Wakarusa Wetlands 2010

Every visit to the Wakarusa Wetlands brought with it a gasp of surprise, a moment of total joy, and a peaceful sigh. On this day, I clearly remember watching a group of Kingbirds chasing a Cooper’s hawk. The Cooper’s was carrying a Kingbird, his little lifeless leg hanging from a talon. I remember being disappointed that I could not focus fast enough to record this, but I also remember feeling empathy for both the Kingbirds chasing the hawk who had killed one of their family and the hawk desperately trying to get away with his food.  I am often astonished by the life and death struggles that go on right outside we humans’ doors that so many of us never notice. I also remember this frog and his expression; he seemed curious about me, but like he might be trying to decide if he should jump away. The place at the Wetlands where I took this picture no longer exists.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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Occupy the Wakarusa Wetlands

Every picture I post this week and next will be from the area of the Wakarusa Wetlands that will be obliterated by the SLT. I have hundreds of pictures of hundreds of species who will be displaced and/or killed by greed and indifference.

This will be gone.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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Between storms

It was a great morning to be out. I was able to spend some time at both the Wakarusa Wetlands and Clinton Lake before getting rained out. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

 

 

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More Wakarusa Wetlands magic

Little specks of yellow dot the fields and the green is lush and fragrant. Dragonflies are everywhere. Thousands of voices sing. On this morning, I spotted deer, a host of blackbirds, grackles, robins, sparrows, catbirds, indigo buntings, painted buntings, northern cardinals, goldfinches, a huge diversity of frogs, a dickcissel singing loudly, wood ducks, turtles (snappers and painted), geese, great egrets, great blue herons, cattle egrets, little blue herons, mink, muskrats, and the hundreds more. Please help save the Wetlands. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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More Wakarusa Wetlands magic

Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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Wakarusa Wetlands updates

I’m a bit behind on the updating. This mild weather has made for some lovely mornings at the wetlands. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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More Wakarusa Wetlands magic

Yesterday was the first time it’s been warm enough to see a lot of frogs and insects. I also saw what I think is a prairie crayfish. I think my father would have called him/her a “crawdaddy.” Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

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