Whopping Cranes

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Folder: Alabama, the Beautiful
This refuge near Decatur, Alabama is home to thousands of wintering water fowl and other migratory birds. As many as 14,000 sandhill cranes winter in the refuge. It is also the winter home to 12 to 14 whooping cranes, and endangered species with only about 600 in the world of which about 400 are in the wild.
Whopping Cranes

Whopping Cranes

07 Feb 2015 2 385
These cranes are endangered. Only about 600 exist - 400 of them are in the wild. Of those, 300 are in the only naturally migrating flock which is west of the Mississippi and 100 are captive born that are being released into the wild in hopes of establishing another migrating flock east of the Mississippi River. Thirty four of the released birds have been wintering in Alabama, 12 to 14 of them at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama where this photo was taken. The birds were quite far away not much more than a white speck to the native eye. However, if I really blow the image up, though blurred, I can see some of the leg bands. Each crane has a distinctively colored band. All the eastern cranes have life histories on the internet. When I have time I will try to find the ones I photo'd. (IMG_7691)
Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

07 Feb 2015 295
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7623)
Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

07 Feb 2015 276
Wheeler National Wildife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7631)
Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

07 Feb 2015 318
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7612)
American Widgeon

American Widgeon

07 Feb 2015 289
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7669)
Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

07 Feb 2015 205
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7612)
Sandhill Cranes Landing

Sandhill Cranes Landing

07 Feb 2015 270
Wheeler National Wildife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7656)
Sleepy Orange Butterfly

Sleepy Orange Butterfly

07 Feb 2015 344
A small sulphur, spotted the 1st week in February at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7683)
Nandina Berries

Nandina Berries

07 Feb 2015 323
An invasive species in the Wheeler National Wildife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (DSC02973)
Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

07 Feb 2015 182
Wheeler National Wildife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7642)
Mallard Duck (Female)

Mallard Duck (Female)

11 Feb 2015 287
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7806)
Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

07 Feb 2015 281
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (DSC02707)
A Quiet Morning

A Quiet Morning

07 Feb 2015 1 382
On Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) land at the north side of Guntersville Dam, Marshall County, Alabama (DSC02690)
Twins

Twins

11 Feb 2015 255
Canada Geese at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7808)
American Widgeons

American Widgeons

11 Feb 2015 260
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7795)
Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Cranes

07 Feb 2015 196
At Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (DSC02772)
Deer Herd

Deer Herd

07 Feb 2015 170
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7622)
American Widgeon (Male)

American Widgeon (Male)

11 Feb 2015 236
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Decatur, Alabama (IMG_7730)
63 items in total