A photo with flaws that delights me anyway.
1/640, f/9, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This is an older photo of a pair of Sandhill Cranes taken shortly after sunrise along the Antelope Island causeway. It was early spring so courtship displays were on the agenda. The male in the background was performing one of several courtship displays collectively referred to as Dancing. This display in particular is called the Vertical Leap.
I love the warm early morning light highlighting the always interesting behavior. The male was calling as he danced and just looking at the image causes me to hear that haunting call in my head. Sandhill Crane calls have been variously described as trumpeting, bugling, rattling or croaking but no descriptor I can think of fully conveys the volume or the quality of the sound produced by mature Sandhill Cranes. If you’ve heard it in a wild setting you know exactly what I mean.
The image has several features I’d call flaws, including the shaded face of the male with no light in his eye and the fact that his feet are hidden by the female so it’s hard for the viewer to fully appreciate just how far he’d leaped vertically.
The fact that we can see just about the exact portion of his missing feet and legs in his reflection at the bottom of the frame just doesn’t quite cut it for me…
Ron
Note: If this photo looks familiar to some viewers it’s because I used to have some photo thumbnails similar to it in an image panel on the rotating banner at the top of my blog. I lost the rotating banner function when my old blog theme was no longer supported so I had to change themes. I miss that banner.
This photo wasn’t in the banner and is new to my blog.
what a beautiful story is told here! A nice image to end the year with and I wish you the best in the new year.
Thank you, Jane. I wish the same for you.
Such a great image as we change calendars. 🙂 The excitement is in his wings! If I were a female Sandhill Crane, he’d definitely be turning my head.
I appreciate your posts and your friendship that have provided a soothing balm during this past year. ❤️
Much appreciated, Marty. Thanks.
I have take many shots of Sandhill cranes, but none approach the lighting and story in yours. Wow. Have another year of fantastic photography!
Thank you on both counts, Kent.
Everything about cranes is delightful and memorable. The Greater Sandhill subspecies breeds mostly in eastern Oregon and Lessers pass overhead where we live on their way to and from Canada. Nearly 45 years ago I was driving through eastern Oregon and had to pull to the side of the highway just at dusk because a flock of Sandhills heading north was landing in a field nexg to the highway to spend the night. As darkness closed in we watched as more and more cranes kept coming in. When the last of them finally settled in, we estimated that there were over 10,000 cranes standing in that field (and too dark for photos). The sound was incredible. I got up early the next morning to drive back before dawn to get photos but they had all left by the time I arrived. It was an absolutely amazing sight and sound that will always live fresh in my mind.
Have a great new year!
Wow, what an experience Dan!
I love the lighting, the cranes stand out so nicely against the blue background. Again one of my favorite experiences. I went to Kearney along the Platte River in Nebraska to see the mass migrations of sandhill cranes. I drove by myself, no one else wanted to go. I have to say it was one of the best trips I ever took! The cranes were incredible! I did what an when I wanted without regards to anyone else and I met amazing people. I hope to go again.
April, I remember when you took that trip and how much you enjoyed it.
The diagonal shadow-to-light transition is neat.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen such disheveled feathers as those on the breast and underwing of the male. I think she’s saying “Go do some preening and let’s try this again.” On the other hand those tail feathers on her could use some work.
Lyle, those ‘disheveled’ feathers are one of the things I really like about the image because of the texture they provide in the side light.
The diagonal shadow-to-light transition is an interesting element. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a bird with such disheveled feathers as the breast and underwing on the male. I’m pretty sure the female is saying “Go preen yourself and let’s try it again.” On the other hand those tail feathers on her could use some work.
I WOULD be impressed if I was his lady. Impressed by his beauty and his athleticism.
And, New Year’s Day is here. It hasn’t dawned yet (and she found her way in without my assistance) but I am hoping for a much, much happier, more hopeful and healthier year to come – for you, for all your readers, and for the world.
Happy New Year in Oz, EC.
