Author Archives: iaustin

Lone White Dove – The Messenger

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Lone White Dove – Michigan Bird

One day while standing in one of my favorite Michigan wild life wetland bird photo spots…

A small white object appeared in my right peripheral vision, at first, I thought it was just another White Egret, so I didn’t really pay much attention.  However, the bird was much smaller and approaching very fast, much faster than an Egret. It turned out to be a pure white lone dove.  The white bird flew right in front of me, I totally missed an opportunity to get a picture and the bird quickly flew behind a dense green thicket. I couldn’t believe what just happened, first time ever shot of my life-time and I missed it! But, I waited several agonizing seconds with my finger on the camera trigger and sure enough it was as though the bird read my mind and decided to present me a second shot.  I barely got a couple of shots off as the dove made a sudden turn, this time heading in my direction.

I was surprised at the loud  wind-like sound the wings created as the dove made it’s second pass, this time flying directly overhead.

 

White Dove - Message in the Wind - Photo by Ike Austin

White Dove - Message in the Wind

 

This was a rather strange bird sighting in that I have never seen a dove in this particular wetland I had been visiting for ten years. This particular white dove was all alone–not flying in a dule with other doves and strangest of all, as the dove flew overhead, I panned as I did with so many other birds standing in this exact this same spot; when tracking a bird in flight such as kildeer, kingfisher, or mallard ducks, only this time it seems that the white dove had simply disappeared after flying overhead.  I pivoted, expecting to get a series of final tail shots and didn’t see the bird… nothing!  The dove was gone.

(I added the motion blur effect because the dove was rather close to a background of rather cluttered looking dark green foliage.)

Nature Photography – by Ike Austin

Nature Photography – Michigan Blue Heron

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Nature Photography – Michigan Great Blue Heron
One Early Morning in a Michigan Metro Park

During my regular excursion into nature, I would often encounter this large and Prehistoric looking bird with big bluish, grayish plummage. I have seen this giant Great Blue Heron many times, but have never gotten tired of Michigan Blue Heron presents, its high glide, loud squawk and proud elongated super strut.

great blue heron has landed michigan bird

great blue heron has landed

Michigan  Big Beautiful Blue

This majestic looking bird has provided the most picturesque silhouette is often seen in many occasions such as landscape scenes, photo back drops, artist drawings and gift items.  This Michigan Bird is a elongated beautiful bird with it’s long neck and tall legs that help to create the most  interesting scenery when stalking prey of small fish, or standing motionless with that trademark one-legged pose. In full sun or dense fog, the Grey Heron is a bird sighting that will always create a feeling of relaxation and always grab my attention.  See this spectacular landing of the Great Blue Heron Michigan Bird

In-Flight

With an open in-flight wing span that can extend over six feet, the blue Michigan Bird of nature is hard to miss. Whether seen in one of Michigan’s wetlands or Metro Parks, walking on the ground, gliding close near the water’s surface or flying high, Big Blue is lord of the skies and one of the rare birds that with it’s every move ,can become the center of everyone’s attention.  The loud squawk of this peculiar Michigan trademark bird is truly reminiscent of a sound coming right out of  one of those infamous Jarassic Park movies. If you happen to startle one of these wetland birds the Big Blue will bealow out a deep bass-like, slow motion, long cackle sound that fills the surrounding air. Or, it will cackle at other Herons that enter it’s territory uninvited. It is a common sight to watch one Blue Heron chasing close behind another until it reach the outer edge of the more dominate Blue Herons domain.

Bird Photo Great Blue Heron

Blue Heron Looking Up

After settling territory dispute, the giant heron will slowly circle the area then glide back down looking as light as a feather where upon it can resume it’s fishing activities.

Nest Building – Top of the World
Big Blue Michigan Herons

The Great Blue Heron birds of Michigan that raise their young in a community of other Blue Herons and sometimes the colony is shared with White Egrets high in the tree tops.  What a spectacular sight of nature to behold which will also provide many opportunities for nature photography of this awesome Bird of Michigan.

michigan-birds-blue-heron nest building

Michigan-Birds-Blue-Heron nest building

 

Blue Heron – Michigan Bird Winter and Summer

The Great Blue Heron will often make a grand entrance to the wetland by first circling high above then slowing descending with it’s wings extended outward and legs pointed downward.

 

Blue Heron on Run Way Prepare for Take Off

Blue Heron on Run Way Prepare for Take Off

 

Blue Herons of Michigan are Great Fisherman

After landing, the heron will stand motionless assessing the area for possible danger. Then after the surveillance is complete, a quick wing fluff ritual is conducted to tiddy up the plumage. He then gaze down toward the water… let the hunt begin!  Blue Heron ready to attack.

 

Blue Heron Michigan Bird Twins-Double-Hitter Catch of the day

Blue Heron Double-Hitter Catch of the Day

 

This giant Blue Heron leaped out of the water and then quickly enjoyed a two piece catfish meal!

 

Great Blue Heron Michigan Bird Low Glider

Great Blue Heron Michigan Bird Low Glider

 

Blue Herons Michigan’s Bird of Flight

One early morning and quite unexpectedly, a large male heron had demonstrated one of the reasons he has earned the title of “Great” as a prefix to its name…. by catching a double hitter (two large catfish at once.)

