos, and I looked out the motel window and saw a rainbow. Quickly took a couple of photos through the window. Then decided that wasn't going to cut it, so I quickly leashed up Miz W, and headed outside.

Bowdoin NWR

Don't have a lot to show for the last couple of days. Spent part of Thursday and Friday at Bowdoin NWR in Montana. Weather and lighting were not particularly cooperative.

Did get a few shots of this American avocet. Notice the blue legs. Don't they contrast nicely with his other colors?


Black-necked stilts always seem so ungainly


Enroute to Missoula I saw this Trumpeter swans at Blackfoot WPA. There were three foraging together. A lovely sight to behold.

Medicine Lake NWR

Spent Tuesday at Medicine Lake NWR in northeastern Montana. There were lot's of Eared grebes



Here she is with her little one


Little one all by him/herself

Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

Stopped by Ilo NWR Saturday.

This Willet chattered at me as I photographed him.


This Upland sandpiper was posing nicely and I was firing away with the camera when I heard a big pickup approaching. I was mumbling under my breath to myself about it as he passed by. After he was gone and I was looking at the photos I had just taken, I mumbled, thanks pickup guy, you just got me a nice one.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Spent the day, well, I guess I should say yesterday, since it's after midnight, at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is an absolutely awesome place. Most of my photos were of scenery and various mammals. Will be here a couple more days and then am heading to spots where the main focus will be birds.

A couple of posts down, I posted what I called a halfway decent photo of a Lark sparrow. Got a far better one yesterday.

Buffalo Gap National Grassland

Have been in Wall, South Dakota since Monday. Have spent a portion of every day since in Badlands National Park. I have been to the Badlands twice before. Once when I was a teenager, and then the first or second year after I moved to Nebraska. I do not remember being as awestruck by the beauty then. My photos of the Badlands are here.

I have also spent some of my time in Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. The grasslands are south of the national park. The grasslands are where these photos were taken.

An immature Horned lark is proud of the grasshopper he caught


These Lark buntings are really pretty in flight because of the white on their wings

More Fort Niobrara NWR

Two more photos from Fort Niobrara NWR

I finally got a halfway decent shot of Ring-necked pheasant


And the treat of the day was capturing this White-tailed jackrabbit

Ft. Niobrara NWR

I spent part of my day today at Ft. Niobrara NWR. Early in the day it was extremely windy and the blowing sand was getting on everything...me and the camera gear. Birds were singing in areas, but they weren't showing themselves at all. Frustrated, I went back to the motel. Went back in the early evening and things were much pleasant.

The only halfway decent photo from the morning was of this Lark Sparrow


Afternoon photos included this Upland sandpiper


And this Common nighthawk


After tolerating me and the clicking camera, he voiced his displeasure