Whooping Crane – Wandering Dawgs

Sunday Stills – World Animal Day

October 9, 2025Posted in Birds, Nature, North Carolina, Photography, Texas, WildlifeTagged Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Bugling Elk, Cataloochee Valley, Photo Challenge, Sunday Stills, Whooping Crane, World Animal Day18 Comments

Terri’s latest Sunday Stills challenge is World Animal Day which was celebrated on October 4, 2025. Two animals that were on my bucket list were Whooping Cranes in Texas and Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Seeing these animals in the wild was an amazing experience.

Whooping Cranes

According to the International Crane Foundation – North America, Whooping Cranes were near extinction with fewer than 20 individuals in 1941. Today, over 849 Whooping Cranes exist in the entire world.

We traveled to the Texas Gulf Coast one year hoping to see some of the Whooping Cranes who winter in and around the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. These birds breed at Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park and migrate to Texas every winter. Today there are more than 500 of these beautiful birds.

We found these magnificent Whooping Cranes near Goose Island State Park, south of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. I posted about this amazing experience at Magnificent Endangered Whooping Cranes.

Pair of Whooping Cranes, near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Cataloochee Valley Elk

One fall we traveled to Waynesville, North Carolina in search of Elk in Cataloochee Valley on the eastern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I posted about our Elk viewing adventure at Cataloochee Valley Elk.

In February, 2001, the National Park Service began an experimental reintroduction of elk into Cataloochee Valley by releasing 25 elk from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area on the Tennessee-Kentucky border. Another 27 elk from Canada were released in 2002. Today there are approximately 200 elk.

Bugling Elk, Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina

The breeding season, also known as the rutting season, is in the fall. During this time the bull elk make their bugling calls to attract females and challenge other bulls.

Female Elk, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina

Female Elk, Cataloochee Valley, North Carolona

Many thanks to Terri for her Sunday Stills challenge World Animal Day

Every Day is a Gift

More than one Bird Species in a Photo

June 8, 2021Posted in Birds, Nature, PhotographyTagged birdweekly, more than one bird species, Roseate Spoonbill, Sand Hill Crane, Whooping Crane, wood stork19 Comments

Our Bird Weekly challenge this week is to show more than one bird species in a photo. The photos at the top of the page and this next photo were taken in the spring near Goose Island State Park in Texas. The Whooping Cranes and Sand Hill Cranes were in a farmer’s field every morning along with ducks and other bird species.

We wandered around Everglades National Park several times and enjoyed seeing the many bird species there.

Tri Colored Heron and Roseatte Spoonbill at Mrazek Pond 2012.

Spoonbill and Egret at Mrazek Pond, Everglades National Park 2012

At Mrazek Pond, Everglades National Park 2012

Closer to home, I often see Wood Storks sharing the same space with Egrets, Herons or Ibises. This image is one of my favorites of a Wood Stork with an Egret perched on the same tree branch.

Thanks to Lisa for her Bird Weekly Challenge: More than one Bird Species in a photo

Bird Weekly Challenge #30: Birds that begin with the letter “C”

January 14, 2021Posted in Birds, Nature, PhotographyTagged American Coot, birdweekly, Canada Geese, Carolina Chikadee, Cormorant, Northern Cardinal, Photo Challenge, Sandhill Crane, Whooping Crane14 Comments

C is for Cormorant, Cardinal, Canada Geese, Carolina Chickadee, American Coot, Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane.

Thank you Lisa. for this Bird Weekly Challenge: Birds that begin with the letter “C”

Bird Weekly Challenge #27: Birds with Long Wingspans

January 7, 2021Posted in Birds, Nature, PhotographyTagged American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, birdweekly, long wingspan, Osprey, Photo Challenge, Red Tailed Hawk, Roseate Spoonbill, Whooping Crane14 Comments

The wingspan of the American White Pelican can be as much as nine feet wide. A single pelican is shown in the image above and the next image is a trio flying over the water.

These are some more of of my favorite captures of birds with long wingspans.

Thank you Lisa. for this Bird Weekly Challenge: Birds with Long Wingspans

Bird Weekly Challenge #23: Long Legged Birds

November 18, 2020Posted in Birds, Nature, PhotographyTagged Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, birdweekly, Goose Island State Park, Long legged birds, Photo Challenge, Whooping Crane16 Comments

Every year, endangered Whooping Cranes fly south from Canada to spend their winter along the Texas Gulf Coast at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Sometimes some of the cranes can be seen in open fields near Goose Island State Park in Rockport.

Several years ago we spent a few days at Goose Island State Park in hopes of seeing some of these endangered Whooping Cranes. Every day we went out in search of these beautiful birds and every day we saw them. I posted about our experience at Magnificent Endangered Whooping Cranes.

Thank you Lisa. for this Bird Weekly Challenge #23: Long Legged Birds