Notice the beautiful shades of bluish gray plumage of the various second and first primary feathers from this top down view of the bird in flight.

 

Great Blue Heron Michigan Bird -Hang Glide

Great Blue Heron Michigan Bird -Hang Glide

 

View a couple of more Great Blue Heron photos shown below, shots taken at Kensignton and Erie Metro Parks.

 

Great Blue Heron – Michigan’s Kensignton Metro Park Rookery

Kensington Park located in S.E. Michigan boasts one of the largest and oldest Heron Rookery in the State.  It is comprised and populated with Great White Egrets and Great Blue Herons.  Nest building is very active in the early months of April.

Great Blue Heron - The Family

Great Blue Heron – The Family

 

About the Great Blue Heron

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Eire MetroPark

Group: Herons and Egrets
Name: Blue Heron
Ardea Herodias

Appearance:
The Michigan Blue Heron is a long 4′-6′ wingspan, blueish and gray plumage, long skinny legs, and long neck.

Adult: Color is blue and gray

Juvenile: More grey-ish white in color with a speckled chest

Flight Characteristics:
Extended wings in flight and typically flap and glide.  The Blue Heron will glide over the surface of water until it reach a hunting place.

Habitat: The Michigan Blue Heron prefers open grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting: Blue Herons will construct a rather large mounded nests made of branches and twigs of various sizes. They can be spotted high in the tops of trees, in parks in what can be best described as amazing tree top condominiums technically called a rookery. There might be 30 or more pairs and families of blue herons cackling and making all sorts of noises as each brings new branches to expand their own individual nests.

Incubates 4-7 pale blue eggs for appx 28 days. Younglings go in flight in about 60 days from day of birth.

Mating Habits: The Michigan Blue Herons mate for one year and find a new mate for next season.

Off Spring: (Juvenile) as with most larger birds.

Feeding: Fish, frogs(amphibians), small chipmunks etc.

Call: Series of low-deep croaking noises.

About the Photography

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Bird by Ike AustinMichigan Bird photo by Ike Austin

 

 

National Geographic
Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest

 

 

 

 

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 
  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More Here

Message in the Rain – Remembering Dr Frederick G Sampson

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Message in the Rain – The Opening 

We Meet Again – Remembering Dr. Frederick G. Sampson
By Ike Austin III

Once again, an assembly, an audience of living entities, materialized to an assemble in one place of which I can only best describe as “an opening.”  This galactic opening was silently and rapidly expanding among-est the surrounding cosmos encompassing millions of galaxies. This… opening would be observable from many locations and each location of attendees could be separated by great distances. But, all attention is focused in one direction, in the direction of one identified ages ago in dreams by those who spoke intently and attentively to emphasize the name… the one known as… “the DayStar.”  In closing many of my dreams and before departing m would say… messengers of my dreams would say… “Remember the DayStar.”

This opening, silently and seamlessly materializes, extended over an incalculable distance, permitting all those so endowed, to see and witness a most rare experience of oration taking place on a galactic scale.

During this assembly, I stand in a translucent existence among both those of the living and those that have passed on. Suddenly, my attention was drawn to a person who was staring at me from the other side across a section of the great void. The individual started moving excitedly on the outer fringes of the immense crowd of entities,  I immediately recognized him as an old preacher that had passed-on years before, I  jubilantly acknowledged his attention. The preacher–who’s name was Dr. Frederick G. Sampson–pressed his way toward my position and i pressed toward Dr. Sampson; upon reaching one another, we strongly embraced.  At this moment, I expressed how much I use to… e-n-j-o-y his sermons and would s-u-r-e like to hear him preach again!  I am summoned here for the same reason you are he said, we are all manifested at this particular opening to witness the oration of the truly great one… referred to as… “distant thunder.”

I recall when I was a young man, I would slip into a mild trance-like state and could hear far away sermons. I would try to describe these experiences to my beloved mother as something that sounded more like semi-unintelligible low muffled thundering’s far off in the distance; although I could not understand the orations back then, I was keenly aware of the invisible listening audiences expressing profuse exuberance and emotional response to the orator’s spoken words.

As I grew older, I would often hear thunderings where there was no rain, no clouds in the sky and the sun shining brightly.  Message in the Rain

Nature Photography – Michigan Cooper’s Hawk

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Nature Photography – Michigan Cooper’s Hawk

One Early Morning in one of the Michigan Metro Parks…

I went on my traditional weekend walk in the park several weeks ago. There appeared to be an unusual amount of predatory Cooper’s Hawk activity this Michigan fall season. This particular morning the air was crisp with a stillness that created a relaxing silence. There were many small birds darting about off in the distance as well as near my position. The low muffled sounds of leaves occasionally blown about on the ground with a few dis-colored ones falling, circling in an unpredictable pattern drifting to the ground.

Cooper's Hawk - Michigan Birds

Cooper’s Hawk – Michigan Birds

Darting about, there were, blue jays, wood peckers, Chickadees, and Nuthatches, sparrows-all kinds, red cardinals and grey slated juncos… the forest was teaming with bird activity and profusion. There was also a large Dule of Morning Doves frantically moving about on the ground in search of food. Life is easy for these birds and all is safe and worry free in the forest, or is it?

