This summer, my husband's journalist cousin was down from UK to soak in the Florida sun. An avid reader of the award-winning works of Miami Herald's Carl Hiaasen on South Florida's unchecked development and its effects on Everglades' ecosystem, he insisted we take him to Lake Okeechobee. This summer was one of the driest here and Lake showed the damage done by the intense summer and insatiable greed of man. The second largest fresh water lake in the country showed one of the record low water levels while I am assuming that grass on golf courses glistened. An embarrassment of riches??? It was on our way back from lake, when we met this red head. I was busy admiring her till her partner came towards me in what was clearly an aggressive stance, almost screaming, "leave us alone, will ya?".......I captured them on my lens and scooted :)
Update: The red heads are sandhill cranes.
35 comments:
I think I prefer the other variety of red-heads. The legs are way too thin on these ones ;-)
Yep, he's giving you a look that says "back off lady". If only he'd of known how kind you are - he'd of probably assumed a more welcoming pose.
I'm partial to redheads but not when they threaten me.
Super shot Moi. I guess redheads have the reputation for having a temper, so He was staying in character. Don't think I would want to mess with him. I notice that the female is very nonchalant about the whole thing.
Beautiful and feisty, what a combo!
Great photos :o) BTW you can click a link to the quiz answers via my Thursday Post. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
I am partial to redheads being that I am one, my daughter is one, and one of my sisters and brother are also! What a wonderful shot of this bird. I am not familiar with this type... wonder what it is.
Moi, you always have such great posts!
Great photos. I think these birds are elegant and awkward at the same time. I mean, how on earth do they carry those bodies around on those legs. Such good details in the feathers.
Sadly, Georgia has sued somebody and apparently got the right to stop diverting water to Florida. I don't remember the details but it doesn't sound too good for the everglades.
everybody here but me knows what kind of birds these are! they are beauties. You'd think, since so many of us object to the direction this world is going in, that something would change.
Beautifully sharp photos, Moi.
The whole Southeast seems to be very dry.
I've always read that one of the Everglade's problems is runoff of fertilizer from homes, farms, golf courses - that chokes the "Glades" with vegetation.
Moi, nicely captured beauties there! Sandhill Cranes, I think. Wonderful to see them around. Sad to think we may yet extinguish this species. And I share your feelings on the Greed Of Man and the wanton exploitation of our natural resources.
Thanks for posting this.
Wayne
Wonderful images. Well-done!!
très belle photo
wonderful captures and colors!!
Amazing looking birds!
Look at the expression on that birds face! Tee! Hee!
They look scary!
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Such interesting birds! I would have moved out of their way pretty quickly too if I was close to them. Your photos have such great detail. Good job!
Well, he certainly told you off!
And I love Carl Hiaasen! Here's one of his quotes: "They have a crystalline sense of right and wrong; it disappears when they walk out the door with their M.B.A."
Present company excepted, of course ;-)
I love cranes. We see them around here a lot. As a Florida native, I hate seeing what they did to that lake. Pretty soon it will be a dust bowl.
Hope you treated him to a cup of chai and a slice of cake...
Cheers Mark
Love the pose in the first shot, with the legs apart.
In the second shot - the bird looks as if it has ATTITUDE
WoW...two beautifully captured & composed shots with lovely lighting & the colours...liked them very much!t
the birds have lost it i say!
just the other day i was driving to work, and i see these flamingos on a tree by the road.
flamingos in bangalore, and that too on a tree by the road. too bad i wasnt carrying the camera then. :)
Hmmmdear MOI:)
Not a redhead like me, but a great type of bird, saying 'leve me alon will ya?" but I invite you to always be my blogfriend , I love yur photography, your countrie , you!!!
Thank you so much for your celebration (for my birthday)! and your interest in me, and my trip to Paris. Its a fantastic!! city and I will publice soon some great views from my point of (digital) view , and you know me 'always playing with my camera' I'm Glad to be back, I missed YOU too:)
JoAnn :)
Funny guys!
Maybe its not a cliche about red heads being hot-headed
--steve buser
New Orleans Daily Photo
Yeah, we have been in water restrictions all year because of the low lake levels.
And yes, the gold courses looked just fine. Go figure.
That fella in the second photo looks mean. I had one throw back it's head and squalk really loud at me when I tried to take pictures of their baby.
I've been here 11 years and have never driven down to Okeechobee.
You're so close to the birds! I like your name - it makes much more sense than "sandhill" :) There was a place in Tennessee where thousands of these birds would congregate during their migration. We stopped once, it was mind boggling. The strangest thing was the eerie sounds they make.
I've read a few Hiaasens, too. His plots are outlandish (and funny), but his heart is in the right place.
Great shot Moi! Is it me or did one of those red heads loose her head, maybe a little too feisty. lol
A fan of Carl Hiaasen too, his Skinny Dip introduced me to the plight of the Everglades, such a tragedy. So much is being lost at man's wilful greed.
Enjoy your holiday. :-) Dare I say I hope you get some rain. lol
Sandy
Maybe he thinks it's rude of you to watch while his lady friend takes a bath :)
Wonderful shots!
i read that sandhill cranes can be very aggressive..... some even suggest that that's what people were seeing during the 'mothman' phenomenon in point pleasant, west virginia..... that one may have gotten off-track during migration.
I think this is the only other blog I've found that actually has Sandhill Cranes on it other than mine! ~ COOL! ~ jb///
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