Michigan Sandhill Crane – Nature’s New Lead Trumpeter

Michigan Sandhill Crane – Nature’s New Lead Trumpeter

Michigan Sandhill Crane is King of the Noise!  

 

Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird by ike austin

Sandhill Crane Michigan Bird by ike austin

 

No other bird of any size can bellow out a louder noisy echo than the Sandhill Crane. More notably, a pair of Sandhill Cranes. The loudest title among birds use to belong to the Canadian Geese.  But in more recent years, a new claim to become nature’s head trumpeter has shifted to another of our feathered friends. Yes, a new king of the noise with at least five times the volume, that carries ten times the distance, and in unison, in perfect synchronization between a pair of cranes… the birds, are relatively new comers to the Michigan landscape. Learn more about the Michigan Sandhill Crane.   You can listen to the calls of the cranes here… Calls of the Cranes

 

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

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Nature Photography – Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

Nature Photography  – Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

On many an Early Morning in a Michigan Wetland – Wetland Habitats
Nycticorax nycticorax

Black Crowned Night Heron

I saw a rather strange looking bird. This bird wore a black thicket of slicked back feathers on top of it’s crown. A large red eye ball with a solid black marble for a pupil) in the middle. The black feathers flowed down it’s back ending just above the tail. Then there was the pure white plumage that covered the chest area and more silverish plumage of the scapulars and coverts on the sides of the Night Heron’s wings. Then we move on down to those alien looking feet. Feet that move like they have a mind of their own. The elongated feet can wrap around a thin branch and allow the bird to extend itself near horizontal reminding me of a human flag – only it’s an outstretched Black Crowned Heron.

 

black crowned night heron adult

black crowned night heron adult

 

The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron is somewhat of a reclusive bird. The Black Crowned is a swift flyer and photographers love to catch a shot of the Night Heron in flight. The bird exibits characteristics that are similar to its other nearest neighbor in the Heron family; the Green Heron.

Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron

I will often spot a Black Crowned Night Heron perched high atop of tree stumps. When hunting, the Heron will typically sit on branches that are low to the waters surface and wait motionless for hours for unsuspecting prey. The bird can pounce in a split second and snap up lunch with its beak. While other times the Heron will dive off the branch and submerge its entire body under water to catch a meal. Sometimes you can watch several Black Crowned Night Herons referred to several different names; a rookery of herons, battery of scattering of herons. These groups of Night Herons will congregate, sit for a while, then causally fly off into the distant wetland one by one.

 

black crowned night heron - juvenile

black crowned night heron – juvenile

 

Black Night Heron Juvenile

The sun had not yet totally engulfed the scenery as the young juvenile I was watching was jumping from branch to branch. Half of the wetland was still under a shadow that was cast by a tall set of cottonwood trees located at the western end of the wetland. The place I was located was at the edge of the elongated shadow of the cottonwoods. The green milkweed shimmered as immature heron had just landed just a few feet from my hidden location. The sun rays also lit half of the wetlands surface producing an interesting backdrop for my over active Heron Juvenile that was moving closer to my concealed location.

The above shot of a Crowned Heron may be one of the best photographs I’ve managed to capture of a Black Capped Heron and with the soft bokeh in the background, the scenery of beauty lasted only minutes.

 

night heron

black crowned night heron michigan

 

Lessons Learned From Birds of Nature

The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron is an elusive and vigilant bird. It scouts out a potential threats before settling into a location. This observant Night Heron or Heron Night (often called) will is also distinguished by its maternal parenting skills. I have observed the mature Heron play the role as coach, mentor and parent. On this particular occasion, the lesson of the moment to the young juvenile was how to catch fish for dinner. Under the watchful large red eye of the parent Michigan Black Crown Night Heron, the young juvenile heron was getting a hands-on lesson in survival.

 

black crown night heron in flight

black crown night heron in flight

 

 

 

About the Black Crowned Night Heron
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Erie MetroPark
Group: Herons
Name: Black Crowned Night Heron

Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidae

Appearance:
The Michigan Black Night Heron is a 24 inch tall bird with a distinguished black cap of feathers located on top of its head or crown.

Adult:
Color is top half black, underside white or silverish, female color is similar to the male, the juvenile is rather quite conspicuous with it’s spekled beige and white plummage, bright orange eyes and yellow beak.

Flight Characteristics:
Smooth wing beats, several flaps then pause that produce a smooth sustained glide in flight. The Black Night Heron is a swift flier.