Cooper’s Hawk in Michigan
Before I could react the doves suddenly burst into flight, in an instant they were all air-born implementing full evasive escape maneuvers. All of the others birds followed suit; within a fracture of a second the quite, peaceful serenity had been disrupted.

A large shape of a bird in flight was bulleting across the wetland heading straight for the panicking flock of different specie of birds. It was the infamous Cooper’s Hawk, this predatory stealth attack was achieved without the Cooper flapping its wings. The hawk’s sneak, rapid approach had startled the landscape of serenity.

He quickly maneuver in and out, swerving and curving around shrubs and trees with blinding agility and speed. As fast as the Cooper’s Hawk arrived he disappeared.

Cooper's Hawk dive, glide, strike

Cooper’s Hawk dive, glide, strike

The scenery now still and barren of activity. After a few moments of searching, I saw him sitting motionless like a statue on top of a small protruding branch sticking about two feet from the ground. He had not caught any prey, by design? perhaps this was just a practice drill of which I have witnessed the Cooper Hawk engaged on other occasions.

Michigan Cooper’s Hawk
Flight of the Michigan Cooper’s Hawk 2012
Cooper’s – Arobatic Bird in Flight

I wondered how the predatory Michigan’s Cooper Hawk glided such a long near linear angle and distance without flapping his wings and arrive at its destination target with such speed and force; this distance traveled had to be at least three hundred feet and the hawk did not start from atop a hundred foot tall tree.

Coopers Hawk - Nature Photography

Coopers Hawk – Nature Photography

After a few moments, the Cooper Hawk spun and darted to the right, wings fully spread (just enough to not collide with tight enclosed shrubbery; but expanded enough to speed out into the open, only about one feet above ground with a quick zig and zag he was gone again.)

Cooper's Hawk Michigan Bird

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Bird

Instantly I began searching the sky and surrounding area, I spotted the Cooper’s Hawk rising from an obscure camouflaged back drop, onto the tip of a tree branch. It now perched, looking about, in meditations of lessons learned about it’s potential prey it had just intimidated. But this is a restless bird, only after a couple of minutes (unlike a Redtailed Hawk that will sit is one spot for hours) the Copper’s Hawk makes another unpredictable left-spin-dive split second dive off the branch and downward toward the ground.

Coopers Hawk inflight 180 Michigan Birds - Photo by Ike Austin

Coopers Hawk inflight 180 Michigan Birds – Photo by Ike Austin

This time when the backdrop of tree branches camouflaged his plumage, he went totally stealth and I could not keep up with his wing flaps, curves, spins, dives… seconds later, where he is now… I could not find.

Cooper's Hawk Michigan

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Birds

 

Cooper's Hawk In Flight

Cooper’s Hawk In Flight Michigan Bird

Note the more rounded tail in this photo, this is one sure indicator that this is a Cooper’s Hawk vs a Shark Shinned Hawk that has a more square tail as seen in some of the photos on this page. Can you spot the difference?

 

Cooper's Hawk Michigan Nature Photography

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Nature Photography

The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk is one of the most adverse predators in the Accipiter family. These birds glide through forest trees and grasslands with the ability to often track and snatch prey in mid flight.  Michigan birds and nature photography are capturing wild life in everyone’s backyard.

 

About the Cooper’s Hawk
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Erie MetroPark
Group: Hawks and Eagles

Name: Cooper’s Hawk
Accipiter Cooperii

Appearance:  The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk is a long 3′ to 4′ wingspan, dark brown  plumage on it’s back along the scapular and mantle areas. skinny legs, and long small talons, small beak. typical yellow ring cere found on most hawks; but with a rounded tail or primary tip projection and a stronger contrast between the head cap and crown (it is this rounded tail feather that mostly distinguished the Cooper from the Shark Shinned Hawk.)

Adult: Color is dark brown with spotted front of orange and white plummage.

Juvenile: More tan-ish brown in color.

Flight Characteristics:  Quick flapping wings in flight and typically extended glide attributed with most raptors. The Cooper will fly from tree to tree over a large area until it spots an appropriate target to hunt

Habitat:  The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk prefers open grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting: Cooper’s will construct nests made of branches and twigs of various sizes. They can be spotted high in the tops of trees located about 25-60 feet above the ground. Incubates 3-5 bluish eggs for appx 36 days. Younglings go in flight in about 50 days from day of birth.

Mating Habits: The Michigan Cooper do not mate for life as the Osprey does, Cooper’s will raise one brood per season.
Off Spring: (Juvenile) as with most larger birds.

Feeding: Songbirds, doves, and small rodents.

Call: Series of low elongated whine like sounds.
About the Photography

About the Photography

nature photography - michigan
Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike Austin

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Bird by Ike Austin
Michigan Bird photo by Ike Austin

National Geographic
Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest

 

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birds
ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 

Lessons Learned – Dialogues in the Forest of Jimme’

Nature Speaks – Nature Photography, Therapy for the Soul – Everyone can Hear

Nature Speaks  – Through Birds – Therapy for the Soul

Michigan Bird – Mallard Duck – Sun and Darkness Dialogue

Michigan Bird – SandHill Crane Ancient Feet Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great Horned Owl Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great White Egret Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Green Heron Dialogue – One Strange Sunset in Jimmie’

– ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Green Heron – Michigan Bird

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Green Heron, Nature Photography of Michigan Birds

What a wonderful opportunity for nature photography – I happened upon a group Green Herons (technically referred to as a hedge, scattering, or battery) of overly spirited Herons moving frantically about a hidden wetland one early afternoon. This particular wetland accommondates a variety of Michigan Birds.

