• Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Unfocussed Photography

  • Unfocussed Photography
  • Prints
  • Archives
  • Contact
Show Navigation
Cart Lightbox Client Area

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
Next
{ 165 images found }
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • The smallest of floral details blanketed by soft lavender petals.
    Intimate Details.jpg
  • With a through-back feel to  Georgia O'Keeffe, a soft, warm, painterly pink and cream rose with a bit of an erotic vibe to the details.
    Pinked Rose Details.jpg
  • A bold closeup of a gerber daisy flower heart with a highlight on the details.
    Blowzy Daisy Details.jpg
  • An Air Filter Emblem From A  2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 with Chrome Details and Accents in Black and White. <br />
<br />
With a 95 cubic inch V-twin engine providing plenty of low-end torque and excellent highway muscle, the Vulcan 1600 Classic has extra power for just about anything its rider chooses to do. Of course, extra power is nice for playtime, but when a trip calls for extended seat-time, the single-pin crankshaft provides a comforting rhythm that isn't tarnished by harsh vibrations, thanks to the engine's gear-driven counter balancer.<br />
<br />
The design details that make the 1600 Classic a one-of-a-kind American classic include a wide, pullback handlebar, stepped seat, dual slash-cut mufflers, and a multi-reflector headlight. Features of the integrated instrument cluster include an LCD screen, tank-mounted ignition switch, fuel-injection warning lamp, fuel gauge, odometer, tripmeter and clock.
    339A9088.jpg
  • Angel came to the National Eagle Center in 2000.  She had been found on the ground with a broken wing near Grantsburg, WI in 1999. She was just a fledgling and had been surviving on scraps of fish from nearby herons' nests.<br />
<br />
Angel was treated at the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center in St. Paul, where she underwent surgery and realignment of the broken bone in her wing. Though repair of the bone was successful, the damage to the musculature could not be repaired. Angel is unable to sustain flight as she would need to survive in the wild.<br />
<br />
Angel seems to have adjusted quite well as an eagle ambassador. She has matured from a dark headed juvenile to a fully mature, white-headed female bald eagle. Angel's loud vocalizations can be heard when a wild eagle passes by the windows of the National Eagle Center. Angel got her name in a naming contest by a 4th grade student from St. Felix School in Wabasha.<br />
<br />
Angel's regal appearance has made her a favorite guest at many Native American ceremonies and countless educational events for schools, scout troops and communities.
    Columbia in B and W.jpg
  • A Multicolored Gerbera Daisy In The Garden With Bold Contrasted Fine Details and a Fine Art Feel.<br />
<br />
These Daisies bloom in nearly every color (except true blues and purples) and produce fantastically large flowers on long, thick, sturdy stems. They last for a week or more in the vase, making them a favorite of flower arrangers.<br />
<br />
Take one look at this beautiful Gerber daisy, and you can't help but bask in the perfection of Mother Nature. It's not just the perfect green stems climbing high as they (sometimes) curve and twist, it's not the delicate petals on the bloom, nor is it the exquisite flower center - it's the way all of these things work together.
    Scratched Gerber Daisy.jpg
  • A puffy white dandelion on a black background with a bit of fun and color in the finer details
    A Dandy Vision.jpg
  • Raindrops fall from the flowers causing a slash of vibrancy in delicate fine details
    Floral Splash.jpg
  • A Female Mallard Duck Wattles Through The Grass, captured with an prominence on the details
    Textured Mallard Female Duck.jpg
  • An isolated rose outline with an edge on the details
    Coppering Rose.jpg
  • This blue jay was resting under a heat lamp on a cold and snowy winter day in my Missouri backyard. Having a pretty close vantage point I was able to get a dent amount of detail in the feathers of this lovely bird. A close look reveals the water droplets from the falling snow that has melted from the heat of the lamp.<br />
<br />
The Blue Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory.<br />
<br />
This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period.<br />
<br />
Blue Jays prefer tray feeders or hopper feeders on a post rather than hanging feeders, and they prefer peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. Planting oak trees will make acorns available for jays of the future. Blue Jays often take drinks from birdbaths.
    Winter Heat Blue Jay.jpg
  • The flowers in this arrangement were starting to wilt, and the petals were beginning to show signs of the last days coming. I wanted to get a descent shot of them, without conveying the age and wilted petals. My approach was to process the image to highlight these areas to covey some character and detail, instead of the appearance of decay.