Loved seeing the leap–very impressive ! All of the years I lived in Albuquerque
I looked forward each November to hearing the approach of the cranes migrating high above the
path of the Rio Grande– even when they were flying so high that one could barely
SEE them, their haunting chorus was audible above the city noise…It was as if
they were crying ‘Onward to the Bosque del Apache Refuge, and months of
dancing and feasting !”
Bosque is well known for cranes. I’ve never been there.
I get to see these gorgeous birds a lot here in Rio Rancho. The call they make in the air sounds like wind in the wires. It is eerie.
It is indeed.
I love this, missing feet and eye light be damned (LOL!)! I’ve been blessed to have seen and heard this lovely magic once, and like you say, their dancing and pleading calls really stuck in my memory. What a delight!!
The folks (including the planted folks) outside never cease to bring magic to our lives! All we have to do is get out there and revel in it!
That memory also makes me giggle in the context that we really are far more alike than we are different! Whether blatant or subtle, courting behaviors across species are really laughable–in a good way. Living in the D/FW area, I couldn’t help but guffaw at the male grackles who went to great lengths to show off all their beautiful feathers to prospective mates. For their part, the females continued feeding with a “yeah, yeah, yeah–I’ll let you know” attitude. Just too funny! And we’ve all seen similar human behaviors 😉
And then, there’s sage grouse! I haven’t yet heard those but they’re on my bucket list!
Asking 2021 to be a better year shouldn’t be too difficult. Twenty-twenty set the bar pretty darn low! I truly have great hope for the future of this country, at least for the next four years beginning Jan. 20th!! At the same time, I’m also fearful because a bunch of really dangerous people are running around with mayhem on their minds!
BTW, you mentioned missing green yesterday (?). Welcome to my world!! I’m even considering the possibility of another cross-country move to get back to trees, a wider variety of songbirds and GREEN. The downside is you have to mow it unless you want to risk raising the ire of other humans. There’s also the idea of moving. I haven’t recovered from this move yet. It would help if I could stay away from hospitals this coming year!!
I hope you get your chance with Sage Grouse, Laura. That’s one you won’t forget either.
You seem to be more optimistic about 2021 than I am but then I’m a die hard pessimist.
It actually started snowing here very early this morning so I have white back again. There isn’t much of it but it mostly covers the ground.
VBG! Beautiful flaws an all. They are a sight to behold and listen to. 😀 The past few years we’ve had some “fly overs” and brief stops up in the field. They do summer near Augusta, MT as well as Belt now.
Judy, I’ve only rarely seen cranes anywhere near Cut Bank. Not their preferred habitat I guess.
Just been recent years that I see them here. Think Medicine Lake area in the eastern part of the state has a large population tho not sure if it’s just for migration or the season.
We had the pleasure of hearing a bunch of sandhill cranes near Bandelier National Monument:outside of Santa Fe back in February, and I’ll never forget their wonderful calls.
It’s a memorable event that’s for sure.
We see the cranes in and around Park City every summer. They see to be okay with a human approaching them for photos. It’s always a thrill! Ron, your photo is cool.
Thanks, Linda.
Delightful it is! It is a pleasure to watch the antics and how contagious the dancing can become if there is a group of them. Before you know it every one is leaping, bowing, and as you said the sounds can be mesmerizing. It is one of nature’s gifts and well worth the watch.
“how contagious the dancing can become”
Kathy, I’ve yet to join in the dancing but I’ve been tempted… 🙂
I certainly can understand your disappointment re: the feet. On the other hand, just being able to witness such a thing is marvelous. I count myself lucky if I find a pair just hanging around in a field looking at one another!
Yeah, those ‘missing’ feet are a bummer.
Interesting that I did not notice his feet at the bottom until I read where you mention it. I definitely remember seeing her feet on my first look, but not his. Shows that you don’t see everything at a glance. As you point out, not a perfect photo, but definitely a colorful and interesting one.
Thanks and best wishes for a very happy New Year and a better 2021 than this one.
“a better 2021 than this one.”
That won’t require much improvement will it Everett. Thanks.