[wisb] Whooping Cranes and Photography

From: Cindy Scherwinski <anahar@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 05:34:51 -0500
Good Afternoon Listers,
You may recall the post three weeks ago re: the sighting of four Whooping 
Cranes in the Rangeline Flowage area of the Mead Wildlife area.

On a whim, my husband and I ventured out to the area from our home in Portage 
County, photography equipment in tow. We should have purchased a lottery 
ticket, as we sighted the four Whoopers in a field about a half-mile from the 
road. While it was a thrill just to view them through the binoculars, imagine 
our excitement when the cranes took flight from the field, gliding over the 
flowage, landing on the shore opposite the road where we were parked.

We were afforded wonderful views of the birds and it wasn't until several 
minutes after they landed that we noticed they were in the vicinity of a 
nesting pair of Bald Eagles. At one point, one of the eagles "buzzed" the 
cranes which made them very nervous giving Al an opportunity to take a 
photograph of the four Whooping Cranes with a Bald Eagle. Positively a once in 
a lifetime opportunity.

From the time we first sighted the Whooping Cranes until they flew off was only 
about 20 minutes - but a moment we won't soon forget.

Al contacted Operation Migration and reported our sighting and offered to share 
his photographs. While they aren't the 'best' photograph's, it was the 
opportunity he was given. When we were told by Operation Migration that they 
were able to identify only two of the birds, Al enlarged one of the photographs 
and by overexposing the image, gave Operation Migration a clear view of all the 
bands on the Cranes.

Operation Migration has posted Al's photograph's on their Facebook page and 
also on their web site. You can access the site and click on "In The Field" and 
scroll down to the April 18th posting: 
http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html

All of the photos that Al took were taken with a 500m Nikkor and 1.4x converter

Also included in the posting on the web site is some very sobering observations 
 by "individuals who, at best, are ignorant of the dangers of their approaches 
represent to the cranes, or sadly, to whom their photos are more important to 
them than the safety of the birds."

A sobering reminder for all of us who spent time outdoors.

Thanks for checking out the site. 

Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski
Plover, WI (Portage County)
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[wisb] Whooping Cranes and Photography

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