We have always lived together in links with school calendars. This Spring Break season had us yearning to get back into Nebraska, and we made time for a road trip to familiar places and new places alike.
Sharon has provided the pics for this little sample of our jaunt, although I’ll add some black and whites after I develop the film.
Our initial goal was to make it out into Sandhills Crane country, along the Platte River in Nebraska. We were photographically geared up, but logistics blocked the bigger drive out west of Lincoln and Grand Island, where those birds migrate in by the 10s of thousands.
We adapted, and found a new park, Pioneers Park in Lincoln, NE, and then we pushed on our return drive to a familiar place of the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, known to us in childhood as Squaw Creek. There are family memories for both of us in that area, though we grew up a hundred miles from each other. The refuge drew us in and welcomed us back for a quick tour.
We hope you enjoy some of these sights we found
We lived in Lincoln 5 years, and didn’t really get to Pioneers Park, but our Spring Break gave new opportunity for discovery.This statue caught the light as it honored native heritage predating westward pioneering.A herd of Bison is managed and conserved in this city park, but do you also notice the Canada Goose friend trotting around with them?Sharon had to act fast to catch this goose landing, a moment after swooping in over our heads. He’s on ‘final approach.’… and with him, other geese also came in for their splash-downs.Sharon’s favorite shot wasn’t from among all the flocking activity, but in the peace of watching this pair of Northern Shovelers bobbing along in the waves. She has discovered the ‘telescope’ function of her camera lens, and enjoys the wait before capturing the moment.Oh, sure, the Trumpeter Swan is a regal and elegant giant of a bird, but it still had to go tailfeathers to the sky to enjoy some snacks on this spring day.The Loess Bluffs management team has placed nesting mounds in the wetlands. Geese and Swans vie for possession. This swan had just stood up slowly to tower over the smaller goose to express its views on the matter.We saw dozens of goose and duck feather piles around the wetland. Then we came across the mama or papa Bald Eagle responsible. The mate was in a massive nest about 75 feet away, but we couldn’t get a good look up there.
Tamed Along Life Trails 
2 responses to “A Bird in The Hand”
I love the bison, they keep those in the middle of town?
Sharon’s favorite pic is a winner for sure. The eagle was nice too.
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This park is just on the outer edges of town, with suburbs around (that weren’t built up nearly as much when we lived there).
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