Dreamy Sandhill Crane Flight

It was early morning and still half dark, as these Sandhill Cranes flew away from the pond. A slow shutter speed from my camera produced this... more

by Judi Dressler

Title

Dreamy Sandhill Crane Flight

Artist

Judi Dressler

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

It was early morning and still half dark, as these Sandhill Cranes flew away from the pond. A slow shutter speed from my camera produced this dreamy, artistic image with beautiful wing blur. The cranes had been spending every night in the water of the large pond at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, and shortly after sunrise every morning, they would take off in small groups for the nearby corn fields, where they would spend the day.

Sandhill Cranes have an elegance that draws attention. These tall, gray-bodied, crimson-capped birds breed in open wetlands, fields, and prairies across North America. Cranes are extremely social birds, and they communicate via sounds and visual displays. They gesture with whole-body postures and movements, thereby expressing emotion and intent. Sandhill Cranes have a bugling call that is very beautiful and unique, and can be heard from miles away.

Photo taken on October 31, at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.

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Won 1st Place in FAA's FIDDLING WITH FOCUS contest, 12/12/20

Tied for 1st Place in FAA's "Masters It's What I See" contest, on 11/23/20

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Descriptive keywords and tags for this photo include sandhill cranes, cranes, sandhill crane, flying, flight, motion blur, wings, storks, group, shorebird, water bird, slow shutter, slow shot, artistic, dreamy, soft, winter, fall, monte vista, national, wildlife refuge, birds, grus canadensis, gruiformes, grus, colorado, wildlife, avian, wings, judi dressler, and dressler.

Uploaded

November 6th, 2020