A Sad Death

jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
edited October 31, 2007 in Wildlife
A SAD DEATH I went shooting and for awhile the other day. For most of it I saw this pelican[alone in this position and 300 feet away] looked like it was sleeping [resting ] I walked that way and was not going to shoot the peli but stopped and watch it for a bit .it came over and stopped right in front of me for about 25 min .Looked like it was trying to sleep and as long as I was standing there it could sleep as long as I did not move away .I even missed a kingfisher with fish flying by because I was looking at the peli .Now I am sure it is sick and right then it paddles out and turned a few slow 360's while I took a few shots . Then came back to the waters edge but about 50 feet to my left rolled it's head into the water and died .I had the park folks pick it up and call animal control to find out why .That was all the shooting for the day but I really do very little printing of my wildlife shots but the peli is on my office wall, maybe died but not forgotten .
213046972-L.jpg213047497-L.jpg
Jeff W

“PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

http://jwear.smugmug.com/

Comments

  • i_worship_the_Kingi_worship_the_King Registered Users Posts: 548 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2007
    that's such a sad story.... beautiful eulogy for it on your office wall
    I make it policy to never let ignorance stand in the way of my opinion. ~Justiceiro

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  • PrescottPhotogPrescottPhotog Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2007
    jwear wrote:
    A SAD DEATH maybe died but not forgotten.

    Jeff, How very sad. We had a pair here last year for about a month and they were really something to watch, both on the water and in the air.

    It might sound strange, but when I was photoing the hawks the other day a lone pelican showed up on the lake. I have a photo of it as it passed overhead that I haven't posted yet.. but it circled and landed all by itself and stayed the rest of the day. I often wonder about all the critters, especially the raptors I enjoy shooting, and what happens to them when they get to old to migrate or hunt. I hope this was from old age and not something else.
    '
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  • QueenQueen Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited October 27, 2007
    That is just beautiful. A true gem of a memory.
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2007
    Well you and I both know, that's the way of things (as long as it's natural).

    Interesting though that he picked you for his farewell cruise, musta of known you would handle it so well.
    Benjamin
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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2007
    Sad story but it is Nature. I hope its death was natural and not because it swallowed all that damn plastic we toss into the ocean!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2007
    wow..........but think of it, because of your photos it will actually live forever well done Jeff
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited October 28, 2007
    Sad story, lovely shots...
    Birds
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  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 28, 2007
    i_worship_the_King wrote:
    that's such a sad story.... beautiful eulogy for it on your office wall
    thank you --it really did bother me ne_nau.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 28, 2007
    In your face...mortality. :cry

    Depressing experience that I suggest you use in a positve manner to get the most out of life.
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited October 29, 2007
    That is sad, Jeff. You made a nice little tribute to her though. Circle of life, my friend.

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited October 30, 2007
    Sad story Jeff! Good pics! Several sea birds have been dying recently from excess red-tide posioning. Its good that you reported it so they can find out whats happening. I'll call you this weekend. Been under the weather lately, didn't do much shooting this weekend.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • SkywatchSkywatch Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited October 30, 2007
    Sad story....but good pic. You usually see plenty of pelicans on the coast and than sometimes you see a bunch migrating but I always wonder about the few you see that are alone on the lake....does anyone understand this behavior? Are they looking/waiting for a mate or maybe they separate from the group to pass on like this one? I dont know.....great story though.
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    I guess we all got to go some time and this Peli was lucky not to make that transition alone.
    And the bonus of-course is to have been immortalized in this way, beautiful reflective shots there Jeff thumb.gif
    Russ
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,959 moderator
    edited October 31, 2007
    I think it's a sad event when anything dies. It's a nice shot that I'm sure has
    special memory.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    In your face...mortality. :cry

    Depressing experience that I suggest you use in a positve manner to get the most out of life.
    It was more than that --but yep that is why it's on the wall --thanks
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    PrescottPhotog wrote:
    Jeff, How very sad. We had a pair here last year for about a month and they were really something to watch, both on the water and in the air.

    It might sound strange, but when I was photoing the hawks the other day a lone pelican showed up on the lake. I have a photo of it as it passed overhead that I haven't posted yet.. but it circled and landed all by itself and stayed the rest of the day. I often wonder about all the critters, especially the raptors I enjoy shooting, and what happens to them when they get to old to migrate or hunt. I hope this was from old age and not something else.
    thanks but that is one of the things that hit me --it was not old age .I am going to bug the animal control folks and see why and what ??
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    Queen wrote:
    That is just beautiful. A true gem of a memory.
    thank you
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    bfjr wrote:
    Well you and I both know, that's the way of things (as long as it's natural).

    Interesting though that he picked you for his farewell cruise, musta of known you would handle it so well.
    you are right death is just natures way but this really took me back . It was very odd --thanks thumb.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    Maestro wrote:
    Sad story but it is Nature. I hope its death was natural and not because it swallowed all that damn plastic we toss into the ocean!
    no I think it was poisoned ,that is my thought one of the reasons this hit me like it did --thanks
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    wow..........but think of it, because of your photos it will actually live forever well done Jeff
    you got it this death made me very sad not right at the time but it made me stop shooting and head home and it wore on me all the way --thanks
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    BigAl wrote:
    Sad story, lovely shots...
    thanks Al
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    kdog wrote:
    That is sad, Jeff. You made a nice little tribute to her though. Circle of life, my friend.

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Thanks Joel not without all you folks helping thumb.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    riddim_maker wrote:
    I guess we all got to go some time and this Peli was lucky not to make that transition alone.
    And the bonus of-course is to have been immortalized in this way, beautiful reflective shots there Jeff thumb.gif
    thanks Russ this one does not go unnoticed
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    ian408 wrote:
    I think it's a sad event when anything dies. It's a nice shot that I'm sure has
    special memory.
    the memory is a sad one the feeling I have recieved from the photo[event] is a gift --thanks
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Sad story Jeff! Good pics! Several sea birds have been dying recently from excess red-tide posioning. Its good that you reported it so they can find out whats happening. I'll call you this weekend. Been under the weather lately, didn't do much shooting this weekend.
    thanks talk with you then
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    Skywatch wrote:
    Sad story....but good pic. You usually see plenty of pelicans on the coast and than sometimes you see a bunch migrating but I always wonder about the few you see that are alone on the lake....does anyone understand this behavior? Are they looking/waiting for a mate or maybe they separate from the group to pass on like this one? I dont know.....great story though.
    you make a very good point seldom do you see lone birds [of this type] the reason I am not sure this one I am it was too die but this time it was not alone --thanks
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited October 31, 2007
    thank you each and all for making the peli's death not a lonely event. I can not but into words [my writting is for crap] but this event put me thru a lot and why I do not know, but most things have been good ones since .One picture so as not to leave this on a sad note .Again thank you all
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
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