    Peruvian Lily Grain.jpg
  • A closeup detailed macro shot of a white Oxeye Daisy on a black background.
    Oxeye Daisy on Black.jpg
  • Dreamy Wild Orchids In Kona, Hawaii At Daybreak
    Orchid Dreaming.jpg
  • A little bit of rainbow hippy color in this macro flower
    Hippie Petals.jpg
  • Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world.
    Chrimson Floral Heart.jpg
  • A Dreamy Vision Of A Red-Bellied Woodpecker
    I Dreamt Of A Woodpecker.jpg
  • Splotted-Gecko.jpg
  • A Macro Closeup Of A Yellow Daisy After A Storm with Rain Droplets.
    Dew on Mini Yellow Daisy.jpg
  • A Thistle Blossom Pops like fireworks From The Stem
    spikey weed.jpg
  • Soft Pink Petals Surround A Bold and Vibrant Floral Heart.
    IMG_0978.jpg
  • A deliciously vibrant tulip with a rainbow of colors and a hint of bokeh behind
    Starburst Tulip.jpg
  • The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren't really bald, but their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings. Look for them soaring in solitude, chasing other birds for their food, or gathering by the hundreds in winter. Once endangered by hunting and pesticides, Bald Eagles have flourished under protection. <br />
<br />
The Bald Eagle dwarfs most other raptors, including the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk. It has a heavy body, large head, and long, hooked bill. In flight, a Bald Eagle holds its broad wings flat like a board. <br />
<br />
Look for Bald Eagles near lakes, reservoirs, rivers, marshes, and coasts. For a chance to see large Bald Eagle congregations, check out wildlife refuges or large bodies of water in winter over much of the continent, or fish processing plants and dumpsters year-round in coastal Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
    Eagle With an Attitude.jpg
  • The adult female Brown-headed Cowbird is slightly smaller than the male and is dull grey with a pale throat and very fine streaking on the underparts.
    Flowing Female Cowbird.jpg
  • Crimson Gerber Refraction.jpg
  • IMG_3562.jpg
  • The Greek myth of Orchis explains the origin of the plants. Orchis, the son of a nymph and a satyr, came upon a festival of Dionysios (Bacchus) in the forest. He drank too much, and attempted to rape a priestess of Dionysios. For his insult, he was torn apart by the Bacchanalians. His father prayed for him to be restored, but the gods instead changed him into a flower.
    Orchidaceae Gravitas A.jpg
  • Chrysanthemums-A.jpg
  • Canna-Berries.JPG
  • Succumb to the gentle petals and let them take you away.
    Succumb.jpg
  • Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
    Painted Baldy.jpg
  • A Monarch Butterfly Rests On Purple Flowering Chives in Evening Light
    Monarch on Moody Chives.jpg
  • Bald Eagle Head-shot Closeup
    Make America Proud Again.jpg
  • A White Dahlia with Pink and Purple Highlights Against a Backdrop of Deep Purple with Soft Evening Light
    Hello Darling.jpg
  • From The Very Tip Top Of The Cone Flower
    Top Of The Cone.jpg
  • It is said the eagle was used as a national emblem because, at one of the first battles of the Revolution (which occurred early in the morning) the noise of the struggle awoke the sleeping eagles on the heights and they flew from their nests and circled about over the heads of the fighting men, all the while giving vent to their raucous cries.
    Scream For Freedom.jpg
  • Stopping on a new bloom to pollinate and gather required materials
    Gathering Some Honey.jpg
  • A macro shot of a fly perched on a daisy petal in the garden
    Garden Flower Fly.jpg
  • Columbia, an adult female bald eagle, came to the National Eagle Center in 2003 as a juvenile. She hatched in the spring of 2001.<br />
<br />
After feeding on road kill near Dunbar, WI, Columbia was struck by a van. This accident left her with an open fracture near her right shoulder. While this wound was significant and would render her unable to fly again, the accident most likely saved Columbia's life. During treatment for her injuries, Columbia was found to have nearly twice the lethal dose of lead in her blood.<br />
<br />
Lead is extremely dangerous for eagles. Just a tiny amount of lead can be lethal in 4-5 days. She was able to be treated for lead poisoning, but any damage already incurred would be irreversible.<br />
<br />
Columbia arrived at the National Eagle Center just a few months before the Space Shuttle Columbia mission that ended in tragedy. Columbia was named in honor of the commander and crew of this shuttle.
