Red Cardinals by IAustin

Red Cardinals & Nature

Bevy of White-Tailed Deer – Michigan, Does & Fawns

Bevy of White-Tailed Deer – Michigan, Does & Fawns

Odocoileus virginianus

Deer Royalty – Young Bucks

Deer YWhite-tailed Deer - Michigan, Young Bucks

Whitetailed Deer Michigan – Young Bucks

 

Off in the Distance – Bevy of White-tailed Deer

Bevy of White-tailed Deer - Michigan

White-tailed Deer – Michigan

Off in the distance–a group of deer, on the northern passage of Jimme’, hidden deep within Kensington forest, I heard a soft rumbling noise. I was standing behind the trunk of an old dead cottonwood tree. My attention was regularly focused in that direction because it is common for animals of all kind to enter in and leave this section of protected wetland. Animals follow the terrain even if it means walking in water, birds follow the terrain even when floating on the water’s surface or flying overhead.

White-tailed Deer - Michigan

Deer Trek – Migration – Early One Winter Morning – Bevy of Whitetail Michigan

As I patiently remained hidden behind the tree, the noisy splashing got louder and closer. Suddenly, a small bevy of white tailed deer came rumbling along the trail right down the center of the narrow, shallow entry-way giving the appearance they were running on water.

The herd of white-tailed deer resembled an excited family on an exploratory road trip. The larger matriarch was in the rear looking like a drill sergeant barking commands to the troop of does & fawns. The tightly formed troop of deer looked like they enjoyed following the commands of their group matriarch. I remained motionless as the small bevy of white-tailed deer thundered passed my concealed location never knowing they were being observed.

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

nature photography - michigan

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

Michigan Birds

Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan Bullfrog

Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan Bullfrog

Bullfrogs, Amphibians, Tadpoles Oh My!

Lithobates catesbeianus

Michigan BullFrog- Photo by Ike Austin

Michigan BullFrog- Photo by Ike Austin

 

Bullfrog, Michigan Wetland Wildlife
BullFrog Croaking Michigan

BullFrog Croaking Michigan

The Green Goblin of the Wetland

Early one cool summer morning in a Michigan Wetland, in the hidden forest of Jimme’, There sat an olive green, greenish, yellow yellowish, loud, billowing, king of the wetland sitting in the midst of milkweed, giant lily pads, moss-covered tree branches; in the forefront of edge of the wetland’s edge. It took me over an hour to slowly sneak up on the Bullfrog so that it would not jump into hiding. After sliding down a large fallen tree stump, I looked out and spotted the Bullfrog at approximately 20-30 feet distance. Unaware of my presence, the Bullfrog started it’s booming, resounding mating call. The side of its head and lower chin swelled filling with air and in the next second, it exhaled, echoing a boisterous trademark sound.

Michigan Bullfrog
Green skin, darker green, green about the tympanic ear, brown bumpy pimple of green, black emerald eyes, green ear lines, yellow chin if male, white chin if female, yellow chest, yellow breast, green legs, yellow with darker lined backside.

Wildlife in the Wetland

NATURE ART GALLERY

Wildlife in the Wetlands Art Related Resources:
View the entire art collection gallery – Wildlife in the Wetlands
Read about the careful art handling process – Art Process, Shipping & Handling

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

nature photography - michigan

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

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature
S
elect your favorite photo to be printed, mounted and framed.
E-mail: iaustin@daystarbooks.com

Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan FlyCatcher

Wildlife in the Wetland – Michigan FlyCatcher

Phoebe, Kingbirds and Willows, Oh My!

Sayornis Phoebe

 

FlyCatcher - Photo by Ike Austin

FlyCatcher – Photo by Ike Austin

 

FlyCatcher Michigan Wildlife in the Wetland

The Flying Insect Flycatcher

Late one humid summer afternoon in a Michigan Wetland, in the hidden forest of Jimme’, I saw small olive green-ish, yellowish bird land on a dead, moss covered tree branch; under the canopy of a willow tree. I slowly raised my camera and snapped a photo. I was approximately 20 feet distance and to my amazement, the FlyCatcher paused and looked directly at me. It had lived up to its legendary name “catching insects”, holding a green and yellow grasshopper in its beak; which also gave the Flycatcher a typical portrait pose for this shot.

