I'm back! Sorry it's taken so long, but I've been very busy arranging my socks in alphabetical order, memorizing all of my 1400 passwords (I've done 6 so far), searching for the escapees from my rare snail collection (they can't get very far), and other extremely pressing business.
First, allow me to get my seldom-used ego in gear. This is the photo that earned a Blue Ribbon this year at the Ozaukee County Art Exhibit at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. I didn't like it very much but my wife did, so now she's been wearing the ribbon every day at the gym.
There's a Blue Heron heronry on the west side of Wasaukee Road, just north of Donges Bay Road. (And, yes, Wasaukee is the correct spelling.) Anyway, as of today, May 21st., I counted 8 nests containing chicks. The scene is really prehistoric looking, especially since the baby chicks look a lot like their pterodactyl ancestors.
See what I mean?
In about 38 days, the chicks arrived, and they grew very fast.
By the way, you don't see the male, do you?
Family portrait. I know, adorable, right?
Following photos are from the "etc" collection.
Sandhill Cranes dancing at Horicon marsh.
Near the heronry one day I saw this innocent Sandhill being attacked by a war-like Canadian Goose. They're very angry birds, those Canadians!
Escape!
A rare encounter with two Whooping Cranes at Horicon marsh.
Note the ID band on the left ankle.
Epilogue:
It's getting warmer every day in Wisconsin, so get out there and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the birds in your neighborhood or at one of the many parks like Lions Den or the Greenfield Park lagoon. But watch out for the Canadians! Geese, that is.
