Landscape Transition

Here in South Central Pennsylvania we have undergone rapid transitions to our landscape twice in the past two weeks.  After an autumn and winter without snow cover, we were inundated with over two feet of snow arriving the evening of January 22nd and continuing through the entire day of the 23rd.  The snow compacted, evaporated, and melted some over the next week until about six inches remained.  This week the days warmed into the 40's to lower 50's melting the snow rapidly.   This was the situation on Tuesday when I shot the first four of photos posted here.

The creek ice which was safe to walk on a few days before was beginning to show signs of cracking due to water levels rising.

Areas of water pooled on the softening ice in some areas.

And in the rapids areas of open water with floating ice made it clear that the ice break-up was underway.

Rain arrived during Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning it was heavy at time.  The rain exacerbated the melting sending a heavy flow of water into the streams.  By Thursday morning the creek bordering our farm was flowing freely.

Remnants of the winter's ice cover remain strewn on the creek banks.

And Daffodils have already emerged in anticipation of the arrival of Spring.

Captures of Winter

After experiencing mostly mild winters for the past two decades, this winter has seen sustained cold and snow.  I captured the photos posted here before a brief warming spell melted much of the snow pack a week ago.  Now with snow and 0 deg. temps in the forecast for tomorrow there is no doubt that we must wait a while yet until winter loosens its grasp.


Canon EOS 6D, EF 24-105mm f/4L USM @28mm    f/5.6,1/800/ISO-160




Canon EOS 6D, EF 600mm f/4 IS USM   F/5.6, 1/100 ISO-320



Canon EOS 6D, EF 600mm f/4 IS USM   F/5.6, 1/400 ISO-800



Canon EOS 6D, EF 600mm f/4 IS USM   F/5.6, 1/2500 ISO-320



Canon EOS 6D, EF 600mm f/4 IS USM   F/5.6, 1/125 ISO-320



Canon EOS 6D, EF 600mm f/4 IS USM   F/5.6, 1/160 ISO-320

Wildlife in Winter

 

Each season presents wildlife with its own set of challenges; during the short cold days of winter finding adequate food and shelter is challenge enough.  The predominately oak forest in my region usually produce an acorn crop that many species including wild turkey depend upon for winter forage.  With the 2013 acorn crop a bust, this flock of turkeys has located a field where a local dairy farmer has spread manure.  While cow manure does not sound appetizing to us, the bits of undigested grain it contains brings these big birds back for a daily life sustaining meal. 

 

 

While deer have no choice but to stay out in the cold, they do have ways of coping with the chilly temperatures.  During cold windy weather deer will seek out thermal cover, vegetation that breaks the wind.  On cold sunny days they will often be found on southern exposures where the warming rays of the winter sun makes the day much more tolerable.  In addition to utilizing protection from the terrain, deer also have the ability to make their insulating coats thicker or thinner.  This deer, photographed on a morning when the thermometer read about 10 degrees, has its coat fluffed for maximum warmth. 

 

 

Humans can play a considerable role in the winter survival of some species.  Many songbirds depend upon backyard feeders to supplement their diet with high calorie foods such as sunflower seeds and suet. 

 

In a sometimes undesired way, backyard bird feeders also provide a ready food source to predator species.  This coopers hawk, with breast feathers fluffed to ward of the chill, watches intently for its chance at an unwary bird. 

 

 

 

 

In the ongoing cycle of life, the stress of winter removes the old, the weak, the infirm, and the unwary.  In death they in turn become food for the predator and scavenger species continuing the unending cycle of life and the continuous evolution through survival of the fittest.

 

Winter Bluebirds

Male Eastern Bluebird

 

With a light snow falling, I headed out to see what I could find late this morning.  At my first stop I found a mixed flock of titmice and juncos feeding on the ground.  After mounting the camera to the tripod and closing the distance I was watching intently for a photo opportunity when this male eastern bluebird lit on a nearby snow dusted branch.

Female Eastern Bluebird

 

A moment later the female arrived, perching on a multiflora rose branch just below the male and began feeding on the rose hips.

Female Eastern Bluebird with rose hip

 

While multiflora rose are considered by humans as an obnoxious invasive species, I am sure that the bluebirds would disagree.

Feeding Whitetails

Whitetail feeding on Multiflora Rose

 

Whitetails are opportunistic feeders and will utilize any food source that they find to their liking.  Browse is the single most important component of their diet during the winter months and the deer in my area have found multiflora rose to their liking.  Multiflora rose, now considered an invasive species was first established here by soil and wildlife conservation agencies.  Multiflora roses bloom with a profusion of small flowers and produce huge numbers of 6-8mm diameter rose hips which many species of wildlife utilize.  During the winter months the deer are undaunted by the sharp thorns as they give the bushes a good trimming.