Michigan FlyCatcher
Grey covets, grey tail, grey head, grey ear line feathers, greyish white chin, yellow chest, grey breast, black legs, grey with white lined tail feathers.

 

Wildlife in the Wetlands

Fly & Catch

NATURE ART GALLERY

Wildlife in the Wetlands Art Related Resources:

View the entire art collection gallery – Wildlife in the Wetlands
Read about the careful art handling process – Art Process, Shipping & Handling

 

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

nature photography - michigan

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

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature
S
elect your favorite photo to be printed, mounted and framed.
E-mail: iaustin@daystarbooks.com

 

Great Horned Owl – Michigan

Great Horned Owl – Michigan

Bubo virginianus

 

Great Horned Owl Michigan

Great Horned Owl Michigan

 

Far back off the beaten path, in one of Michigan’s Metro Parks, I spotted a Great Horned Owl departing from its well concealed nest of 4 owlets. ThirdSon and the River’s Sky Saga

 

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
National Graphic 2011-2014
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

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

Michigan Birds

 

 

Michigan Eastern Bluebird – Bird of Red, White, and Blue

Michigan Eastern Bluebird – Bird of Red, White, and Blue

Sialia sialis

 

Framed by blue skies, and deep patriotic red, white, and blue colors; sitting colorfully looking out in serious contemplation, the Eastern Bluebird adorns the casual observer with a pleasing sight of beauty.

Looking like a royal flag staked on a branch, high above the wetlands, found all across the state of Michigan.

With its unique red, white, and blue plumage, only the Eastern Bluebird can boast colors that represent patriotism found is so many flags of nations.

Eastern Blue Bird

Eastern Blue Bird

 

 

 

Eatern Bluebird

Eatern Bluebird

Nature Photography Eastern Bluebird

Nature Photography Eastern Bluebird

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

nature photography - michigan

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

Michigan Birds

Wood Duck – Michigan

Wood Duck – Michigan, Nature Photography

Aix Sponsa

 

The question is answered…

 

Wood Duck Michigan

Wood Duck Michigan

 

Wood Ducks and Creation

If Creation were racist—as all religions on Lower Earth secretly hope—the plumage of this Wood Duck would be all one solid color.

Instead; there are colors of brown, beige, blue and teal,
speckles of burgundy, red, and black, solid greens, with strips of white, patched together, making one quilt of a sight.

For those true sons that have eyes to appreciate, to see more beauty in diversity.

“Plumage of many colors,” “coat of many colors,”
people of many colors,” represent a deeper truth – Dialog With Nature.

Nature is the unedited word of  “the God” of creation.

ThirdSon, Quilts by Nature 

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

 

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification

Photo Taken: Kensington Metro Park, Michigan

About the Wood Duck

Aix Sponsa

Appearance: The Wood Duck is a colorful bird. At times the Wood Duck is very skittish and glides near the edge of lily pads, along the rim of grassy wetland, and watching for the slightest movement or  something out of place that wasn’t there before. Other times the Wood Duck can stare you down with those large red eyes. The Wood Duck like most ducks is a swift flier. Wing span can can extend to 3-4 feet.

Adult: Male is multicolored, its covert and wing bars quilted with vivid patches of plumage with bright metallic feathers on its head.

Flight Characteristics: Swift and quick wings in flight and typically flapping their wings as they rapidly lift and fly off. Wood Ducks prefer open wooded marshes, and wetlands.

Mating Habits: The Wood Duck start courtship during the fall and winter at migration spots. The female Wood Duck selects her mate and are usually monogamous for life.

Migration: Fall migration southward, the Wood Duck returns to northern regions early spring.

Nesting: Will construct a nest open tree cavities as high up as 50 feet. Incubates 10-12 pale white eggs for appx 25-35 days. Young are generally shown where to find food(vegetation and nuts) and gain independence in as little as 30-35 days.

Off Spring: (Called Ducklings)

Feeding: Day hunter. Some diet food includes; vegetation, nuts, and grasses.

Call: Very low squeaky sound.

 

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 

 

For an interesting, imaginative, new awareness view about life and attitudes… read the book below.