Habitat:
The Michigan Black Crowned Night Heron prefers brushy dense thickets located in grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting:
Night Heron is colonial and will construct nest made of branches and twigs of various sizes. Nests are located fairly close to the ground, in trees or shrubs.

Incubates 3-4 pale green eggs for appx 21-26 days.

Mating Habits: The Black Night Heron’s mating habits are unconfirmed.

Feeding: Amphibians, fish, small mammals.

Call: Series of fluctuating deep guark, quarks.

 

Bird Conservation in Ohio
Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for detailed information about the Michigan Night Heron;
Learn More… DNR Ohio

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Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul
Michigan Birds

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Birds

 

National Geographic

2011 Editors Choice Winning Photo

Birds Photography Night Heron

National Geographic 2011
View Entry on NG website… NG Contest Winners
To purchase Photo Art… DayStarBooks Gallery
To Purchase the I can Make It Fine Art Print… Dialog With Nature

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Raptor Bird of Prey – The Redest RedTail

Raptor Bird of Prey – The Redest RedTail

Buto Jamaicensis

The Redest RedTail

Hawk Talons looks more like natures version of Automatic Knives for this large raptor bird of prey. The Red tailed hawk is one of Michigan’s favorite bird of prey hawks.  The mature redtail looks almost powerful. the chest can appear protruded & robust and if you are fortunate to get a closeup look at an open set of those claws or technically known as talons , the sight will leave you with an impression of futility for those unfortunate enough to get snared by those talons hydraulic death grips. Check out these MONSTER TALONS on this Michigan Red-tailed Hawk!!!

The Michigan Red-tailed Hawk is single mindedness in it’s pursuit and is non-distracted by other birds that seek to antagonize the Michigan raptor bird of prey while enjoying a meal.

 

Raptor Bird of Prey - Michigan Red-tailed Hawk

Raptor Bird of Prey – Pair of Predators – Red-tailed Hawk

 

 

nature photography red tailed hawk

Redtail of the Redtail Hawk closeup

 The Red, Robust Raptors of Michigan

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Birds Photography Night Heron

Nature Photography – Michigan Belted KingFisher

Nature Photography – Michigan Belted KingFisher – The Blue Streaker

Megaceryle Alcyon – to grieve

Every Michigander should make seeing a Belted KingFisher in action a 2013 commitment.  Observing their fishing activity is both therapeutic and interesting to watch.  Firstly, the KingFisher quickly sends out a rapid machine gun like voice (KingFisher Call) to signal its arrival. After landing on a protruding strategically located tree branch, the King Fisher is now ready to dive for underwater prey. See Michigan Belted KingFisher photos here.  Flickr – Michigan Bird photos King Fisher here.

Michigan – Blue Waters, Blue Birds – The Great Blue State

 

Belted KingFisher Michigan

Belted KingFisher Michigan

Visit Wildlife in the Wetlands Art Gallery

 

 

nature photography - michigan

 

 

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Birds Photography Night Heron

Michigan Belted KingFisher – Blue Streak of Michigan

Michigan Belted KingFisher – The Michigan Blue Streak

Megaceryle Alcyon 

The Belted Michigan KingFisher  – Blue Streak Michigan is an elusive bird. The Belted KingFisher is swift in flight, quick on aerial maneuvers and one of the most fascinating and entertaining birds to watch when catching fish. When the KingFisher fish, it power dives downward from a high branch plunge and submerge itself under water to  quickly emerge from the water’s depth with a small fish in it’s large elongated beak.

The Belted KingFisher is a most peculiar looking bird. With a rather extended long protruding beak and large head sporting its trademarked Don King looking hair style, and almost miniature feet, the King Fisher is easily distinquished from other birds of similar size and blue color.  Despite these peculiarities, the KingFIsher has a lot of lessons we can learn about our own life and nature.

 

Belted KingFisher Michigan
Belted KingFisher Michigan – True Blue

 

Thereafter, the Michigan KingFisher quickly darts to a nearby branch where it then proceeds to harshly thrash the small prey against the branch multiple times;  swinging it’s head back and forth, back and forth, beating the small prey into unconsciousness.

