View allAll Photos Tagged whoops
It had been six years since I last visited Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in the hopes of seeing Whooping Cranes there. With seven or eight birds sighted from my kayak and a small tour boat, I considered it quite a successful trip and a positive sign for their ongoing recovery from the verge of extinction. This trip, at pretty much any time from sunrise to sunset, whoopers could be found without leaving the comfort of my vehicle. One afternoon, in addition to this view of five adults and one colt, a total of 24 distinct birds were counted. While they are by no means out of danger with only 800 or so birds in the wild, efforts to protect them and their habitat are clearly paying off. Viewed from 8th Street in Lamar, Texas.
The last of the Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes were migrating through Wisconsin last mid-September.
The weather was beautiful and lighting terrific, their beaks pointing out their reflections.
This post marks the end of my big birds of North America series.
From the Cornell Lab:
"The Whooping Crane is the tallest bird in North America and one of the most awe-inspiring, with its snowy white plumage, crimson cap, bugling call, and graceful courtship dance. It's also among our rarest birds and a testament to the tenacity and creativity of conservation biologists. The species declined to around 20 birds in the 1940s but, through captive breeding, wetland management, and an innovative program that teaches young cranes how to migrate, numbers have risen to about 600 today."
Height: 5 ft.
Weight: 17 LBS
Wingspan: 7.5 ft.
As is my custom, I'm posting this shot to prime the pump for our upcoming trip back to Whooping Crane territory. So this is my last
Flickr post for a couple of weeks.
Some whooper swans persist throughout the winter in Arctic Lapland. They are very resistant to cold and try to find molten water for food.
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Adult whooper swans have white plumage overall. They sometime have a reddish-brown wash on their heads and necks when the waters from which they feed are rich with iron. They have pale yellow bills with black triangular tips and cutting edges, dark brown eyes and black webbed feet. Male and female whooper swans look similar although the female is slightly smaller.
Juvenile whooper swans are grey-brown with dark heads and necks. They have pink bills and their legs and feet are pinky-grey. They reach adult white plumage before their second winter.
Whooper swans nest alone. Both males and females build the nests near water which are large mounds constructed from plant matter such as reeds, moss and lichen.
Whooper swans lay 4-5 off-white eggs which are incubated by the female for 35-40 days while the male guards the nest. Chicks fledge at 3 months and can fly after another 1-2 months.
Whooper swans eat mainly plant matter including aquatic plants, freshwater roots, grass, acorns, grains and potatoes. They will occasionally eat mussels.
Whooper swans can be found in estuaries and wetlands in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and East Anglia.
An endangered whooping crane (Grus americana, Gruidae) forages on a farm field in Wisconsin.
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Thanks to all who have visited, commented or faved (it would be nice if you left a comment too) my photos. It is very much appreciated. Constructive criticism welcomed.
Adult whooper swans have white plumage overall. They sometime have a reddish-brown wash on their heads and necks when the waters from which they feed are rich with iron. They have pale yellow bills with black triangular tips and cutting edges, dark brown eyes and black webbed feet. Male and female whooper swans look similar although the female is slightly smaller.
Juvenile whooper swans are grey-brown with dark heads and necks. They have pink bills and their legs and feet are pinky-grey. They reach adult white plumage before their second winter.
Whooper swans nest alone. Both males and females build the nests near water which are large mounds constructed from plant matter such as reeds, moss and lichen.
Whooper swans lay 4-5 off-white eggs which are incubated by the female for 35-40 days while the male guards the nest. Chicks fledge at 3 months and can fly after another 1-2 months.
Whooper swans eat mainly plant matter including aquatic plants, freshwater roots, grass, acorns, grains and potatoes. They will occasionally eat mussels.
Whooper swans can be found in estuaries and wetlands in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and East Anglia.
A long drive back to Wales from Norfolk yesterday however with the weather being as it was I had to stop in at Welney. It was my first visit there and it was an absolute delight to see and hear these winter swans - when they start to bugle in their groups it's a real call of the wild.
Press L or Z
The whooping crane (Grus americana), the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound. Along with the sandhill crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild. After being pushed to the brink of extinction by unregulated hunting and loss of habitat to just 21 wild and two captive whooping cranes by 1941, conservation efforts have led to a limited recovery.
Managed to use a rock to hide behind to get a little closer to these. The icing on the cake was when the movement of a distant car made them all lift their heads.
Isle of Mull.