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birds

 

  • 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 long river shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next (from bridge to bridge – Ambassador to Bell Isle). I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds Photography Night Heron

 

 

Visit the photo gallery to request prints, photos or screen savers you feel you particularly enjoy.
Nature Photography By Ike Austin

Michigan Birds Dialogue with Nature

The decisions of one, affects all—ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Exquisite Art

 

 

Michigan Cedar Waxwing – Oil Dipped Wing Tips

Michigan Cedar Waxwing – Oil Dipped Wing Tips – Sitting on a Branch

Bombycilla Cedrorum

The most beautiful, handsome, colorful, mysterious, portrait, pose, of a Cedar Waxwing Michgan bird.

Black masked eyepatch, autumn tinted bronze mantle, gradually, softly fades to grey. Master painted, oil dipped blood red, dapped on tips of secondary wings.  With brightest lemon yellow nature could find artistically stroked at the tip of the tail. To capture and hold, briefly those that behold… mesmerizing beauty sitting on green.

 

Cedar Waxwing Michigan

Cedar Waxwing Michigan

 

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

nature photography - michigan

 

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

Michigan Birds

Ancient of Days – Snapping Turtle – Michigan

Of Ancient Days, I happened upon this being…

Ancient of Days

 

Ancient of Days - Snapping Turtle

Ancient of Days

 

 

Appearing in the forest of Jimme’ at the edge of the southern province, I happened on what I could best describe as the living ancient of days, the old one, the one who slowly… expressed itselfsaying…”I am very, very old, and, very, far away.”

I slightly turned, tilting my head, and narrowed my eyes to the thinnest slits so I could covertly peak to see if anyone was standing nearby; but, nobody was present.

After a long enough pause the being continued speaking… “‘I hear you”, it said to me in a low, slow, drawn out voice.

Then, there was a spell of silence.

 

Old Snapping Turtle

Old Snapping Turtle

 

I stood in astonishment because I could see the bi-present being right in front of me, yet, I felt a great distance unlike ever imaged, an incomprehensible gulf between me and the entity other consciousness. The ancient being was here in my presents and at the same time its second consciousness resides elsewhere (as I’ve said, in the mystical forest of Jimme’ powerful beings often present themselves as inconspicuous forest creatures.)

 

The bi-present entity knew of my personal turmoil and concerns over the past several days and spoke directly to my mind saying…

“Nature is the mind and the mind is Nature.

Nature can be in turmoil, or calm.

But, it is the calm that heals the body.”

I took this to mean…
It takes a period of time, maintaining three things in sustained condition to germinate a healthy seed/soul; heat, light, and moisture; any one element in scarcity, instantly the seed is ill-fated.

Within a few moments after this most inspiring dialogue with nature began, I sensed the presents of the ancient one diminish.
The turtle, then raised its head higher and spoke one word saying… “Archie!”

I interpreted that word to be related to…”remember the daystar.”

 

Nature is mind, mind is Nature
Calm images of Nature held in the mind, are healing the soul.

The mind that holds scenes of Nature, germinates healing the body.
ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Red Fox – Michigan Wildlife in the Wetland

Red Fox – Michigan Wildlife in the Wetland

Foxes, Raccoon, and Minks Oh My!

Vulpas, Vulpas Fluva

 

Red Fox - Michigan

Red Fox – Michigan Wildlife in the Wetland

All Decked in Red Fox

Early one cold winter morning on a Michigan Winter Wetland in the hidden forest of Jimme’, I saw a four-legged creature trotting across the frozen surface leaving a long trail of paw prints in its travel. I raised my camera and snapped a photo. I was approximately 150 feet distance and to my amazement, the Red Fox stopped turned its head around and looked directly at me. I guess those legendary big ears are in fact head mounted sonic radars; giving the fox super hearing.

Michigan Red Fox
Red furry coat, red tail, read head, read ears, white chin, white chest, black legs, black paws, white tipped tail.

Redhead Winter Duck – Michigan Wildlife in the Wetlands

Nature Art Michigan Winter Duck

Redhead “In Coming!”

A swift & agile Redhead winter duck came streaming onto the lake for a hot landing into a social crowd of already wading-in-the-water winter ducks.

NATURE ART GALLERY

Wildlife in the Wetlands Art Related Resources:
View the entire art collection gallery – Wildlife in the Wetlands
Read about the careful art handling process – Art Process, Shipping & Handling

 

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

nature photography - michigan

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

Michigan Birds 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature
S
elect your favorite photo to be printed, mounted and framed.
E-mail: iaustin@daystarbooks.com