 

Belted KingFisher Michigan
Belted KingFisher Michigan

 

Michigan KingFisher – Blue Streak of Michigan
It is also interesting to watch the Belted KingFisher when a pair of the birds are often seen conducting a chase routine with another companion KingFisher.  The birds can be seen flying close, just barely skimming the water’s surface looking like a blue streak.  I thought it appropriate to give this Michigan bird the sub-title of… Blue Streak of Michigan. Nature Photography – Michigan Birds

 

Michigan Belted KingFisher

 

Blue Angel – Keen Eyesight and Observation
The Belted KingFisher is one of those birds I have concluded posses both keen eyesight and a detailed observation.  I must already be in position and remain motionless for an extended period of time. A small move will cause the KingFisher to causally move on to a further branch off in the distance.  Interestingly, the KingFisher does not react in a panic once my present has been discovered like the Blue Heron or White Egret might over react in a near panic.  No, not the Belted KingFisher, the Belted KingFisher will make it’s departure appear as natural as possible.

 

Michigan Belted KingFisher

 

About the Kingfisher
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Michigan Wetland
Name: Black Crowned Night Heron

Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Alcedindae

Appearance:
The Michigan Kingfisher is a 8-10 inch short stumpy bird with a distinguished wild hairdo cap of feathers located on top of its head or crown.

Adult:
Color is top dark evening blue, underside white or silverish, female color is similar to the male which ports a reddish burgundy band across the chest.

Flight Characteristics:
Smooth to flickering wing beats, several flaps then pause that produce a smooth sustained glide in flight. The Kingfisher is a swift flier.

Habitat:
The Michigan Kingfisher prefers brushy dense thickets located in grasslands, flying from tree to tree along the edge of lake shores and wetlands.

Nesting:
Kingfisher constructs their nests by tunneling burrows several feet into the earth horizontally along the edge or end banks of wetlands.  Nests are located in the ground, sometimes hidden by trees or shrubs.

Incubates 3-7 pale white eggs for appx 21-26 days.

Mating Habits: The Kingfishers are monogamous during the mating year.

Feeding: Amphibians and fish.

Call: Series of rapid piercing loud rattled-pitched screeching.

Lessons From Nature
We can learn how not to be over dramatic in our reactions when we disagree or disapprove of someone or something by watching how the KingFisher casually responds to uninvited inhabitants that they disapprove of in their domain. Nature Photography Therapy for the Soul

 

The KingFisher can be spotted openly at Kensington Metro Park, Erie Metro Park and an abundant of wetlands.

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Michigan
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Birds Photography Night Heron
Birds Photography Night Heron

For some interesting and imaginative, new awareness reading…
read the book below.

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 

  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Read More 

Lessons Learned – Dialogues in the Forest of Jimme’

Nature Speaks – Nature Photography, Therapy for the Soul –
Everyone can Hear

Nature Speaks  – Through Birds – Therapy for the Soul

Michigan Bird – Mallard Duck – Sun and Darkness Dialogue

Michigan Bird – SandHill Crane Ancient Feet Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great Horned Owl Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great White Egret Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Green Heron Dialogue – One Strange
Sunset in Jimmie’

– ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Cooper’s Hawk

 

Nature Photography – Michigan Cooper’s Hawk

One Early Morning in one of the Michigan Metro Parks…

I went on my traditional weekend walk in the park several weeks ago. There appeared to be an unusual amount of predatory Cooper’s Hawk activity this Michigan fall season. This particular morning the air was crisp with a stillness that created a relaxing silence. There were many small birds darting about off in the distance as well as near my position. The low muffled sounds of leaves occasionally blown about on the ground with a few dis-colored ones falling, circling in an unpredictable pattern drifting to the ground.

Cooper's Hawk - Michigan Birds

Cooper’s Hawk – Michigan Birds

Darting about, there were, blue jays, wood peckers, Chickadees, and Nuthatches, sparrows-all kinds, red cardinals and grey slated juncos… the forest was teaming with bird activity and profusion. There was also a large Dule of Morning Doves frantically moving about on the ground in search of food. Life is easy for these birds and all is safe and worry free in the forest, or is it?

Cooper’s Hawk in Michigan
Before I could react the doves suddenly burst into flight, in an instant they were all air-born implementing full evasive escape maneuvers. All of the others birds followed suit; within a fracture of a second the quite, peaceful serenity had been disrupted.

A large shape of a bird in flight was bulleting across the wetland heading straight for the panicking flock of different specie of birds. It was the infamous Cooper’s Hawk, this predatory stealth attack was achieved without the Cooper flapping its wings. The hawk’s sneak, rapid approach had startled the landscape of serenity.

