[birdky] TN Whooping Crane images

If anyone is interested, I have placed a few shots of a stray Whooping Crane 
that was found here in west TN over the weekend. The bird was found Saturday at 
Oneal Lake on the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge in Haywood Co. I know some 
of you may get over to see the Whoopers of Operation Migration when they come 
through, but it was a real treat for us over on this end of TN. Of course they 
are regular in east TN at Hiwassee as well.

This female Whooper was hatched this year, and is part of the Direct Autumn 
Release program in which captive-born birds follow adults that already know the 
migration route. She got separated earlier this month from the two other 
Whoopers she was traveling with. The crane folks know about her know, and 
reportedly are planning to try and get her back. Would be interesting to see 
them in the adult Whooping Crane costume that "Makida" is receptive to.

The photos are from much-closer range than I had expected, or intended on. I 
got there Monday morning just before dawn, on a very dreary morning. I saw the 
Crane with some Egrets perched out in the middle of the lake. Jeff Wilson got 
there shortly after and we set up to observe the bird. Shortly afterwards, she 
made a circuit of the lake, then came in and landed literally 20 yards from us 
out on the flats near the visitor parking lot and deck area . This is where the 
bird likes to hang out. We took a few shots and then moved back some to get 
some distance from the bird, and also to try and do some digiscoping. The 
photos came out better than expected with the near total lack of light we had. 

Anyway, if interested: 
http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/gallery/hatchie_nwr_whooping_crane  Double-clicking 
any image will enlarge it.

Good Birding!!

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd

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