    Columbia - Eagle.jpg
  • An American Bald Eagle with an Edgy Amber Attitude snacks on the last bit of a fish, remnants of fishy bone and flesh still visible on the tongue.
    Edgy Amber Eagle.jpg
  • The Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) is a member of the ibis and spoonbill family (Threskiornithidae). Birds in this family are wading birds with long, downward-curved bills that they use to probe in mud or grass for invertebrates and other prey. Sacred Ibises are larger than Florida's native ibises. <br />
<br />
They have very distinctive long, black feathers or plumes on their rumps. During the breeding season the feathers on the sides of their chests and on the outer wings (near the edge when folded) may have a yellowish (or reddish) tinge, and their lower legs may be tinged with reddish-copper; bare patches of scarlet-red skin may also be visible under their wings. The heads and necks of young Sacred Ibises are covered with black and white feathers, giving the head and neck a mottled appearance.<br />
<br />
Sacred Ibises look very similar to the native Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), a member of the stork family (Ciconiidae) that is federally listed as an endangered species.<br />
<br />
Sacred Ibises are native to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Madagascar; historically, they were also found in Egypt, where they are now extinct. These large birds are often depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphs as the earthly representation of the god Thoth (also shown as an ibis-headed man) and were considered sacred?hence the common name. They are very similar in appearance and so closely related to the Black-headed Ibis (T. melanocephalus) in South Asia and the Australian White Ibis (T. molucca) that many scientists consider the three a "superspecies," and some believe they may actually all be the same species. In their native range, they inhabit coastal estuaries, lagoons, marshes, and other inland wetlands such as flooded agricultural fields and urban retention ponds.
    Sacred Ibis.jpg
  • Red Gerber Daisy Soaking Up Some Rays
    Red-Daisy-Rays-D.jpg
  • Red Gerber Daisy Soaking Up Some Rays
    Red-Daisy-Rays-C.jpg
  • Floral Curves.jpg
  • A Closeup photo of a bee against a textured background
    Textured Buzz.jpg
  • The Power Of A Simple Pink Carnation
    Cotton Candy Carnation.jpg
  • Dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico and Central America. A member of the Asteraceae family of dicotyledonous plants, its garden relatives thus include the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia.
    Dahlia In Heat.jpg
  • A Pigeon/Dove Snuggles Next To A Tree And Tries To Stay Warm
    Cozy Pigeon.jpg
  • A Monarch Rests On Purple Flowering Chives in Evening Light
    Monarch on Moody Chives.jpg
  • A Soft Focus Pink Wildflower
    Soft Floral Pink Macro.jpg
  • A golden view from behind a puffy dandelion at sunset.
    Thriugh A Sunset Dandy.jpg
  • The Blue and Gold Macaw Ara ararauna is one of the most beautiful large parrots. It is a sweet tempered and affectionate parrot, and has one of the best all around personalities of the large Macaws. This bird makes a great companion for a single person. But it is friendly with everyone, including other birds, when it's well socialized. Although some Macaws are one-person type birds, the Blue and Gold is right at home in a family type situation as well.<br />
<br />
This large parrot is also sometimes called the Blue and Yellow Macaw, or you may come across a larger variant from Bolivia called the Bolivian Blue and Gold Macaw. The Bolivian variety is distinguished by its larger size and its coloring. On all these Macaws the colors are vibrant, but the Bolivian has more of a true blue rather than the teal blue seen in the average Blue and Gold. They all share the same wonderful personality and characteristics.<br />
<br />
The Blue and Gold Macaw is very adaptive. Whatever environment they are in, it becomes quite normal for them. If they are around many people, they will accept many people. When well trained and socialized, Blue and Gold Macaws enjoy participating in all sorts of outdoor and public activities with their owners. We've seen them attending public festivals on their owners arms. One woman regularly took her Macaw with her to Western line dance classes. Another woman would take her Blue and Gold horseback riding with her. There are bird leashes available so you can take your feathered friend wherever you go, and they just adapt. They ride well in a car on a bird car seat
    Tropic Macaw.jpg
  • On February 14, 1978, the bald eagle was federally listed as endangered in all of the lower 48 United States except Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan (it was classified as threatened in these states). The species was reclassified as threatened in the remaining states on August 11, 1995. Of course, the threatened status means that bald eagle populations are increasing, but have not increased to the point where they are out of danger.<br />
<br />
<br />
A 1975 estimate of the total bald eagles in the world (since they are only found in North America, I could say North America) was between 35,000 and 60,000! Most of these are in Alaska and Canada where bald eagles are not endangered. To give you an idea of how the population has grown in the lower 48 states, in 1963 there were 417 breeding pairs known, and in 1994 that number was up to 4,452<br />
<br />
The American bald Eagle has short powerful toes but long scimitar shaped talons. These are perfect for gripping onto slippery fish. The Bald Eagle has brilliant talon - eye coodornition and is capable of snatching unsuspecting fish from the surface of a lake at top speed and is incredibly accurate when doing so.
