Whooping Cranes Round 1

Maestro · January 24, 2009

I am becoming obsessed with getting good images of these stately cranes. I had tried to go in December but my buddy who runs the charter service was visiting family in OK. So when he contacted me about a quick trip last weekend I jumped at it. I know I am preaching to the choir, but these whooping cranes represent the only remaining wild flock left in the world. At present the number of whooping cranes on the Central Texas coast is 268. It was 270 but during the last count of Jan 8 the biologists found two dead cranes, one adult and one juvenile. This is my second trip to see them. The weather was great, chilly, but nice and sunny. I actually saw less whooping cranes this year. I only saw about 10 or so. Last year I was able to view at least 25. However I was able to get closer to them.

This next set of images were captured while in "stalking" mode. This family of cranes was located in a small cove in very shallow water along with the Texas Intracoastal Highway. Matagorda Island is to my back and in the far background is Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The boat operator let me off about 250 yards away from them on a small barrier island that bordered this cove. The water was low so I was able to creep along the mudflats. As a got closer I went down on my hands and knees eventually stopping and shooting images in a prostrate position on top of a berm.

Moving a bit closer...

Still closer....

Now here I am just about 30 yards from them. They seemed comfortable with me although they did start to honk a bit. They never took off. I could have shot images until sundown I think but the mud and water in my shoes and pants from the knee down were bothering me.

kgarrett11 · January 24, 2009

Nice shots. I really like #3.

PrescottPhotog · January 24, 2009

Maestro wrote:

I am becoming obsessed with getting good images of these stately cranes.

Excellent..

Wonderful shots Stephen, especially the stalking, closer and closer. I'm glad they stayed for your shots.

Sometimes the end results warrant a little mud in the shoes..

Thanks for the narrative and descriptions, it always nice to hear the story behind difficult captures..

Giphsub · January 24, 2009

Hey, great set Stephen!

I really like #1 Very cool colouring. You are lucky to have a mate who can take you out to see these birds!

Maestro · January 24, 2009

kgarrett11 wrote:

Nice shots. I really like #3.

Thank you, thank you.

redleash · January 24, 2009

I'm so jealous, Stephen. I went to Aransas once when we first moved here and saw two white dots afar--I was told they were whoopers. Being this close, I need to go every year!

As always, your shots are superb. I especially like the closeup one, with the crane twisting its head upside down. It's a wonderful capture, and definitely worth the time and mud! (Says I, who is merely the viewer.)

Cheers,
Lauren

dbaker1221 · January 24, 2009

well done Stephen!!! love the 1st shot

bfjr · January 24, 2009

#1 & #3 get my Nod

But each one was worth your effort

NorthernFocus · January 25, 2009

Pretty cool. Those are some crazy looking birds. What a great opportunity to see such rare critters too. The first and last are my favorites. Thanks for posting

raptorcaptor · January 25, 2009

Sounds like a nice trip. First and last are my favourites!

Maestro · January 25, 2009

PrescottPhotog wrote:

Excellent.. Wonderful shots Stephen, especially the stalking, closer and closer. I'm glad they stayed for your shots.

Sometimes the end results warrant a little mud in the shoes..

Thanks for the narrative and descriptions, it always nice to hear the story behind difficult captures..

Well worth the effort, I'd say. I need to take a pic of my mud covered shoes. I don't know if they will ever recover.

Thanks for looking.

Maestro · January 25, 2009

Giphsub wrote:

Hey, great set Stephen! I really like #1 Very cool colouring. You are lucky to have a mate who can take you out to see these birds!

He's a great guy willing to work with you to get the shot. He's got the patience of Job.

Maestro · January 25, 2009

redleash wrote:

I'm so jealous, Stephen. I went to Aransas once when we first moved here and saw two white dots afar--I was told they were whoopers. Being this close, I need to go every year!

As always, your shots are superb. I especially like the closeup one, with the crane twisting its head upside down. It's a wonderful capture, and definitely worth the time and mud! (Says I, who is merely the viewer.)

Cheers,
Lauren

He gladly welcomes families too Lauren. I've taken my whole family out before. He let my kids drive his boat a while to break up the monotony of having to stop and let dad take pictures.

Thanks for the kind words.

dlplumer · January 25, 2009

I just saw a special on Nat Geo about these guys. You did well Maestro

Maestro · January 25, 2009

dbaker1221 wrote:

well done Stephen!!! love the 1st shot

Thanks Dave. I'm fond of that one as well.

Ric Grupe · January 25, 2009

Whooping Cranes!

The first and third are my choices.

I cannot get this close up at Necedah...unless they are airbourne.:cry

Maestro · January 25, 2009

Ric Grupe wrote:

Whooping Cranes!

The first and third are my choices.

I cannot get this close up at Necedah...unless they are airbourne.:cry

How is that group doing? I know they lost quite a few from that group when that one hurricane hit Florida. This is the group that migrates with the ultralight, right?

redleash · January 25, 2009

Thanks, Stephen. Maybe you could send me his name and info/web site?

Maestro · January 25, 2009

redleash wrote:

Thanks, Stephen. Maybe you could send me his name and info/web site?

Kevin Sims, Aransas Bay Birding Charters.

Ric Grupe · January 25, 2009

Maestro wrote:

How is that group doing? I know they lost quite a few from that group when that one hurricane hit Florida. This is the group that migrates with the ultralight, right?

Yes, that's the group.

I really don't know how they are doing. I lost some interest last year do to the atrocious mosquito and tick infestation...and the discovery of Horicon Mash, which is much better for photography. I will find out though.

jsmiley · January 25, 2009

Stephen
Very nice series. The whooping crane is a very beautiful and elegant bird.

Maestro · January 26, 2009

dlplumer wrote:

I just saw a special on Nat Geo about these guys. You did well Maestro

Thanks Dan. But they did not call me. What's up with that?

Maestro · January 26, 2009

bfjr wrote:

#1 & #3 get my Nod

But each one was worth your effort

Thank Ben. And let it be known that my hiking shoes are now back to normal. The mud from the mudflats had turned to cement, but I was able to scrape most of it off and then wash my shoes.

Maestro · January 28, 2009

jsmiley wrote:

Stephen
Very nice series. The whooping crane is a very beautiful and elegant bird.

Thanks John. They may be elegant but they sure do hang out in muddy areas.

Maestro · January 30, 2009

Ric Grupe wrote:

Yes, that's the group.

I really don't know how they are doing. I lost some interest last year do to the atrocious mosquito and tick infestation...and the discovery of Horicon Mash, which is much better for photography. I will find out though.

I thought so. Hopefully one day they will be able to migrate without the aide of people.

Whooping Cranes Round 1

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