He quickly maneuver in and out, swerving and curving around shrubs and trees with blinding agility and speed. As fast as the Cooper’s Hawk arrived he disappeared.

Cooper's Hawk dive, glide, strike

Cooper’s Hawk dive, glide, strike

The scenery now still and barren of activity. After a few moments of searching, I saw him sitting motionless like a statue on top of a small protruding branch sticking about two feet from the ground. He had not caught any prey, by design? perhaps this was just a practice drill of which I have witnessed the Cooper Hawk engaged on other occasions.

Michigan Cooper’s Hawk
Flight of the Michigan Cooper’s Hawk 2012
Cooper’s – Arobatic Bird in Flight

I wondered how the predatory Michigan’s Cooper Hawk glided such a long near linear angle and distance without flapping his wings and arrive at its destination target with such speed and force; this distance traveled had to be at least three hundred feet and the hawk did not start from atop a hundred foot tall tree.

Coopers Hawk - Nature Photography

Coopers Hawk – Nature Photography

After a few moments, the Cooper Hawk spun and darted to the right, wings fully spread (just enough to not collide with tight enclosed shrubbery; but expanded enough to speed out into the open, only about one feet above ground with a quick zig and zag he was gone again.)

Cooper's Hawk Michigan Bird

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Bird

Instantly I began searching the sky and surrounding area, I spotted the Cooper’s Hawk rising from an obscure camouflaged back drop, onto the tip of a tree branch. It now perched, looking about, in meditations of lessons learned about it’s potential prey it had just intimidated. But this is a restless bird, only after a couple of minutes (unlike a Redtailed Hawk that will sit is one spot for hours) the Copper’s Hawk makes another unpredictable left-spin-dive split second dive off the branch and downward toward the ground.

Coopers Hawk inflight 180 Michigan Birds - Photo by Ike Austin

Coopers Hawk inflight 180 Michigan Birds – Photo by Ike Austin

This time when the backdrop of tree branches camouflaged his plumage, he went totally stealth and I could not keep up with his wing flaps, curves, spins, dives… seconds later, where he is now… I could not find.

Cooper's Hawk Michigan

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Birds

 

Cooper's Hawk In Flight

Cooper’s Hawk In Flight Michigan Bird

Note the more rounded tail in this photo, this is one sure indicator that this is a Cooper’s Hawk vs a Shark Shinned Hawk that has a more square tail as seen in some of the photos on this page. Can you spot the difference?

 

Cooper's Hawk Michigan Nature Photography

Cooper’s Hawk Michigan Nature Photography

The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk is one of the most adverse predators in the Accipiter family. These birds glide through forest trees and grasslands with the ability to often track and snatch prey in mid flight.  Michigan birds and nature photography are capturing wild life in everyone’s backyard.

 

About the Cooper’s Hawk
Nature Photography – Michigan Bird Identification
Photo Taken: Lake Erie MetroPark
Group: Hawks and Eagles

Name: Cooper’s Hawk
Accipiter Cooperii

Appearance:  The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk is a long 3′ to 4′ wingspan, dark brown  plumage on it’s back along the scapular and mantle areas. skinny legs, and long small talons, small beak. typical yellow ring cere found on most hawks; but with a rounded tail or primary tip projection and a stronger contrast between the head cap and crown (it is this rounded tail feather that mostly distinguished the Cooper from the Shark Shinned Hawk.)

Adult: Color is dark brown with spotted front of orange and white plummage.

Juvenile: More tan-ish brown in color.

Flight Characteristics:  Quick flapping wings in flight and typically extended glide attributed with most raptors. The Cooper will fly from tree to tree over a large area until it spots an appropriate target to hunt

Habitat:  The Michigan Cooper’s Hawk prefers open grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

Nesting: Cooper’s will construct nests made of branches and twigs of various sizes. They can be spotted high in the tops of trees located about 25-60 feet above the ground. Incubates 3-5 bluish eggs for appx 36 days. Younglings go in flight in about 50 days from day of birth.

Mating Habits: The Michigan Cooper do not mate for life as the Osprey does, Cooper’s will raise one brood per season.
Off Spring: (Juvenile) as with most larger birds.

Feeding: Songbirds, doves, and small rodents.