Michigan Birds

Green Heron Michigan Birds

The battery of Green Herons were flying from branch to branch, low branches, high branches, with some of the birds sitting motionless, single and pairs.  Another pair of herons was perched together (one slightly behind the other) appeared as though they were in deep meditation, contemplating Michigan wetland secrets or something. Or, maybe like me, they were just enjoying the spectacle of quick flight aerobics that filled the wetland air space as each these green birds of Michigan darted about.

Birds of Michigan Wetlands

Birds of Michigan Wetlands

One of the Green Herons was perched in full predator pose, standing like a statue staring intently, downward at the surface of the water, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.  With it’s head hunched, neck elongated; stretched to a length twice it’s body length, and with feet that curled around the branch looking more like alien tendacles than typical bird feet.

This Michigan bird is one of the strangest looking creatures in all the bird inhabitants of the wetlands and can provides some of the most interesting nature photography of this peculiar elastic neck bird.

Green Heron Half head, half mouth

Green Heron Half head, half mouth

Butorides Verescens

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification

Photo Taken: Kensington Metro Park, Michigan

About the Green Heron

Appearance: The Green Heron is a elastic bird. At times the Green Heron is hunched in and appears short and stubby, long yellow legs, and long black beak with yellow eyes. Other times the Green Heron can stretch twicce its length. The Green Heron can swivel his head 180 degrees. Wing span can can extend to 3.5 feet.

Adult: Color is Dark forest green with aztec like designs on it’s covert and wing bars plumage.

Flight Characteristics: Swift and quick wings in flight and typically flapping their wings as they jump from tree. Green Herons prefer open wooded marshes, wetlands and forests.

Mating Habits: The Great Heron start courtship as early as April, listenf for their mating skreeching calls. The Green Heron will choose one mate for the entire year.

Migration: Traveling mostly during the night, the Green Heron returns from wammer climates in early spring.

Nesting: The Green Heron will construct a nest 10-12 inches in diameter in low growing shrubs or as high as twenty feet up in trees. Incubates 3-5 pale blue eggs for appx 19-21 days. Young are feed by regergitation and independence is gained in as little as 30-35 days.

Off Spring: (Called Chicks)

Feeding: Day hunter. Small amphibians(frogs), earth worms, dragon flies and fish.

Call: Very loud and skretchee sound.

About the Photography

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

For some interesting and imaginative, new awareness reading… read the book below.

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 
  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More Here

A Dialogue With Nature – ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

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A Dialogue With Nature 

Therapy for the Soul 

Occasionally, when in discourse with the inhabitants of the sky that reside down by the river (this sky over the river is alive), I arrive in the Forest of Jimme’ via a dense cloud that in an instant can billow downward from the sky, surrounding me in dense fog and when the cloud quickly dissipates, I find myself standing at the edge of another reality, I am transferred to Jimme’.

Here in this place, the lessons of truth speak in silence through the minds of nature itself.

But, I write only part truths, because each grain of sand perceives truth from its own perspective.

Here is one grain more…

Silence Speaks in the Forest of Jimme’

In silence, I hear deeper truth.
Decisions – A path of mountains or rivers

nature photography michigan by ike austin
nature photography michigan by ike austin

Decisions – A path of mountains or meadows

This small blade of grass attracted my attention (it is typical  to dialogue with unexpected hosts in Jimme’) the blade of grass began telling me all about a barren tree off in the distance on the other side of a small body of water. I noticed that the tree’s bare branches jutted upward and outward in all directions, not to many branches, but just enough to get noticed from a distance.

This small blade of grass imputed the following thought into my mind;  A decision no matter how seemingly small will branch into eternal consequences. An individual can decide to do something self serving, but remember, a decision, any decision by anyone is grafted into the bark of the tree of all life. Your seemingly independent thought-choice, will affect the many lives that reside down the branch of your decision and alter those lives based upon your seemingly personal action or non-action.
—Of Fallen Nations Built on Slavery

In the middle of my pondering  over the true seriousness of a simple decision, I was about to ask a question, but; the small blade interrupted my thought and injected its own; all decisions influenced outcomes. All decisions are root. Decisions affect not just you, your family, liberty of others, but will be the fall of entire nations. It said.

nature photography by ike austin - blade of grass

nature photography by ike austin – blade of grass


Lessons Learned – Dialogues in the Forest of Jimme’

Nature Speaks – Nature Photography, Therapy for the Soul – Everyone can Hear

Nature Speaks  – Through Birds – Therapy for the Soul

Michigan Bird – Mallard Duck – Sun and Darkness Dialogue

Michigan Bird – SandHill Crane Ancient Feet Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great Horned Owl Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great White Egret Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Green Heron Dialogue – One Strange Sunset in Jimmie’

– ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 

 

 

 

 

Wild Life Pictures – Michigan Red-tailed Hawk

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Wild Life Pictures – Red-Tailed Hawk Michigan

I find that the best times to capture wild life pictures are early in the morning or early evening just before sunset. Interesting lighting effects can introduce striking highlighted effects on bird plumage. See wildlife photo of Red-tailed Hawk full wing spread.