    All Feathers and Additude.jpg
  • A bee perched on a flower bloom
    339A0105.jpg
  • A Female Calico Pennant Dragonfly Perched Atop A Weed In A Field On A Hot Summer Day. <br />
<br />
Halloween Pennant subterminal wing marking extends across wing from leading edge to trailing edge (in Calico Pennant, subterminal wing marking restricted to leading edge of wing)
    Calico Pennant.jpg
  • A Fan Of Gerber Daisy Petals
    Gerber Petals.jpg
  • Gerbera L. is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family. It was named in honour of the German botanist and naturalist Traugott Gerber who travelled extensively in Russia and was a friend of Carolus Linnaeus
    Gerber Glow.jpg
  • A Bald Eagle Eats on A Fresh Caught Fish
    Baldy Has SOme Lunch.jpg
  • A Monarch Butterfly perched atop yellow wildflowers on a backdrop of Faded Green
    Monarch on Faded Green.jpg
  • Harriet is the oldest eagle ambassador and arrived at the National Eagle Center in 2000. In 1998, a vehicle collision left her left wing badly dislocated and part of it was subsequently amputated.<br />
<br />
Although she was fully adult at the time of her injury, we know that she hatched in 1981. Harriet was banded as an eaglet in her nest in northern Wisconsin. A researcher placed a small aluminum band on her leg, and she lived in the wild for 17 years before her accident in 1998.<br />
<br />
Harriet has a feather tuft atop her head that makes her easy to identify. We can't be certain, but suspect that this distinctive feather growth is the result of scar tissue and damage to feather follicles.<br />
<br />
As an eagle ambassador with the National Eagle Center, Harriet has made appearances across the country. She's been featured on the Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2007, Harriet was in Washington DC to celebrate the removal of the bald eagle from the endangered species list.<br />
<br />
Much of Harriet's work over the years has been with veterans. She has visited VA hospitals and been a part of numerous veterans honor ceremonies. Harriet is the eagle featured on the Minnesota Support Our Troops license plate.
    Bald Eagle Eating Fish.jpg
  • Few sounds symbolize American patriotism like the piercing shrill of a bald eagle. But just like George Washington and his cherry tree, that majestic call - is a myth. The screech associated with the bald eagle, in fact, belongs to a different bird. It's a cry that's synonymous with America's national bird. But there's a problem. If you were to look up at the bird making that sound in real life you wouldn't see a bald eagle. Unfortunately for the bald eagle, it has like a little cackling type of a laugh that's not really very impressive for the bird.<br />
<br />
The hole in the tongue is not for swallowing, it's for breathing. The bird trachea (wind pipe) comes up through the tongue. The esophogus is behind that. This is very functional, actually. The eagle's tongue also has sort of a barb on it. When they are swallowing something large, like a fish, they will stick out their tongue so the barbs go past the morsel, then pull their tongue back in. The tips of the barb will pull the food back into their throat, where it can be swallowed. If an eagle's windpipe were behind the tongue like a human, they wouuld be unable to breath with a large piece of prey or whole fish in their their throat.  A situation like that is where the tongue comes into play. They will stick out their tongues to allow the barbs to get the bite of food, but while the tongue is extended, they will open the hole in their tongue to take a breath of air.
    Down The Hatch.jpg
  • A member of the tribe of 'stiff-tailed ducks', the Ruddy Duck has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display. Female ruddy ducks have grayish-brown neck and body plumage. The sides of the head and neck are dull buff-brown with a single dusky horizontal stripe crossing a pale-gray cheek patch. The bill is dark gray and the legs and feet are grayish. Females are relatively silent.
