Silent Sunday

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

Did you know that, just an hour drive south of Seattle there is a National Wildlife Refuge? It is one of my favorite places to visit all year round.

Upon entering the refuge you are first greeted with a duck pond. Continue reading “Nisqually Wildlife Refuge” →

Lords of the Arctic

After a productive morning with ample bear sightings, we stopped by the bay for a quick picnic lunch.

Outside, the temperature was -17°C . Continue reading “Lords of the Arctic” →

Red-crowned Cranes -Part 1

Japanese red-crowned cranes(丹頂鶴 Tancho) were almost hunted to extinction at the beginning of the 20th century for their stunning plumage. Miraculously, in 1926, a group of 20 resident cranes was discovered in the marshes around Kushiro. Since then, various conservation efforts, including artificial feeding during winter, hunting prohibition, and habitat conservation, have brought the population back to over a thousand.

We arrived at Akan International Crane Center one hour before feeding time. A dozen photographers had already set up their equipment along the two level observation desk.

Juvenile crane resembles adults but had brownish head and neck Continue reading “Red-crowned Cranes -Part 1” →