Wild Life Pictures - Red Tailed Hawk - Michigan Photography by Ike Austin

One afternoon basking in the early warm rays of the setting sun, my attention was drawn toward the resident young Red Tailed Hawk born just several weeks earlier. The young Red Tail hawkling had been squawking incessantly for the past several days; it hadn’t quite figured out how to catch it’s own food, I found this to be an opportunity to capture some raw wild life pictures.

For several weeks, the young Red Tail Hawk squawked for it’s mother to come and feed it; you could almost hear… “Feed Me” in all those raspy repetitive calls for momma. On one rather humorous occasion, trying to sneak pass her young offspring, the mother made a mad dash to travel across the wetland from one set of tree tops to the other side of the wetland. She was not quick enough as the young Red Tail hawkling caught a glimps of his mother and ratched up his hunger calls and took off like a bolt of lighting toward her direction to catch up to mother Read Tail; what a set of wild life pictures or video that would make.

Wild Life Pictures - Red Tailed Hawk Michigan

Wild Life Pictures – Red Tailed Hawk

As the sun was preparing to make its final lazy descent, the young hawkling made a verticle dive off the branch straight down toward the ground like he had done so many times before only to come up empty handed or discovered after he had flew back to a branch to enjoy a meal, he had only grabbed and returned with a lump of empty grass. Photo of full Red-Tail.

 

Red-tailed Hawk Michigan

Automatic Knives – Red-tailed Hawk

 

Not this time; this time the young Red-tailed hawkling had stood his ground, this time he did not bounce around, he did not squawk, he was focused as never before. This aerial predator instincts kicked in, he was up against a super prey that could inflict serious harm if it decided to fight back and resist the aerial attack. He gripped it with all of his might this time and then spread his wings and lifted the prey skyward to get it to a branch for an evening dinner–this group of images became one of my favorite series of wild life pictures.

Wild Life Pictures - Red Tailed Hawk Michigan

Wild Life Pictures – Red Tailed Hawk

I was amazed to see that it was not a fierce prey at all; but, rather a small frog.  The way Red-tailed was acting, you would have thought he had caught a rabbit or squirrel or something.

Red-tail was on his way to becoming a true predator, later that same summer, I spotted Red-tail Hawk circling high above in the cloudless blue sky, silent, looking down, ready to fall like a bullet upon unsuspecting prey.

I guess Red Tail learned that silence, not squawking for momma, was the way to survive in the wild life of the wetlands.

As Red Tail Hawk rose with his bounty, I managed to capture a couple of wild life pictures of a young predator in action.

Nature Photograph – The American Indian Red-tail of Nobility – A Tribute

 

Redtailed Hawk Michigan

Resources:

Migration and Wintering

Michigan Department of Natural Resources 

Whitefish Point Raptor Migration Observatory, learn more… DNR Michigan Res-tailed Raptor Migration

Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for Redtailed Hawk Michigan migrations, Learn More… DNR ohio.gov Redtailed Hawk

 

Red-tailed Hawk Michigan – Places of Interest

Michigan Huron-Clinton MetroParks

Check out the Michigan Lake Erie official website for park details. Learn More … Lake Erie Metropark

Check out the Michigan Kensington official website for park details. Learn More … Kensington Metropark

 

 

 

 

 

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike Austin

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Bird by Ike Austin
Michigan Bird photo by Ike Austin

National Geographic

Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Osprey

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Osprey

Nature Photography – Michigan Osprey
One Early Morning in a Michigan Metro Park

I went Osprey hunting several weeks ago, based on the historical patterns that the return of the Osprey’s was imminent after a long winter.

The early morning air was crisp and chilly to my hands and also it seemed to had an operational affect my camera equipment. There was a slight mist on the water’s surface and off in the distance the mist became a transparent milky white that appeared to be sandwiched between the bare tree tops and the water; seagulls circling low to the water’s surface disappeared as they  darted in and out of the thick white mist.

Osprey Spring Arrival in Michigan

My wait wasn’t long before my camera equipment was swung into action. A large shape of a bird in flight was heading my way with a trail of squawking seagulls chasing close behind. It was the infamous Osprey, the Osprey had upset the other birds of the lake with it’s massive and intimidating flight.

Michigan Osprey

Michigan Osprey

Arrival of the Michigan Osprey 2012

Osprey – Magnificent Bird in Flight

The Osprey broke through the distant fog, coming in low barely skimming the water’s surface. With’in seconds it was swooping upward expanding its wings, and extending it’s razor sharp talons outward in full spread–looking like a hand full of automatic knives, then hovering and simultaneously maneuvering itself downward into the nest.

With an almost biblical appearance, the Osprey’s approach and landing maneuvers is always a sight to behold. First, one is captivated by those extended wings of the Osprey, the seemingly various poses this bird appear to orchestrate just for the camera–it’s almost as though this bird is performing at it’s best for the audience of wide eyed admirers. The Osprey never seems to disappoint the many spectators and photographers that come to visit young and old alike.

This particular Osprey brought a new branch to the nest, look’s like the branch was being used as a crowbar on her mate (Bird, Fulcrum, Lever). Was this a female Osprey using a tool trying to get her lazy mate out of the nest to go hunt for some fish?