    Adult Female Ruddy Duck.jpg
  • This White-Breasted Nuthatch was pacing back and forth across the top of a swing in my backyard plucking off meal-worms I had left there for a treat.
    Nuthatch Walking Wood.jpg
  • A Deep Maroon Electric Lily From The Garden
    Electric Maroon Lily.jpg
  • Red Gerber Daisy Soaking Up Some Rays
    Red-Daisy-Rays-F.jpg
  • Chrsitmas Chrysanthemums.jpg
  • Pink Points of Origin.jpg
  • Peruvian Lily Dance.jpg
  • Chrysanthemums-B.jpg
  • Daisy-D.jpg
  • This is a macro shot of a resin dragon head well under exposed, with what was really some minimal processing after the fact.
    Dragon-Scales.jpg
  • I love taking a walk with nothing but a macro lens. It makes everything in the world seem 'Just Right'.
    Nature Weed Soft Pastels.jpg
  • A Tufted Titmouse Snags A Seed In The Winter Snowstorm
    Titmouse Winter Seed Mouth.jpg
  • A Male House Finch On His Perch With Magical Evening Light
    male house finch bokeh drama.jpg
  • A Male Northern Cardinal Closeup On A Backdrop Of Green
    Male Cardinal Up Close On Green Text...jpg
  • Hibiscus Floral Heart. Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world.
    Hibiscus Hype.jpg
  • The Heart Of A Carnation - Floral Flouting
    BW Floral Center.jpg
  • An Extreme Head-Shot Close-Up Of A Bald Eagle
    Eagle Eye BW.jpg
  • The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus) is found only on the North American continent. Adult male eagles generally weigh about 9 pounds. Adult females weigh in at between 12 and 13 pounds. Adult eagles have a wing span of up to 7 feet. Immature eagles are mottled brown and white. The distinct white head and tail of the mature bird is developed between 4-5 years of age. In the wild, bald eagles live to between 30 and 35 years. In captivity, they have been known to live up to 50 years.<br />
<br />
Eagles do not live in isolation! Because they are near the top of the food chain, they become an irreplaceable indicator for measuring the health of the entire ecological system in which they live. After being listed as an endangered species in 1978 following a dramatic drop in population that began at the turn of the century, the Bald Eagle's status was upgraded to Threatened on August 11, 1995. Although efforts to replenish populations of the Bald Eagle have been successful, it continues to be protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Bald Eagle Protection Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
    Spread Eagle.jpg
  • For such a powerful bird, the Bald Eagle emits surprisingly weak-sounding calls - usually a series of high-pitched whistling or piping notes. The female may repeated a single, soft, high-pitched note that has been called 'unlike any other calls in nature', apparently this signals her readiness for copulation.
    Screming Eagle.jpg
  • A robust, drought tolerant perennial, native to the midwestern and southeastern United States. flowers are arranged individually on sturdy, elongated stems with soft lavender or purple petals surrounding an iridescent red-orange, coned center. Prefers full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soils.<br />
<br />
Echinacea is a genus, or group of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The nine species it contains are commonly called coneflowers<br />
<br />
The Coneflower has many historical uses as well. The Fox used purple coneflower as an anticonvulsive and gastro-intestinal aid. The Kiowa chewed coneflower root for coughs and sore throats. The Omaha and Pawnee used a smoke treatment as a remedy for headache. A poultice of smashed roots were applied as an anesthetic to arms and hands by the Omaha, and a poultice was applied to enlarged glands as a treatment for diseases such as mumps by the Pawnee, Ponca, Dakota, and Winnebago. Purple coneflower was used to increase endurance in the sweat lodge ceremony by the Dakota, Pawnee, Ponca, and Winnebago.<br />
<br />
The purple coneflower grows in open rocky prairies and plains. It is found primarily in the Great Plains, east of the Rocky Mountains from Texas to Montana and Saskatchewan, to eastern Oklahoma, western Iowa, and western Minnesota
    Soft Focus Coneflower.jpg
  • A pink and cream tulip on a textured yellow and floral backdrop with a fine art feel.<br />
<br />
Despite the fact that these flowers can grow in various climates, the tulip unfortunately lives a very short life. They die within three to seven days. However, while they are living, they grow rapidly, even after they have been cut.  It's not uncommon for cut tulip to grown an inch in a vase. In addition to growing after being cut, tulips are also known for moving around vases. This is because tulips will bend and "droop" in the direction of light.<br />
<br />
Tulips are thirsty flowers and will drink a lot of water, so you will want to make sure to add new fresh water to the vase often. You can trim their stems with a knife to help them drink easier. There's no need to put any sort of flower food in the water. Tulips will be fine with plain water. Their stems can have up to a dozen leaves, but most have closer to six.<br />
<br />
Tulips grow in a vast array of vibrant colors including yellow, red, pink, purple, orange and more.
