Circle of Life

Even it does not feel temperature-wise, the spring is here.  I captured these Sandhill Crane chicks last year.  I can’t believe it is that time here again.  The year went by so fast.  Recently I noticed the two new families at the ranch.  One pair has two little ones.

Other pair has only one chick.

Last year’s chicks grew up into beautiful adults.  Perhaps now they have chicks of their own.  Capturing Sandhill Cranes became dear to my heart.  They are beautiful and graceful birds.  I’m so grateful seeing these life’s miracles.  Usually, it is very hard to capture Sandhill young because parents are very secretive in raising their chicks.  They even paint their feathers with mud to better camouflage themselves.  The chicks usually hide or lay down in tall grass.  You can barely see them, as the next picture illustrates.

For more of my photos of these gorgeous birds, you can see my Flickr photo set:

Growing Up Sandhill

Tags: bird photos, birding, chicks, circle of life, Growing Up Sandhill, post and photos by Ineta McParland, Sandhill Cranes

First Signs of Spring

What you concentrate on, that’s what you see. Did you notice that? If you think you will have a great day, usually good things happen. Opposite is true, too. If you get a new car, you start noticing the same cars on the street. Even when you think of someone, they may call, come or write you unexpectedly. Things work in wonderous ways. As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, “We become what we think about all day long.”

Despite very cold weather we are having, and despite Groundhog predictions, I know spring is here already. Sure enough, I see signs everywhere: flocks of robins, starlings, and martins, and new shoots on the trees. Today I even saw some bees buzzing around new blossoms. I know we are in Florida, but we are having record low temperatures, lasting for a long time. In 20 years in Florida, that’s the coldest winter we ever seen. By looking at the whole picture, it sure feels like there is still winter. But if you are close to nature, you start to notice specific details missed by almost everyone. (Sometimes it is good to be different ).

Tags: bees, inspiration, mind, post and photo by Ineta Mcparland, spring in Florida, thinking