Next to last in my wetlands series is this Greater White-fronted Goose photographed in Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, California.
The Sacramento NWR was established 1989 under the Endangered Species Act, Emergency Wetlands Resources Act, and the Fish and Wildlife Act. Units are located along both sides of the river and serve to protect and provide a wide variety of riparian habitats for birds, fish, and other wildlife.
This shot could be sharper, but the pose and light are good enough to post. This species migrates through our local refuges in the thousands. But I never get close to them there. Had to go all the way to California for a closeup.
Tags: greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons sacramento national wildlife refuge get your goose on cornell lab waterfowl california birding Nature conservation wetlands protect wetlands protect the environment protect wildlife
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Next stop on our first trip of the year was South Padre Island. There is a nice variety of birds found at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, including the nearly always present Black-bellied
Whistling Ducks.
Tags: black-bellied whistling duck Dendrocygna autumnalis south padre island birding texas birding waterfowl cornell lab nature conservation protect the environment protect wildlife
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In the shot of the young white-tailed buck, I posted yesterday, a couple of Redheads could be seen swimming nearby. After I snapped a few shots of the deer, I moved on to the cooperative ducks. They were completely unfazed by our presence.
Another nearby cooperative bird tomorrow to wrap up this miniseries of images from Bird Island Basin in Mustang Island State Park, Texas.
Tags: redhead Aythya americana duck waterfowl cornell lab texas birding mustang island state park blue water Nature conservation protect the environment protect public lands protect wildlife
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Wrapping up my waterfowl series with this colorful and handsome Wood Duck drake.
Twelve years ago, a couple of local birders told me about this guy hanging out with a small flock of Mallards on a pond in a local park. He seemed to have a bit of identity confusion as there were no other members of his species around, and he appeared to be courting some of the Mallard hens. I've posted several shots of him in the past, but had forgotten that I had more until going through the archives looking for a conclusion to this series.
Tags: wood duck Aix sponsa waterfowl colorful duck beautiful cornell lab nature conservation protect the environment protect wildlife protect wetlands
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Next to last in my waterfowl series is this elegant Northern Pintail photographed at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah.
Tags: northern pintail Anas acuta waterfowl reflection nature conservation bear river migratory bird refuge wetlands get your goose on elegant protect the environment protect wildlife protect wetlands
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