Call: Series of low elongated whine like sounds.
About the Photography

About the Photography

nature photography - michigan
Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike Austin

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Bird by Ike Austin
Michigan Bird photo by Ike Austin

National Geographic
Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest

 

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birds
ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 

Lessons Learned – Dialogues in the Forest of Jimme’

Nature Speaks – Nature Photography, Therapy for the Soul – Everyone can Hear

Nature Speaks  – Through Birds – Therapy for the Soul

Michigan Bird – Mallard Duck – Sun and Darkness Dialogue

Michigan Bird – SandHill Crane Ancient Feet Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great Horned Owl Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Great White Egret Dialogue

Birds of Michigan – Green Heron Dialogue – One Strange Sunset in Jimmie’

– ThirdSon and the River’s Sky

Wild Life Pictures – Michigan Red-tailed Hawk

Wild Life Pictures – Red-Tailed Hawk Michigan

I find that the best times to capture wild life pictures are early in the morning or early evening just before sunset. Interesting lighting effects can introduce striking highlighted effects on bird plumage. See wildlife photo of Red-tailed Hawk full wing spread.

Wild Life Pictures  - Red Tailed Hawk - Michigan Photography by Ike Austin

One afternoon basking in the early warm rays of the setting sun, my attention was drawn toward the resident young Red Tailed Hawk born just several weeks earlier. The young Red Tail hawkling had been squawking incessantly for the past several days; it hadn’t quite figured out how to catch it’s own food, I found this to be an opportunity to capture some raw wild life pictures.

For several weeks, the young Red Tail Hawk squawked for it’s mother to come and feed it; you could almost hear… “Feed Me” in all those raspy repetitive calls for momma. On one rather humorous occasion, trying to sneak pass her young offspring, the mother made a mad dash to travel across the wetland from one set of tree tops to the other side of the wetland. She was not quick enough as the young Red Tail hawkling caught a glimps of his mother and ratched up his hunger calls and took off like a bolt of lighting toward her direction to catch up to mother Read Tail; what a set of wild life pictures or video that would make.

Wild Life Pictures  - Red Tailed Hawk Michigan

Wild Life Pictures – Red Tailed Hawk

As the sun was preparing to make its final lazy descent, the young hawkling made a verticle dive off the branch straight down toward the ground like he had done so many times before only to come up empty handed or discovered after he had flew back to a branch to enjoy a meal, he had only grabbed and returned with a lump of empty grass. Photo of full Red-Tail.

 

Red-tailed Hawk Michigan

Automatic Knives – Red-tailed Hawk

 

Not this time; this time the young Red-tailed hawkling had stood his ground, this time he did not bounce around, he did not squawk, he was focused as never before. This aerial predator instincts kicked in, he was up against a super prey that could inflict serious harm if it decided to fight back and resist the aerial attack. He gripped it with all of his might this time and then spread his wings and lifted the prey skyward to get it to a branch for an evening dinner–this group of images became one of my favorite series of wild life pictures.

Wild Life Pictures  - Red Tailed Hawk Michigan

Wild Life Pictures – Red Tailed Hawk

I was amazed to see that it was not a fierce prey at all; but, rather a small frog.  The way Red-tailed was acting, you would have thought he had caught a rabbit or squirrel or something.

Red-tail was on his way to becoming a true predator, later that same summer, I spotted Red-tail Hawk circling high above in the cloudless blue sky, silent, looking down, ready to fall like a bullet upon unsuspecting prey.

I guess Red Tail learned that silence, not squawking for momma, was the way to survive in the wild life of the wetlands.

As Red Tail Hawk rose with his bounty, I managed to capture a couple of wild life pictures of a young predator in action.

Nature Photograph – The American Indian Red-tail of Nobility – A Tribute

 

Redtailed Hawk Michigan

Resources:

Migration and Wintering

Michigan Department of Natural Resources 

Whitefish Point Raptor Migration Observatory, learn more… DNR Michigan Res-tailed Raptor Migration

Check the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for Redtailed Hawk Michigan migrations, Learn More… DNR ohio.gov Redtailed Hawk

 

Red-tailed Hawk Michigan – Places of Interest

Michigan Huron-Clinton MetroParks

Check out the Michigan Lake Erie official website for park details. Learn More … Lake Erie Metropark

Check out the Michigan Kensington official website for park details. Learn More … Kensington Metropark

 

 

 

 

 

nature photography - michigan

Nature Photography – Michigan by Ike Austin

Nature Photography by Ike Austin – Birds of Michigan Series
Photography that is Therapy for the Soul 

Michigan Bird by Ike Austin
Michigan Bird photo by Ike Austin

National Geographic

Editors’ favorite submissions to the 2011 photo contest

 

Michigan Birds – Sun and Darkness are Variables

Michigan Birds – A Lesson Learned in Jimme’

I was standing one early morning facing the rising sun. Suddenly, a creature that was calmly gliding upon the surface of the water attracted my attention, it came to a complete stop and from a completed stationary position… exploded vertically straight up out of the water into the air. The being–I say being because an exchange of wisdom had taken place during this incident, in the forest of Jimme’ things look like animals but they are not.  This was no ordinary Mallard Duck like the one’s back at home where I come from.

