A week after Tony and the grandchildren returnedto Arizona, Mrs. T. and I decided on a little road trip over to Wisconsin. The destination was the new headquarters building at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Just recently reopened after the Tea Parties folly, the day provided a big surprise. Are you ready for some birding?
After visiting the welcome center we hiked a boardwalk around the adjacent pond.
Whoopers !!!! Three pairs to be exact. And my first "lifers" of 2013." What a thrill.....:)
Nice, TB. You sure know how to make these things interesting. :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I don't think I've ever seen one, but I probably would have thought the same thing you did, on first glance.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a sight :)
ReplyDeleteDid they start another flock in Barabou?
ReplyDeletenice! i had cousins that lived in necedah and we'd get over there every couple of years. i think there is a grotto/shrine over there somewhere that we'd go to see.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I would have guessed egrets too. I love Wisconsin; I have some family there. Lovely lakes.
ReplyDeleteWhoopers are a thrill. I haven't seen them for about 60 years. You're fortunate to see these.
ReplyDeleteYour shots displayed the red on their heads very well. Very graceful as they waded. I can imagine how thrilled you were! -- barbara
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever seen the Whooping Cranes but we see the Sandhills often right in our field cleaning up the grasshoppers in the winter rye.
ReplyDeleteCool that you got to see them.
Life is Grand
Wow, lucky you. I have never seen one much less three pairs. How close we came to losing them.
ReplyDeleteTo see three pairs is pretty exciting! Especially since they are so endangered. What a lovely find!
ReplyDeleteCOngrats! What a sighting. Wisconsin is such a pretty state. We just got back home and spent a few days wandering the back back back roads of SW Wisconsin. I don't think we saw an ugly route anywhere!
ReplyDeleteWay to go..and a big thrill for a Birder like you! :)
ReplyDeleteWell congratulations! Always an extra special treat.
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
Excellent!!! I'm so looking forward to seeing their return to our area [only a week or two, and they should be here]
ReplyDeleteDo consider adding your post's link to the meme The Bird D'Pot. I'm sure the birders there today will really enjoy your post of the Whooping Crane.
Enjoyed seeing the photos of your Arizona grandkids and your son. I, too, am retired from teaching. You mentioned on my blog about St Paul (?) being your "old hometown." Where did you teach and when did you retire, if I may be so bold to ask? I'll see if I can figure out how to follow your blog!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill for you! And I love how you built to the Big Finish!
ReplyDeleteCongrats my friend!
ReplyDeleteHope you picked up some good cheese to complement your tea:) I think if I'd seen those birds, I'd have scared them away with my whooping.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from Ms. Sparrow's. Enjoyed your pictures a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to see them! They must still be very rare.
ReplyDeleteWe saw huge flocks of sandhill cranes a few weeks ago in the wildlife refuge here. They were quite raucous. So noisy we couldn't hear ourselves talk.
Wow, wow, wow. This is simply an amazing sight. Good for you that you spotted them! When it comes to rarity I remind myself that seeing a whooper is like a Midwestern version of seeing a snow leopard!
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