Time For Good News

It is close to Christmas and we need some good news.

The northern shoveler and the gadwall continue to move around at Sweet Marsh. Neither can fly very far, but they are upright, moving, and flying short distances. Maybe they will pull through the outbreak? Maybe??

Yellow Border Stories

From early childhood into mid-life I was an avid reader of National Geographic magazine. Their tell-tale yellow border was impossible to miss when looking for that specific magazine. When I did read National Geographic it was not uncommon to skip the headline article, instead searching for the article and photos about wildlife and outdoor photography - often near the back of the magazine.

I thought about National Geographic today - especially the wildlife photography - as I was shooting pictures of a Canada goose no longer able to stand or open wings, and a cygnet trumpeter swan slowly walking with its head tilted, and bald eagles feeding on dead trumpeter swans. Before I pressed the shutter release I did what I could to help my pictures tell a story - just as Nat Geo photos do. As much as possible I watched my composition and lighting.

I will let you decide if my videos and images are telling stories. Yes, the messages are sad. But, they are accurate representations of life (and death) in the wild. Seeing this is not easy.

The video I put together today features the weak goose and swan as well as eagles feeding on swans. I recorded it as I saw it. Viewer discretion is advised.

This is the link to the video: Life and Death at Sweet Marsh

Another Two Part Post - Waterfowl Observations and Outbreak Update

With an outbreak underway at Sweet Marsh I would rather not see too many duck species here during winter. But, today I observed and photographed a gadwall, northern shoveler, and mallards along with Canada geese and trumpeter swans. Hopefully none of these ducks have been exposed, but I would guess they have been.

As waterfowl die at Sweet Marsh, scavenging is underway. Today I watched bald eagles and American coots feed on dead waterfowl. This then puts the scavengers at risk of the same ugly deaths.

For the first time today I found that some birds are being…

Another Two Part Post - Swans and Red-shouldered Hawks

I am disappointed to share that at least two more adult trumpeter swans and one cygnet (young of the year) trumpeter swan have perished in the outbreak at Sweet Marsh. More waterfowl, raptors, or carrion eaters may have succumbed without detection. The situation is sad.

These losses have been reported to the Iowa DNR.

Another Two Part Post - Fun and Not Fun

My “fun” photos for the day included a male northern cardinal, wild turkeys, and an adult bald eagle in flight. I have concerns about the adult bald eagle since before my photo it was one of three eagles feeding on a downed Canada goose, but for the duration of my photo it appeared healthy. Let’s hope good health stays with it.

The “Not Fun” photos feature…

Two-part Post - Fun and Not Fun

For the past days I have been monitoring an outbreak at Sweet Marsh that is resulting in the deaths of waterfowl - ducks, Canada geese, and swans. I checked on them today again, but those details will follow the fun photos for today.

On my drive away from the “Death Zone” I noticed cows feeding not too far from the road. Under normal conditions I would not have slowed. With the snow today and the lighting I stopped for a few pictures. I thought the images were fun…

Painful Reality

What I have been fearing became a painful reality this morning. I have been expecting to see dead trumpeter swans. What I was not expecting was that the first affected swan I would see was going to be a young swan I have seen often in my videos. And it was in the dying process. That was hard…

What If?

Readers with a history of sunrises and sunsets behind them may remember a time when whitetails in Northeast Iowa were a rarity. About the same time seeing bald eagles was a special moment. Neither species was common as both are now.

I don’t remember what happened or how the population of deer was increased to the level they are now - almost too many in some locales. Bald eagle numbers rebounded after the book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson was published. The book was the beginning of the end for DDT - a chemical that was causing soft shells in eagles and other birds following indiscriminate use.

I thought about deer and DDT and geese and swans and wildlife illnesses today as I scanned the “Death Zone” at Sweet Marsh with my drone. This morning I saw at least 42 dead Canada geese, a handful of dying geese, and many more waterfowl (including swans) gathered together in close proximity. I wondered how far this outbreak will go?

What if Canada geese - the birds we tend to ignore or become frustrated become like eagles once were? I know that is a long shot, but what if? Or, what if our whitetail deer herd is severely impacted by chronic wasting disease or hemorrhagic disease? Both are confirmed in the state, both are not far from us. What if our deer herd and our goose flocks - along with other wildlife - are suddenly reduced in numbers? Not only would there be an economic impact, but what if the landscape is void of those sightings?

We have a few months before our weather warms again. Between now and then the most vulnerable wildlife will be taken by disease, predators, or just because many don’t survive from year to year. What if the illnesses affecting our wildlife have a disproportionate affect compounding the losses? When will we know? Who is monitoring the big picture? Might we relive a silent spring? Hopefully these situations are being watched.