    Tawny Cream Tulip.jpg
  • Monarch butterflies embark on a marvelous migratory phenomenon. They travel between 1,200 and 2,800 miles or more from the United States and Canada to central Mexican forests. There the butterflies hibernate in the mountain forests, where a less extreme climate provides them a better chance to survive. The monarch butterfly is known by scientists as Danaus plexippus, which in Greek literally means "sleepy transformation." The name evokes the species' ability to hibernate and metamorphize. Adult monarch butterflies possess two pairs of brilliant orange-red wings, featuring black veins and white spots along the edges. Males, who possess distinguishing black dots along the veins of their wings, are slightly bigger than females. Each adult butterfly lives only about four to five weeks.
    Morning Monarch Glow.jpg
  • Meet Donald. Donald is the first Golden Eagle Ambassador and we are proud to have both eagle species that are native to North America represented at the National Eagle Center.<br />
<br />
Donald came to the National Eagle Center after being treated at the California Raptor Center. He had been hit by a car near the town of Placerville, CA, breaking his right wing in two places. Donald is no longer able to sustain flight.<br />
<br />
We are unsure of Donald's exact age. His fully adult plumage suggests he was at least five years of age when he was injured, so he hatched sometime before 2002.<br />
<br />
Donald arrived at the National Eagle Center on January 8, 2008 and was named for the Donald Weesner Charitable Trust, whose generous donation made his arrival and training possible. During his first year, he continued to be bashful among the other eagles and with guests. He often spent the day looking only at the murals with quick glances toward people. Today, Donald often displays quite relaxed postures in the mews.<br />
<br />
Golden eagles can be found around the world in the northern hemisphere, and Donald's presence at the National Eagle Center has ignited new interest in understanding the life and habitat of golden eagles.
    Golden Eagle - Donald.jpg
  • The East African Crowned Crane (Grey Crowned Crane) gets its name from the distinctive golden crown of feathers on its head. The Grey Crowned Crane is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat wetter habitats.They can also be found in marshes. This photo was taken at the Saint Louis Zoo<br />
<br />
This species and the closely related Black Crowned Crane are the only cranes that can roost in trees, because of a long hind toe that can grasp branches. This habit, amongst other things, is a reason why the relatively small Balearica cranes are believed to closely resemble the ancestral members of the Gruidae.<br />
<br />
The body of the Grey Crowned Crane is mainly gray. The wings are predominantly white, but contain feathers with colors ranging from white to brown to gold. The head is topped with a crown of stiff golden feathers. Cheek patches are white, and a red gular sack is present under the chin. The gular sack is similar to a wattle, except that it can be inflated. Legs and toes are black. The bill is short and dark gray. <br />
<br />
West African crowned cranes are monogamous birds that form pairs for life. Pairs can be seen together even in the middle of a large flock, which suggests an exceptionally strong pair bond. Adult cranes reinforce their pair bond by dancing for and with each other. They perform ritualistic dance displays that include bows, leaps, runs, wing flapping, short flights, jerky bouncing, running, and stick tossing. Cranes of all ages dance. Among younger birds, dancing may serve to reduce aggression with other cranes, provide physical exercise, and possibly relieve anxiety.
