I was out hunting butterflies and collecting food for the caterpillars and this Sandhill Crane was just standing there so I took its picture. It's kind of rare to just see one; they usually travel in small packs.
I've also been seeing - and hearing - the Red-Shouldered Hawks a lot lately. I almost had a picture the other day. I had zoomed in and was about to hit the button when it took off. I swear they can tell you're looking at them. I think one day it was yelling at me. I was walking over to the neighbor's to hunt caterpillars and all of a sudden I hear the hawk. I froze, looked up, and there it was on a branch in a tree about forty yards away. I guess I was getting too close. I wonder if their nest is nearby because I can generally get a lot closer than that, especially if I'm not looking directly at them. Part of my new strategy is acting like a harmless mammal. Or mimicking birds like the Crane. I figure my constant leaning over and examining plants for caterpillars is a lot like how they eat bugs from the ground so maybe they'll eventually think I'm one of them. Or at least a similar, harmless species.
Or at least a similar, harmless species.