 

Michigan Bird - Osprey Royalty Photo by Ike Austin

Michigan Bird – Osprey Royalty

After settling down into the nest. The majestic Osprey makes a surveillance of its domain, it carefully looks around from atop it’s throne; if there is an Osprey couple occupying the nest, what a royal looking pair they make, both looking very regal as they often sit side by side like two statuettes overlooking a kingdom together. Another Michigan Osprey Nesting Pair.

Mating Osprey Pair

Osprey Mating Pair - Michigan Bird

Kensington Osprey Mating Pair – Michigan Bird

 

Osprey Three Siblings Michigan Birds

All The Spring Loving Paid Off! Osprey Three Siblings Michigan Birds

 

Osprey Gold Michigan Birds - Photo by Ike Austin

Osprey Catch of the Day! Michigan Birds – Photo by Ike Austin

Predatory Birds of Prey – Michigan

Osprey at Sunrise

As the male Osprey (on of several predatory birds of prey in Michigan) returned one morning basking in the golden rays of the rising sun with a large coy fish, he let out a loud piercing shriek. It was as though he was shouting to his three young juveniles now all staring upward as he did get their attention; look at me, see what a large fish I have, I will not be dropping this one off in the nest, it is still alive and to big for any of you, now watch where I take the fish to eat it!

The male Osprey (one of the largest raptor birds of prey) then proceeded to fly overhead pass his offspring to a branch far off in the distance where he would first make sure the prey was dead and then help himself to an early morning meal. Thereafter, he would return to the nest with fish nuggets for his trio of anxiously waiting juveniles.

View a couple of more Oprey photo’s below.

Osprey-Attack-michigan - Photo by Ike Austin

Osprey-Attack-michigan – Photo by Ike Austin

 

 

Osprey-Hang Glide-michigan - Photo by Ike Austin

Osprey-Hang Glide-michigan – Photo by Ike Austin

 

Osprey Automatic Knives Michigan Birds - Photo by Ike Austin

Osprey Automatic Knives Michigan Birds


About the Osprey

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Kensington MetroPark

Group: Hawks and Egales
Name: Osprey
Pandion Haliaetus

Appearance:
The Michigan Osprey is a long 4′-6′ wingspan, black and white plumage, long skinny legs, and long powers intimidating talons.

Adult: Color is black and white

Juvenile: More grey-ish brown in color

Flight Characteristics:
Extended wings in flight and typically ride thermal drafts similar to large raptors. The Osprey will glide over the surface of water until it reach it’s nesting place.

Habitat: The Michigan Osprey prefers open grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting: Osprey will construct a rather large mounded nests made of branches and twigs of various sizes. They can be spotted high in the tops of trees, man-made platforms in parks and amazingly, high on top of 300′ foot high cell towers.

Incubates 2-4 yellowish eggs for appx 38 days. Younglings go in flight in about 50 days from day of birth.

Mating Habits: The Michigan Osprey mates for life.

Off Spring: (Juvenile) as with most larger birds.

Feeding: Fish.

Call: Series of low-high whistles.

 

About the Photography

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike Austin

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Bird by Ike Austin

Michigan Bird photo by Ike Austin

 

 

National Geographic
Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest

 

 

 

 

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Resources:

Osprey Sightings

Michigan Department of Natural Resources 

Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to Learn More…

The Department of Natural Resources requests help from wildlife observers to report any sightings of osprey in southern Michigan, particularly in the Maple River area (north of St. Johns,) and in southeast Michigan (Oakland, Wayne, Macomb and Livingston counties.) Report Osprey sightings here at DNR.

Birding Associations and Organizations

This Weeks Honorable Mention:

Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan (OWSEM)
Purpose: Osprey Watch of Southeast Michigan (OWSEM) is a volunteer organization.  Our goals are to help the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) in their efforts to restore the Osprey to Southern Michigan and to educate the public about this very special raptor.… Read More Here… http://www.owsem.org/

Membership Required: N

Informative Website Information: Y
Year Long Events: Y
Active Birder Blog(s): Y
Active Reporting: Daily
Informative Rating: 8

Osprey Nesting Endangered – Cell Towers

Read more here…

Nature Photography – by Ike Austin

Nature Photography that is Therapy for the Soul

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 
  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More Here

Michigan Birds – Sun and Darkness are Variables

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Michigan Birds – A Lesson Learned in Jimme’

I was standing one early morning facing the rising sun. Suddenly, a creature that was calmly gliding upon the surface of the water attracted my attention, it came to a complete stop and from a completed stationary position… exploded vertically straight up out of the water into the air. The being–I say being because an exchange of wisdom had taken place during this incident, in the forest of Jimme’ things look like animals but they are not.  This was no ordinary Mallard Duck like the one’s back at home where I come from.

Mallard Duck Michigan

Mallard Duck Michigan

All other flying beings that I had witnessed required a long run-way for a good running start to get air-born. This being was able to launch itself straight up into the air from a liquid substance, mind you just minutes before, the being was submerged under the water and not drowning. So, from under water, to the water’s surface, into the air and burst into sustained flight to go from one end of the forest to the other side in seconds. Traveling over many ground ridden obstacles it was able to avoid.