Mallard Duck Michigan

Mallard Duck Michigan

All other flying beings that I had witnessed required a long run-way for a good running start to get air-born. This being was able to launch itself straight up into the air from a liquid substance, mind you just minutes before, the being was submerged under the water and not drowning. So, from under water, to the water’s surface, into the air and burst into sustained flight to go from one end of the forest to the other side in seconds. Traveling over many ground ridden obstacles it was able to avoid.

“You wonder,” the being said to my mind as it flew pass me, how I am able to not be handicapped by the three mediums–water, air and ground. Read More Here … Michigan Mallard Duck

Therapy to the Soul Photography by Ike Austin

 

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 

  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Order Book and Kindle Version Here

    (Use Charge Cards, Paypal or Amazon)


 

Images of Birds – Nature, Birds of the Gods

 

Images of Birds – Michigan, Birds of the Gods

One Strange SunSet in Jimme’ – A Particular Sun 

One late evening I was sitting quietly amist a deep thicket of shrubry, I had not moved the slightest for I had just awaken from a dozing off-nap.  When I opened my eyes I started looking directly in front of me and began to focus through the many thin branches crisscrossing in every direction. I saw a group of old men sitting motionless and soundless, yet they appeared to be transfixed and in communication with someone far off on the horizon.

I turned to look in the direction they all were facing and I saw a most beautiful sun set scene as I had ever witnessed. Lucky for me there were not many branches to obscure my few from this angle.

I too became gradually mesmerized by the huge, dimly lit orb of golden light that seemed to elicit a most inspiring awe of all who was privileged to behold. A spectacular display that drew the attention of man and birds alike.

michigan-birds

Michigan Birds – Green Heron

 

This particular Sun that appeared in the sky of Jimme’ that evening was a thousand times larger than the one where I come from… Continue Images of Birds here at the nature-photography photo gallery.

Images of Birds

There is plenty of opportunity to capture many striking images of birds throughout Michigan during summer and winter months.

This Sun was magnificent! I realized I had not inquired of it’s name. I would

Michigan Birds

Green Heron Michigan Birds

later, in a most mystifying way in my encounter with the man who write’s on thin air, I would later in life discover the awesome identity of that, particular, Sun.

On one occasion, I spotted a large green bird perched up high in a tall tree sitting on a branch in full attention, dressed to kill in it’s Sunday’s best of forest green plumage, but what a most striking image of this Michigan Bird as it seemed to stretch and pose for the camera shot.

 

ThirdSon and the River’s Sky
images of birdsThirdSon and the River’s Sky

 

  • As a kid, I spent an enormous amount of time down by the river. I was drawn like a magnet to the many sounds of nature that filled the air-the tides rumbling ashore, the faint call of seagulls echoing in the distant background. I would remain there all day under the pretense that I was fishing. I would walk the shores for miles, moving from one spot to the next. I later discovered that the sky above this river was alive. 
    Order Book and Kindle Version Here

    (Use Charge Cards, Paypal or Amazon)

Bird Photography – Stepping Out in Michigan

Bird Photography by Ike Austin

For all traumatic experiences, a passage through nature can sometimes offer surprising psychological results.

There is much testimony over the ages and from many sources who have written about spiritual benefits during their exposure to nature.

 

Bird Photography

Bird Photography

It is with this purpose that I have assembled a collections of bird photography of Michigan Birds.

I hope that those who view the bird photos find a renewed strength, experience a reduced weight of personal burdens and gain a new enlightenment that will result in real & permanent benefit to the soul.

“The silence of nature sometimes has the effect to alter the mind. Quite often when I have come close to nature, I am transformed from the uncivilized to those that are nearer heaven, being among speechless nature, I discovered I am amongst the truly civilized.” —ThirdSon and the River’s sky

Enjoy this collection of… Bird Photography that is truly Therapy for the Soul.