Flight

A Mallard, methinks, at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. The water's green because, well, the water's actually green. Blame algae.

The sanctuary's near Battle Creek, of course, though it claims an Augusta address (I'm a bit surprised--I was expecting Richland, or Hickory Corners). I've been visiting the Kellogg Sanctuary pretty much all my life, though these days the visits are relatively rare. When I was young it was an exotic place, with Peacocks and Sandhill Cranes and other large unusual birds; with injured raptors--always including a Bald Eagle--in large cages; with colorful pheasants in a set of cages away from Wintergreen Lake.

And Swans. It's the first place I remember seeing swans, though it seems likely I'd seen 'em in Kalamazoo before.

No Peacocks today, and no Sandhills (though these days I see Sandhills pretty regularly elsewhere--saw a pair in flight on Monday, around Cloverdale). Mostly there was the usual array of Canada Geese and Trumpeter Swans on or near the lake, with a relatively small population of ducks.

A good visit, all in all. I got pictures!

Technically the sanctuary's a remote campus of Michigan State University, part of their Kellogg Biological Research Station.