Whitetails feeding on Ferns

 

Frankly, as much as I observe deer, I was surprised to observe a herd of deer digging for fern fronds.  There was to doubt that they were intentionally targeting the ferns and after returning home and googling the food value of ferns I could easily see why.  Ferns contain significant amounts of minerals and vitamins; apparently a good source of winter nutrition when included along with higher calorie foods in the daily diet.   

Fawn eating a Fern Frond

 

 

 

A Winter Morning With Whitetails In The Woodlands

 After a week of cold temperatures the weather moderated with an incoming snow storm Friday afternoon.  By Saturday morning the storm had dwindled to flurries and the deer were actively feeding in the woodland.

Deer utilize many types of forage and during winter browse is high on their agenda. 

By late morning the deer had finished feeding

Spending the mid-day bedded up

Wintering Whitetails

 The harsh weather and limited food supplies makes winter a struggle for survival. The deer depend upon various food supplies to get them through the winter.  Much of their time is spent browsing twigs from ground level to as high as a deer can reach standing nearly erect.

 Supplemental feeding is discouraged or made unlawful by conservation agencies however food plots planting are usually encouraged.  Food plots as pictured here are often used by hunters for attracting deer during the hunting seasons but they can also be an important source of winter survival food.

While this winter has been unusually mild, winter survival food is still important as wildlife continues to feed upon last years growth until warm spring temperatures bring on the lush growth of a new season.

A Gentle Giant

At first light Sunday morning Willard and I again began driving the roads around Benezette in search of elk. After checking Winslow Hill we turned onto Rt 555. After checking out a herd of cows, calves and young bulls feeding in a lawn we were heading back towards Benezette when I spotted two rack bulls feeding between a house and barn. Turning onto a side road we stopped to photograph the bulls.

The largest bull, posted here, turned out to be a bull we were very familiar with. I have had the privilege to have photographed him over a period of four years. Currently one of my images of him from the rut of 2008 graces both the 2010 Pa Game Commission calendar and the March/April issue of Pennsylvania Magazine

During all of my encounters with this animal he has been very docile and absolutely fearless of humans, neither attempting to approach or to retreat. This photograph was taken in the current Elk Hunt Zone 2.

How can I say it; it both breaks my heart and makes me boiling mad, that some would kill & assist to kill this gentle animal in the name of sport hunting and then have the audacity to call him a “Trophy”. 

Beginning: Spring Migrations

As temperatures begin to rise and the snow pack recedes, early signs of spring are beginning to appear. With our ponds, marshes and lakes still locked in ice I decided to check some local creeks for waterfowl this morning. After unsuccessfully check a few spots I spotted a pair of geese.

I have noticed over the past few days that the large wintering flocks are beginning to break up and finding geese on this creek indicates that they are beginning to move to their nesting sites.

This encounter with the geese soon took an unexpected turn giving me a honker photo shoot like I had never encountered before. Sorry, but you’ll have to check back later for the “action” shots!

Early this morning I passed an ice covered pond noticing a lone red-winged blackbird perched among the bull rushes, my first for this year. This was the same spot where I observed my first red-winged blackbird last year on February 21st. By this afternoon flocks of redwings were moving through our area on their journey northward.

During my time afield today I flushed a pair of ducks that I was unable to identify or photograph from along this creek. While walking along the water’s edge I heard the unmistakable staccato rattle call of the belted kingfisher, a few moments later it flew past, another first for the season.

The calendar indicates that spring is still two weeks away but nature is already heeding the call of a new season of renewal.

Winter: A Time of Hardship

Even as winter begins to loosen its grasp the time of hardship is not past for our wildlife.

The green sprouts of spring may be too long in coming to save this orphaned fawn from death.

I have been noticing this fawn recently and have observed how its body is wasting away. Although not readily apparent in the first photograph this shot of it walking away shows it protruding pelvis well.

At no time have I observed it with an adult female. I would expect that from whatever cause that it was orphaned and has had to face the winter alone without the guidance and experience that an older deer could provide.

With the exception of a few individuals the whitetail herd in our area appears to be wintering well.

A Wild Turkey Adventure: Part 4

As the fight continued it was evident that both toms were tiring. The fighting became less frantic although the serious intent of the birds did not diminish

During this phase of the fight the stronger bird expended considerable effort in attempts to force his opponent to the ground.