This link will take you to my video from this mornings view at the “Death Zone” at Sweet Marsh.

Sweet Marsh Waterfowl Update

Following are pictures from today.

An Uneasiness

Lately my visits to Sweet Marsh have come with trepidation - what might I see, how bad will it be - a person just does not know when an illness outbreak is occurring within wild populations.

Since we are in the second week of the shotgun deer hunting season I am opting to stay off the dikes as much as possible. Without going on the dikes, my only option to check the status of the waterfowl outbreak is to fly my drone out to the “death zone.” Actually, by using the drone…

Waterfowl in the Death Zone and Positivity

As soon as the fog dissipated slightly this morning I put my drone in the air to check the status of the waterfowl die-off at Sweet Marsh. Unlike yesterday when there were very few trumpeter swans gathered with the Canada geese (many dead or dying), today there were sixty or more swans in the small area of open water. The good news is…

Possible Avian Influenza at Sweet Marsh

The Iowa DNR put out a press release about avian influenza within the past couple/few days followed by local reports of avian influenza affecting waterfowl at Sweet Marsh. This information coincides with concerns I have had of sizable numbers of waterfowl being forced into small areas of open water due to the onset of ice.

Today I explored at Sweet Marsh to confirm the reports. What I witnessed was disturbing. Bald eagles were…

A Good Nature Rx Dose

Mid-morning today a friend and I got together to work on a challenging project. At this time the future of the project is unknown, but we are investing energy into it. Since the process was not straight-forward, there were questions and frustrations - such that I needed a dose of Nature Rx to clear my mind.

On my drive home I crossed the Wapsipinicon River where, at 55-mph I noticed this adult bald eagle perfectly perched on a dead tree hanging over the frozen river with nothing…

Photo Diary of a Cold December Day

From early today our outdoor conditions were cold. But, even though we had only single digit warmth, winds were minimal making time outdoors tolerable. Dressing in layers helped keep me warm even more.

Before I even left our ponderosa I photographed the tell-tale signs of an…

Cedar Tree Info

Across the Midwest we have a ready supply of trees growing with a mistaken identity. Most people know this tree as an eastern red cedar. Scientifically the tree is Juniperus virginiana - a tree species in the juniper family.

Cedar trees readily grow in ditches, fence rows, and prairies. Often their population is controlled with…

Ordinary With Meaning

Early this morning I was along the Cedar River preparing for my daily Rx of nature. Before I created an image I watched and photographed wildlife. Only Canada geese, mallards, bald eagles, and a kingfisher were nearby, with the geese in a position for an interesting photo.

Although we can see Canada geese every day, I don’t often…

Wishing You Were Here For Spring Season and Harassment

Yes, I know, winter hasn’t even hit yet and this bird will be heading south soon.. Still, when I saw this gadwall I was wishing I was seeing the first migrant of spring. The reality is I will be seeing gadwalls coming back in just a few months. As fast as time is flying by, it won’t be long now!

Shades of Gray Displays

With the first shotgun deer season of 2024 underway I opted not to wander too far in my typical areas. Instead, I concentrated my photographic efforts along the shore of a frozen river and over Sweet Marsh.

Most interesting for me were the very unusual ice patterns/formations visible only by low altitude flight. While in the air I did see trumpeter swans, one Ross’s goose, and hundreds of Canada geese.

Note: These aerial ice pattern images were not as simple as putting a drone in the air and snapping photos. The patterns were…

Not Partridges and Not a Pear Tree

While out looking for interesting birds today a series of high frequency squeaks caught my attention. Without looking around I knew I was hearing Cedar waxwings. The questions was where were they.

A quick glance up revealed a small flock of the waxwings enjoying today’s unusually warm sun. I hoped they would…

Not Wild, But Good

Today was spent at the healing spot of the north where we had one good thing happen after another.

• First, my family member had good numbers and good results.

• Second, another couple we crossed paths with a couple of times received good news,

• Third, I somehow lost…

Finally… I Got Its Picture

For several months I have seen glimpses of a Cooper’s hawk as it flew over our little ponderosa looking (I presume) for a bird at one of my feeders.

Until today I only saw a glimpse and did not get a decent look at the hawk. This morning the hawk was perched in a position to make it more visible - albeit with spindly branches in front of it - for photos. So, turn around and shoot pictures is what I did.

My observation and photography time was brief, but there were enough seconds to capture a couple of views of the stunning hawk.