“You wonder,” the being said to my mind as it flew pass me, how I am able to not be handicapped by the three mediums–water, air and ground. Read More Here … Michigan Mallard Duck

Therapy to the Soul Photography by Ike Austin

 

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 
  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Order Book and Kindle Version Here
    (Use Charge Cards, Paypal or Amazon)


 

Sandhill Crane Michigan

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Sandhill Crane Michigan

All about the Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird.  What a rather strange and peculiar looking bird. The SandHill Crane looks more like a giant Big-Bird television character than a natural bird of Michigan.

Grus Canadensis

My first exposure to the rather large Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird took place several years ago. One day, my wife and I were cruising through Kensington Park in Michigan, when all of a sudden our attention was drawn to a rather loud trumpeting sound that echoed like it was being played through an amplifier. I stopped the car and we both starred in amazement at two nearly five feet tall giant prehistoric pterodactyl winged creatures on the golf course. It was these two birds that were responsible for the bellowing echo of a noise that could be heard for at least one mile I’m sure.  Each of the SandHill Crane’s heads bobbed up and down alternately as each took turns being lead noise maker. I had to quickly regroup my thoughts just to make sure I had not been transported into a Jurassic Park movie.

Sandhill Crane Michigan

Big, Brown, Beautiful Michigan Bird
Every Michigander will be shocked at their first sight of the SandHill Crane.  Observing the birds flight activity is therapeutic to watch.  Firstly, the the large grain smoothly glides through the sky. With hypnotic graceful flaps of its large wings, the over sized Crane is one that will bring excitement to the young and old alike.

 

Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird

Michigan – Blue Waters, Blue Birds – The Great Blue State

Michigan’s Big Brown Beautiful Bird

 

 

Sandhill Cranes

Sanshill Cranes – Michigan Bird by ike austin

 

 

The Michigan Sandhill Crane Surprise

You must understand that as growing up, all we city folks saw in our neighborhood were pigeons, sparrows and seagulls.

The sight of this SandHill Michigsn Big Bird was a total surprise because both my wife and I  had frequented Kensington Park  on  regular basis over the past thirty years and we have never encountered anything like the Michigan  Sandhill Crane, a huge noisy cackling bird that is hard to miss.

I have created a series of Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird photos for you to enjoy.  Learn More Here… Go to; Nature Photography  – Michigan Birds SandHill Crane

 

Michigan Sandhill Crane

Michigan Sandhill Crane

 

SandHill Crane Ancient Feet

Even the feet of this giant SandHill Crane Michigan Bird has a rather mechanical, prehistorical look that can quickly conjure up stories from one with a wild imagination.  The SandHill is a very astute parental bird. Both parents equally share in the responsibility to rear their young. These birds are often seen taking a strolls through with their young juveniles following closely behind mimicking the actions of the parent SandHills; pecking at small gravel, twigs or blades of grass.

On another occasion, we spotted a pair the the giant SandHill Michigan birds cackling up a storm; their was a German Shepard coming up the path.  What was so funny to my wife and myself, was that the dog was looking back and forth, first at the SandHill Michigan Cranes then at us, he did this several times. It was as though you could read his mind… the dog looking at us was thinking… “what the what is that”! Do you see what I see?  I’ve been visiting this park all my life, but I have never seen nothing like this be-fo!

 

SandHill Crane Michigan

SandHill Crane Michigan

 Michigan SandHill Crane – Photo by Ike Austin

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Kensington Metro Park

An early arrival to Kensington Park provided a rare sighting of a rather large Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a fence post, this post was only about three feet high.  This was indeed a strange sight being that this bird is normally seen perched high atop telephone poles twenty-fifty feet tall.  I slowly grabbed my camera and started to snap a stream of pictures thinking that the bird would take off as soon as it detected our presents.  But it did not fly off, the hawk stood on the post for hours looking all around at everything and everyone; as by this time a group of curious spectators had congregated on the spot. The SandHill Crane Michigan Giant was the point man on this one.

michigan bird by ike austin

Michigan Sandhill Crane Bird

Sandhill Crane Michigan the Curious Bird

Those curious hawk spectators included humans and other birds of all kinds; Blue Jays, Red Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmouse, and of course, the giant, tall lanky SandHill Crane soon arrived.    The smaller birds darted in and out from branch to branch quickly just to get a close up look at this hawk.  Then the Michigan SandHill spots this hawk and just like everyone else, it decided it was a strange sight indeed and just like all good humans, it had to get a closer look.  The SandHill took several quick long strides toward the hawks location, and then slowed as he got closer. After getting within a couple of feet of the hawk, the SandHill slightly tilted it’s head and blinked it’s eye’s.  You could now hear the Michigan SandHill Big Brown thinking the same thing all of the forest inhabitants were thinking… “what the what” is a hawk doing down this low and why is he not afraid of and of us, is he sick, or confused, disoriented perhaps?

Sandhill Crane Bird

Sandhill Michigan Bird by ike austin

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Erie Metro Park

For a few seconds we all braced ourselves for it looked as though the SandHill was actually about to strike out at the hawk.  But it did not… that was close!   I too was thinking that maybe the hawk was ill, but; that thought was soon abandoned because after about thirty minutes of so, the hawk decided he had seen enough of the underworld and suddenly hopped to another post, took one last look around, then flew off.  Big Brown Rustic SandHill Crane Michigan along with the rest of us watched in amazement.