Once again grappling his opponent’s head the stronger bird forced its head down onto its back. Note the severe neck twist captured here

After a few moments of struggling the weaker gobbler collapsed on the snow with outstretched wings as the winner looks on.

After resting for a minute and regaining his composure the losing bird arose, walking away from the arena of combat escorted by the proud victor.

Checking the photograph’s time code revealed that this fight had raged for 19 minutes.

Brad Myers asked in one comment what I will do to top this. I don’t know Brad but I am sure that in due time another surprising and exciting wildlife experience will occur; that is what keeps me going back to the outdoors every chance I get!

A Wild Turkey Adventure: Part 3

I promised yesterday to show what the other gobblers were doing during the fight. Well here they are, staying close to the fight, appearing to referee but in reality being nothing more than close up spectators.

With snow flying from their feet the gobblers fought violently while another gobbler looks on, probably glad that he isn’t the one getting knocked about.

At moment when the observing gobbler wasn’t paying attention the combatant on the left nearly leaves the ground in a spray of snow kicked up as each tried to better the other. This is one of my favorite shots of the entire episode.

In shooting this fight I was using the camera in AV exposure mode, evaluative metering, and compensating +1 to +1.3 stops while pausing often to check the LCD for blinkies (over exposure) and not worrying too much if some of the snow was over exposed. I also stopped down some (F6.3-7.1) to give a deeper DOF as the subjects were moving so fast as to make exact focusing difficult.


I have enjoyed reading all of the nice comments concerning this series. Some of your comments require a reply so here goes.

First I must admit; yes I am stringing you along but the fight was such an interesting event and I captured so many images that I didn’t feel that I could do it justice with just one post.

Chris
Wild Turkeys are quite common in America and are now found in nearly all states and in some Canadian provinces. Although early settlers did put quite a dent in their population they have rebounded wonderfully. State wildlife agencies with help from private groups such as the National Wild Turkey Foundation have been instrumental in improving wild turkey habitat and in relocating birds to suitable habitat that previously held none. Much research has been done with wild turkeys and it continues as evidenced in an earlier post featuring the Pa Game Commission capturing and banding turkeys in preparation for a new four year hen survival study. You mentioned that perhaps I enjoyed this unique moment; certainly! This was by far the most exciting encounter I have ever experienced with wild turkeys.

Les (Corker2)
I have been around wild turkeys all of my adult life and have spent considerable time observing them as well as hunting them. This was the first time I have ever witnessed a fight of this magnitude. I did some searching on YouTube and found where a couple of videos are posted showing gobblers grappling each other. Wild turkeys are normally very reclusive; the best way to photograph them is to wait at a location where they frequently feed. It takes a lot of time but it can pay off handsomely, besides where turkeys frequent many other critters will as well.

Brad
I guess I have the opposite reaction when an exciting moment happens; I find that I am so busy trying to capture images that I miss a lot of the action then learn more about it later as I review the images.

Mona (Montanagirl)
As you and anyone else who photographs wildlife knows, timing is everything! I have spent hours and hours with turkeys and other wildlife that was doing absolutely nothing. Wildlife feeding or just standing/sitting around can be good for portraits but when the action breaks; that’s when the real fun begins!

Thanks everyone for all of your nice comments. Stop back later, more to come

A Wild Turkey Adventure: Part 2

As suddenly as the commotion began the landscape fell silent when from the fray two turkeys emerged locked in battle. With heads locked and breasts against one another the gobblers pushed and shoved with all of their strength.

When the head hold gave way the gobblers would grapple again trying to grab the other in the most advantageous hold all the while shoving their bodies together.

In this close-up shot the combatants are holding each other with their necks intertwined while jockeying for the head hold. As the gobblers vied for the advantageous hold their heads and necks reminded me of two vertical snakes twirling together

A close-up of the head lock with one gobblers lower beak in the mouth of his opponent and his upper over the top of the head while the others upper beak is inside the mouth with his lower below the lower beak of the other contestant.

My observation during this fight was that the gobbler with his upper beak over the top of the head of his opponent had the advantage.

In all of my years of observing wild turkey behavior this is the first time I have ever witnessed a fight between two adult gobblers where they grappled each other. Previously I had observed charges, kick-boxing, and some pecking but never anything remotely resembling this serious silent battle for supremacy.

In the next post we will take a better look at the violent action taking place here and a look at what the two accomplices were doing while these two gobblers fought their intense battle.