    Crowned Crane Consistency.jpg
  • A Female Dark-Eyed Junco Foraging For Food in the Snow During A Cold Blue Winter Day.<br />
<br />
Females and juvenile birds are generally paler and show a greater mixture of brown in the plumage. Generally, there is less white on the outer tail feathers in juvenile and female birds. There is, however, much individual variation.<br />
<br />
The Dark-eyed Junco is the best-known species of the juncos, a genus of small grayish American sparrows. This bird is common across much of temperate North America and in summer ranges far into the Arctic. Dark-eyed Juncos are neat, even flashy little sparrows that flit about forest floors of the western mountains and Canada, then flood the rest of North America for winter. They're easy to recognize by their crisp (though extremely variable) markings and the bright white tail feathers they habitually flash in flight. One of the most abundant forest birds of North America, you'll see juncos on woodland walks as well as in flocks at your feeders or on the ground beneath them. <br />
<br />
Juncos are the "snowbirds" of the middle latitudes. Over most of the eastern United States, they appear as winter sets in and then retreat northward each spring. Some juncos in the Appalachian Mountains remain there all year round, breeding at the higher elevations. These residents have shorter wings than the migrants that join them each winter. Longer wings are better suited to flying long distances, a pattern commonly noted among other studies of migratory vs. resident species.
    Blue Christmas Junco.jpg
  • A bold and vibrant macro closeup of a pink and purple Marguerite Daisy against a textured rainbow colored backdrop. A bit of a hippy vibe that screamed a bit of flower power for me.<br />
<br />
This spray flower has a classic bloom with many ray petals radiating out from a disk-shaped center. This colorful package of popping purple tinted daisies would add an alluring appeal to any wedding bouquet, table centerpiece or flower arrangement! <br />
<br />
The Marguerite daisy or also know as the Argyranthemum frutescens, is a lovely daisy featuring a large middle of the flower generally yellow but depending on the variety they can also be pinkish in color.<br />
<br />
The petals of the Marguerite are generally white, pink, or yellow. They can have single or double blooms and they are usually 1-2 inches in size. The leaves and such of Marguerite daisies are a blue-green color, thin and almost fern like.<br />
<br />
The Marguerite daisy does best in richly fertilized, well drained soil. They also like to be planted in fully sunny areas. They work really well as a boarder or on the outside edge of your year or garden adding the perfect splash of color to the area.<br />
<br />
This type of daisy is a pretty hardy plant, if you have them planted outside make sure to water them about twice a week. If the plant starts to wilt it is a sign that they need a bit more water. Keep the soil moist pretty often, but never all the time because like with most plants, their root will rot if left in constant water.
    Flower Empowered.jpg
  • The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger.<br />
<br />
Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related, and female cubs typically stay with the group as they age. Young males eventually leave and establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male.<br />
<br />
This shot was taken at the Saint Louis Zoo in Big Cat Country. Sinewy muscles, beautiful fur, shearing teeth, padded toes, supple body, all describe the inhabitants of Big Cat Country. This spectacular natural outdoor setting for tigers, leopards and other big cats was constructed in 1975. Dramatic, simulated rock formations provide realistic backdrops for the handsome felines. Big Cat Country takes the form of a large wheel. Three large open yards, almost one-third of an acre each, have trees and shrubs, boulders and a pool. The center yard has a 27-foot-high waterfall. There are four smaller yards that provide excellent viewing or photographing of the climbing cats. From a safe distance, of course!
    Growling Wood Grain.jpg
  • A Macro Nature Abstraction From A Pink and Purple Puff Flower Over Cotton Candy Pastels Highlighting Pointy Rigged Textures.
    Pink Power Puff.jpg
  • A Dark-Eyed Junco Foraged for seeds on the ground and a late fall afternoon
    Dark-Eyed Junco Foraging.jpg
  • Large pink and purple petals one each cluster surround pointy yellow florets from the center in this flowing fine art floral shot from a garden.<br />
<br />
I have not been able to get an identification on these flowers yet, try as I have.
    Pink and Purple Floral Pallete.jpg
  • A dedicated to my mom, and inspired by breast cancer awareness Pink and her favorite color Purple. A Fine Art floral vision centered around a prominent pink rose atop a layer of purple magic and hope.
    For Momma.jpg
  • A single tulip shot with color flash gel. This was actually a tulip planted next to a mailbox I came across while out on a nature walk.
    Tulip In Color.jpg
  • Tulip Contours.jpg
  • 2 Lip Grain.jpg
  • Pinky-B.jpg
  • Red Gerber Daisy Soaking Up Some Rays
    Red-Daisy-Rays-E.jpg
  • Red Gerber Daisy Soaking Up Some Rays
    Red-Daisy-Rays-A.jpg
  • Daisy From Another Mother.jpg
  • Daisy-B.jpg
Next