SandHill Crane Mchigan Bird

Michigan SandHill Crane Early Morning Glide

 

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Wetland Overlord

The  Michigan SandHIll Crane – What a splendid bird of Michigan – One early morning just after sunrise, a giant air creature called a SandHill Crane Michigan Big Brown swooped past my position, passing me by without making a sound. Just then, after traveling a few hundred yards, Grus Canadensis started making a wide u-turn heading back toward me. The whole event took only a few seconds, I aimed my camera, focused, and snapped a couple of shots before the SandHill Crane was out of view–blocked by obstructions in the landscape. This is one large Michigan Bird to get such a close in flight shot of. The lighting, shadows and almost metallic looking plumage–how eloquent, how smooth to the eye-sight this bird look.

Lessons From Nature  – Michigan SandHill Crane Parenting Tips?

SandHill Crane – Parenting Tip of the Week

Lessons From Nature may present itself in a most peculiar looking bird, the SandHill Crane Michigan Bird. One of nature’s most interesting birds reside in Michigan, the Michigan SandHill Crane is picturesque bird, tall, slim, colorful, graceful in it’s walk and extended stride. The SandHill Crane is a relative new arrival here in Michigan(cranes Michigan) ). For most first time observers, the Michigan Crane size alone comes as a total surprise at first site.

A pair of  Michigan SandHill Cranes will echo alternate crane calls in synchronized sequence in unison as each Michigan Crane bobs his/her head up and down in opposite directions. The loud verbose trumpeting echo will travel for at least a mile. Everyone with’in this parameter know the going and coming of the infamous Sandhill Crane Michigan Big Brown Rustic also known as Sand Cranes.

Sand Cranes in Michigan are quickly populating farmlands, wetlands and Michigan Parks all over the State. They are often seen in singulary flight as well as mass migrations to New Mexico that could include thousands of Cranes heading for warmer weather. Those Michigan SandHill Cranes that remain will transform their summer rustic colored plummage for a more silver gray-ish color. This winter color will allow the Sandhill Crane Michigan bird to better blend against the winter background.

Sandhill Crane Michigan   Winged Giants
The Sand Hill Cranes sport’s a trademarked red baseball cap on top of their heads located just behind the beak. With a wing span that extends five to six feet, the average Sandhill Crane Michigan  bird stands about four to five feet tall and average ten to fifteen year life spans! Michigan Sand Hill Crane in Flight

 

Michigan Sand Hill crane
Michigan Sand Hill Crane – Great Parenting

What we can Learn – Mating for Life, Great Parenting Skills
In my observation of the Michigan Sand Hill Crane can teach us many lessons from nature, one in particular, I am impressed by the parental attention given to the young cranes. From the time they are born from the early colt stage, until they reach juvenile status (about ten months old), the young cranes are pampered and nurtured with great care; never leaving the parents eyesight. They are gently and plenty fed, walked, tucked and cuddled by both parents–yes the male SandHill Crane participates in raising the young and just like some rare morally correct humans, SandHill Crane Michigan birds mate for life; something we can learn from one of the largest birds in Michigan.

The Michigan Sand Hill Crane can make for some of the most interesting picturesque of crane birds and nature photography in Michigan. It is another one of those large birds that with the proper background can present themselves as creatures right out of a jarassic park prehistoric scene. ( See Sandhill Crane Michigan photo of three birds in flight above)

 

Sandhill Crane Michigan

Michigan Bird Details

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Kensignton MetroPark, Lake Erie MetroPark

Rails and Cranes
Name: SandHill Crane
Grus Canadensis

 

About the SandHill Crane Michigan

Appearance: The Sandhill Crane is a tall 4′-6′ tall grayish, brownish plumage, long skinny legs, and long bills.

Adult: Color is grey

Juvenile: Brownish red

Flight Characteristics: Extended necks in flight and typically ride thermal drafts similar to large raptors. SandHill Cranes will glide on a series of thermal rises until they reach their intended destination.

Habitat: The SandHill crane prefers open grasslands and wetlands.

Nesting: SandHills will construct a rather large mounded nests made of grass and leaves. Incubates 2 eggs for appx 29-32 days. Younglings go in flight in about 50 days from days of birth.

Mating Habits: The SandHill Crane mates for life.

Off Spring: (Chick or Colt)

Feeding: Insects, invertebrates, grain

Call: Very loud gobbly trumpeting sound and distinct sound the echoes for a great distance.

Listen-Video Here:  SandHill Crane Crane Call

 

Sandhill Crane Michigan

Resources:

Migration and Wintering

Michigan Department of Natural Resources 

Check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for SandCrane Hill Michigan migrations, Learn More… DNR Michigan.gov SandHill Crane

University of Michigan Zoology; Sandhill Crane Nesting Pairs and Breeding Population Learn More… U of M Zoology

Population, Numbers and Trends… Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 

MSU Distribution, Breeding Biology, Conservation Learn More… Michigan Bird Atlas

 

Sandhill Crane Michigan – Places of Interest

Michigan Huron-Clinton MetroParks

Check out the Michigan Lake Erie official website for park details. Learn More … Lake Erie Metropark

Check out the Michigan Kensington official website for park details. Learn More … Kensington Metropark

 

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 
  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More Here